Michelle O'Dwyer, the visionary founder of Bay Tree Cookery CIC, was officially crowned Merseyside Woman of the Year 2026 at a ceremony hosted at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool City Centre. Presented by headline sponsors Rathbones, the award recognizes Michelle's commitment to eradicating hunger, tackling social isolation, and ensuring that 'no one goes hungry on my watch.'
Innovative Community Solutions
Through innovative solutions like interactive virtual cookery classes and recipe kits, Michelle has spent years building inclusive spaces across the region where diverse groups can connect, gain life skills, and reclaim their sense of dignity. Her inspiring journey is deeply rooted in her own lived experiences of poverty and homelessness as a child. After learning to cook at a young age from her grandmother while helping raise her younger siblings, she transformed her past adversity into a powerful community mission.
In 2016, she hosted her first Christmas Day dinner to battle festive loneliness, welcoming 60 people. Fast forward to 2025, and the event hosted more than 270 guests. As it approaches its landmark 10th anniversary this winter, a massive community celebration is already being planned.
Award Acceptance and Impact
Accepting the award, a stunned Michelle said: 'When they called my name out, I have never been so gobsmacked in my life, because everybody in that room was so deserving. I think of when I was at my lowest and struggled with depression... If it wasn't for organisations and people and community just helping me when I couldn't help myself, I wouldn't be here today and that's what drives me. I'm just paying it forward.'
Michelle was one of 13 incredible category winners honoured at the prestigious event for making a profound difference through business, activism, and community care. The Fellowship Award was presented to Saba Ahmed, an exceptional community development worker and social impact leader empowering grassroots networks across Liverpool. The Women of Courage award was awarded jointly to Hayley Smith, founder of Northwest HIV Support CIC, for fighting stigma, and Leanne Lucas, a resilient survivor of the 2024 Southport attack who now campaigns nationally against knife harm through Let's Be Blunt CIC.
Other Category Winners
The Social Impact award was won by Jude McMaster, founder of Pearl's Project, for her 13 years of vital frontline crisis intervention supporting women in the sex industry. The Arts, Culture and Media award was won by Lucy Byrne, founder of dot-art, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026 having generated £5 million in social value. The Women's Group award was won by Liverpool Feds W.F.C. pioneers Janie Moore and Sue Carmichael, who have voluntarily run the thriving self-funded club for 36 years.
Other inspirational winners included Sharon Munroe (Inspirational Women), Suzanne Daley (Professional Services), Gillian Watkins (Community Leader), Debs Paterson (Entrepreneur), Dr Deb Faint MBE (Women Making a Difference), and Lindsey Kidd (Business Leader).
Future of the Awards
The MWOTY awards serve as a vital platform ensuring the region's brightest changemakers are seen, heard, and celebrated. If you know an inspirational woman making waves in your neighbourhood, the awards will return on Friday, June 25, 2027, with nominations opening in January. To read the full stories of all of this year's incredible winners and finalists, visit the official Merseyside Women of the Year Alumni page.
