A Holywood woman has been named the UK’s charity retail leader of the year for her work managing a network of second-hand shops across Northern Ireland.

Fiona Anderson, retail development manager for Concern Worldwide (UK), received the award at a ceremony in Wales hosted by the Charity Retail Association. The judges highlighted her professional leadership, people-centred management style, and her engagement with refugee communities in Belfast.

Anderson oversees eight charity shops in Northern Ireland, leading a team of seven staff and more than 150 volunteers. She has been with Concern for 14 months, having previously worked for Oxfam Ireland where she opened the organisation’s first superstore on the island of Ireland, located in Holywood.

She said the award reflected the dedication of her entire team and volunteers. She noted that the past year had focused on bringing a clear vision to Concern’s retail operations, embracing innovation to build a stronger and more sustainable operation that can support vulnerable communities.

Anderson highlighted growing consumer interest in sustainability and circular fashion as an opportunity for the charity retail sector to demonstrate how commerce can be both commercially successful and socially responsible.

Jackie Trainor, Northern Ireland director of Concern Worldwide (UK), said Anderson had made an extraordinary impact in a short time, bringing vision and determination to every aspect of the charity’s retail work.

Concern’s retail team is preparing to open a new pop-up shop on Castle Street in Derry. The international development charity operates in 27 countries, reaching 23 million people last year with programmes tackling extreme poverty and emergencies.