A BROMSGROVE woman has been crowned the Midlands Businesswoman of the Year.

Jane Lodge, who is senior partner in the Birmingham office of professional services firm Deloitte & Touche, was selected from five other finalists for her outstanding achievements.

Jane, who lives in Bromsgrove, was selected for her outstanding work with Deloitte & Touche, and her contributions to the regional business community.

She has championed learning and development throughout the organisation, she continues to play an important role developing individuals and mentoring senior managers and has led a UK-wide initiative to increase the number of women in senior positions in the practice.

Jane said: "I feel very honoured to win this award.

"I hope that as Businesswoman of the Year 2001, I will be able to act as a role model for women in the Midlands business community moving into senior positions; and particularly helping women face up to the issues of managing a successful career alongside a balanced family life."

Jane also chairs the audit committee of the University of Birmingham and sits on its council and, she has recently been elected to the board of Birmingham Forward and the West Midlands Regional Council of the CBI.

She received her award at the Businesswomen of the Year lunch at the Metropole Hotel, NEC, Birmingham, on Friday October 12.

The lunch raises funds for Skylarks, one of five centres providing much needed holidays for people with severe physical disabilities owned and administered by The Winged Fellowship.

The speakers at the event included the Rt Hon Virginia Bottomley, president of Women for Business, and Baroness Nokes OBE, now a working peer in the House of Lords, she was also the first female president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a senior partner at KPMG.