October 2025
Last week, co-founder of The Felix Project, Jane Byam Shaw OBE, received the Women of the Year Game Changer Award at the 2025 Women of the Year Lunch & Awards.
The award recognised the remarkable impact she has achieved through The Felix Project and its work to tackle food waste and support those experiencing hunger across London.
The Felix Project was set up in 2016 by Jane and Justin in memory of their son Felix, who died suddenly of meningitis in 2014, aged just 14. Inspired by his kindness, concern for others and his love of food, the charity has grown rapidly from just one employee, one small van and one small depot or what Jane called “a double garage”, to become one of the UK’s biggest redistribution charities, with four depots and two kitchens. In 2024 The Felix Project rescued over 16,000 tonnes of good-to-eat food that would have gone to waste, worth more than £63 million at retail value. In 2026 the charity will go nationwide following the announcement of a merger with FareShare.
The award was sponsored by some of the UK’s top catering organisations and suppliers, including Elior, Bidfood, Foodbuy, Nestle, Reynolds, Sysco, Sodexo and Thomas Franks. Jane was presented the award by actress Lucy Punch, of BBC Motherland and Amandaland fame, and representatives from each of the food companies. During her speech Jane spoke movingly about Felix, the work being done by The Felix Project, the volunteers and the growth and transformation of the charity. She also talked about the roles of women in UK businesses and the increase in women in board level roles in FTSE 100 companies.
After the awards Jane said: “It has been an amazing event, I feel deeply honoured to receive the Women of the Year Game Changer Award. This recognition is not just for me, but for everyone at The Felix Project and the incredible volunteers, partners and supporters who make our work possible every day. It’s also for Felix’s father, Justin Byam Shaw, who was and remains the entrepreneurial genius, originator and powerhouse of the charity. I am humbled to see the impact we’ve been able to make together, but there is still so much more to do. This award is a reminder of the urgent need to keep tackling food insecurity, and I hope it inspires more people and organisations to join us in making sure good food never goes to waste.”
Women of The Year Awards celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of women. Awards were given to women who had helped improve diversity and equality in sport, another who was working with companies to not only improve sustainability but also encourage girls to get into science, technology, engineering and maths.
The lunch welcomes female celebrities, CEO’s, charity leaders, politicians and sports stars. One of the many attendees included Melissa Hemsley, who regularly supports The Felix Project. She was thrilled to see Jane’s win and said:
“It was an absolute privilege to be here today amongst so many inspirational and incredibly strong women, I felt very honoured. But what made it even more special was to see Jane get her award. I have been supporting The Felix Project for over six years and have seen the impact grow substantially in that time. What has been achieved is down to Jane and Justin’s hard work. It is a dreadful thing to lose a child, and now as a mum myself it is simply unimaginable. To know that Jane started this charity after such an awful event is amazing and then to see the huge difference it is making now across London and soon to be the entire country, well she should feel so proud. I cannot think of a more deserving woman.”
Photos by Liz Isles
