Carmarthenshire women receive British Empire Medals

Marian Louise Evans and Judith Harvey were honoured in a ceremony at County Hall in Carmarthenshire on May 29, marking the first official engagement of the newly appointed chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, Councillor Dot Jones.
The medals were presented by Miss Sara Edwards, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed.
Phillip Hughes, cabinet member for organisation and workforce at Carmarthenshire County Council, said: "These awards are a true testament to the power of local action and leadership.
"Marian and Judith exemplify the values of dedication, service and inspiration.
"We are proud to celebrate their success and the example they set for others in our communities."
Ms Evans received the BEM for services to business.
As founder and managing director of Elevate Business Consultancy, she has delivered transformational change across the sector.
She has been widely recognised for her leadership, particularly in championing women in business.
During the pandemic, Ms Evans supported more than 2,000 businesses through free resilience sessions and online content that reached at least 300,000 people each month.
Her voluntary work has earned her titles such as UK Mentor of the Year and Inspirational Woman of the Decade.
Ms Harvey was awarded the BEM for services to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
She began her career as one of the UK's first female wardens and has spent her life working in conservation and land management.
Since 2012, she has served as head warden, mentoring apprentices and volunteers, leading major restoration projects, and working to protect the park's ecosystems and heritage.
Both recipients received their medals from the Lord-Lieutenant and were presented with flowers by Lord-Lieutenant cadets Chloe Faulkner and Zuzzana Radkowska.
There was also a moving speech from Ms Harvey.
Councillor Jones used the ceremony to reflect on the value of female role models in public life and the ongoing need for greater representation in leadership across all levels of local democracy.
The British Empire Medal was first introduced in 1917 and reintroduced in 2012 to recognise hands-on service and outstanding contributions to the community.

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