IMPALA REVAMPS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD, HONOURS WOMEN WHO HAVE ACCELERATED IMPALA’s WORK ON EDI AND SUSTAINABILITY
Brussels, 28th November 2025
This November, IMPALA announces the expansion of its Outstanding Contribution Award as part of a revamped awards programme co-funded by the European Union.
The first announcement under the new scheme recognises women who have made a significant contribution to IMPALA’s work in the fields of equity, diversity and inclusion as well as sustainability.
Inspired by International Women’s Day theme for 2025, ‘Accelerate Action’, IMPALA asked for nominations from members before coming up with the final set of awardees for the first announcement under the new scheme. The new themed format also includes distinct announcements as usual to recognise exceptional work for the sector.
Today’s announcement is dedicated to a group of women who have played a key role in IMPALA’s work on sustainability and EDI, in particular through the organisation’s task forces as well as related work with a particular European angle.
Helen Smith, IMPALA Executive Chair stated: “Our revamped Outstanding Contribution Award reflects our commitment to recognising excellence and leadership across the independent music sector. The first set of honours under the new scheme highlights women who have accelerated IMPALA’s action through our diversity and sustainability work in Europe.”
We are proud to celebrate the following Outstanding Contribution awardees, in alphabetical order:
- Chiara Badiali – Music Lead, Julie’s Bicycle | IMPALA sustainability task force member
- Vick Bain – Founder of The F-List | EDI PhD Researcher & Music Business Consultant | IMPALA EDI Trainer
- Lana Culig – Promotions Manager, Aquarius Records | IMPALA EDI task force member
- Beate Dietrich – Head of Programme, MEWEM Germany
- Gill Dooley – Former CEO, AIM Ireland | IMPALA EDI task force former member
- Karen Emanuel – CEO, Key Production Group | Co-founder of Revolutions (formerly Moving the Needle) | Advocate for sustainability action | B-Corp status
- Arit Eminue MBE – Talent Management & Inclusion Specialist | Facilitator | Speaker | former IMPALA EDI Trainer
- Tamara Gal-On – Co-founder, Music Leaders Network & Nordic Music Leaders Network
- Iryna Gorova – CEO of рomitni, Co-founder of the music platform “Na yіі osnovi” and Ukrainian association SPILNA
- Caroline Hansen – Head of Operations, Warp | IMPALA’s sustainability task force member | Music Climate Pact Co-Chair, Digital Working Group
- Remi Harris – Co-founder, Music Leaders Network & Nordic Music Leaders Network
- Anna Johnson – Sustainability Consultant, Hope Solutions | former Environment and Sustainability Officer, Anjunabeats | IMPALA sustainability task force former member
- Laureen Kornemann – Public Relations & Diversity Officer, VUT | Project Manager, MEWEM EUROPA | IMPALA EDI task force member
- Hélène Larrouturou – General Manager of MEWEM France
- Céline Lepage – General Delegate of FELIN | Initiator of the MEWEM France and ReDisco recycling project programmes | IMPALA EDI task-force member
- Antonia Lines – Senior Programmes Manager, LIVE Trust | former Chief Operating Officer, Come Play With Me
- Paulina Parvanov – Keychange Leader | IMPALA capacity-building, diversity and sustainability advocate | Austrian Music Export | Austrian Music Fund | formerly WAVES Festival
- Fabienne Schmuki – Co-founder, IndieSuisse | Managing Director, Swiss Music Export | Former CEO, Irascible Records | IMPALA EDI task force former member | IMPALA sustainability task force member | Board member of Helvetiarockt
- Alison Tickell – Founder & CEO, Julie’s Bicycle | IMPALA sustainability task force member
About IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution award:
The Outstanding Contribution Award recognises the unparalleled efforts of an individual or organisation to promote and develop European independent music and the diversity of the sector. This year, IMPALA has revamped its various award schemes thanks to support from the EU’s cultural network grant for approved projects.
About IMPALA
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA
