Sara Sloman was announced as Barbara Cox Woman of the Year 2023 at a ceremony earlier this month.
The Barbara Cox Woman of the Year Award is organised by Cox Automotive UK and named after a director of its US parent company, Cox Enterprises. The award recognises a woman who shares ‘the traits and accomplishments of its namesake’.
Sara, who lives near Minchinhampton, is Chief Strategy Officer at EV Fintech company Paythru. She has worked to deliver sustainable transport infrastructure projects for nearing twenty years both in the private and public sector. She brings an understanding of the lifecycle of EV infrastructure and the necessary steps required to successfully implement an effective Sustainability strategy. Sara has overcome aggressive blood cancer and now raises £5,000 a year for charities by participating in tough physical challenges.
“In my career I’ve had to work hard for opportunities for progression often overcoming unforeseen adversity. The Woman of the Year Award offers an opportunity for personal progression which I have pledged to refuse and instead pay forward. My intention is to be the helping hand to someone else looking to thrive in the renewables and EV industry,” explained Sara.
Sara believes in supporting all modes of transport for a sustainable future and her passion has always been in clean energy and zero emission mobility. Sara is an ambassador for Inclusive e-Mobility, she was named as a Top Women in EV and Vulog’s Influential Women in Mobility as well as being named as GreenFleet EV Champion in 2018 and has featured on the GreenFleet “100 Most influential” list in since 2019, climbing to position 32 in 2023.
Sara co-hosts the EV Café which includes monthly webinars, Podcasts and EV News to encourage collaboration in the transport and energy Industry. She aims to bring a better user experience to all those embarking on their EV journeys with Paythru.
Announcing the winner, Martin Forbes, president of Cox Automotive International, said: “We received so many strong nominations for this year’s Barbara Cox Woman of the Year award, choosing just one winner was always going to be an incredibly difficult job for our panel. But their duty was to do exactly that, and Sara is very deserving of this accolade.
“She is someone who has become a hugely well respected individual in our industry. She is described as having endless drive, enthusiasm and tenacity for improving our industry, and she does this by sharing her knowledge and own experiences. Throughout her career she has given her time to mentor women in our industry.
“Having experienced gender bias and discrimination during her career, she understands exactly what other women may be facing on their own journeys and has worked hard to influence and change policy and improve things for women in automotive.
“Her work in the sustainable transport and energy sector is truly inspiring, as is her drive to leave a legacy where we see strong leadership from all age groups with recognised diversity and accessibility.
“Having recovered from an aggressive blood cancer, she now takes on extreme physical challenges with the target of raising £5,000 a year for charity.
“Sara is a phenomenal person and I am honoured to have been able to present her award today.”
