ABERGAVENNY’S Martha Muszona Holman has been named as one of the top 100 women in Wales.

The Women’s Equality Network (WEN) Wales revealed its list of 100 Welsh Women, including names from the Welsh Borders – one of whom will be immortalised as the first outdoor historical statue in central Cardiff later this year.

To mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, WEN has selected 50 women from the past who made a big impact on Welsh life and 50 inspiring women currently shaping Wales to recognise their contribution to our national life.

Descendants of the monumental women from the past and living nominees were given exclusive access to The Siambr, the debating chamber at the heart of the Senedd to launch the 100.

From the first Welsh female MP, suffragettes, anti-slavery campaigners, poets and medical pioneers, the shortlist includes women who have made waves in arts, business, education, politics, social reform, public services, sport, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

One of the living nominees, Martha Muszona from Abergavenny is the founder of Love Zimbabwe Charity and Love Zimbabwe Community Interest Company.

She said: “Having lived in Wales for many years, I am honoured to be recognised as part of my adopted country.

“It’s extremely humbling to stand alongside 99 women with amazing stories and know that I am being remembered with them.”

Other local women making the list are Augusta Hall, Lady Llanover, patron of Welsh arts and inventor of national costume, Laura Tenison, founder of Jojo Maman Bébé and Kirsty Williams, former leader of Welsh Liberal Democrats and Education Secretary

Catherine Fookes, Director of WEN Wales said: “Our 100 Welsh women have made great contributions to politics, language, culture and industry in Wales. There are some well-known figures on the list, but it’s likely there are some names that people don’t know as we want to celebrate unsung heroes too.

“We hope the 100 will inspire people to learn more about these women and how they have shaped our history and be role models for today’s young women.

“We want to encourage more conversations around the impact women have had on shaping the nation, not just in this centenary year but moving into the next hundred years.”

In September, 50 of the historical women will be whittled down to five by a panel and put to public vote to decide which of the legendary women will be cast in iron on Central Square in Cardiff.

The full list

Arts

Dame Shirley Bassey DBE, singer and charity worker (1937-present)

Kate Bosse-Griffiths, Egyptologist and writer (1910-1998)

Brenda Chamberlain, artist, poet and novelist (1912-1971)

Charlotte Church, Singer-songwriter, TV presenter and activist (1986-present)

Gillian Clarke, poet, playwright, broadcaster and lecturer (1937-present)

Gwendoline Davies and Margaret Davies, philanthropists and art collectors (1882-1951) (1884-1963)

Mary Dillwyn, Wales’s first woman photographer (1816-1906)

Dilys Elwyn-Edwards, Welsh language composer, lecturer and accompanist (1918-2012)

Rebecca Evans, opera singer (1976-present)

Ann Griffiths, prominent Welsh hymn-writer (1776-1805)

Charlotte Guest, philanthropist, industrialist and translator of the Mabinogion (1812-1895)

Eirwen Gwynn, writer and Welsh nationalist, (1916-2007)

Augusta Hall, Lady Llanover, patron of Welsh arts and inventor of national costume (1802-1896)

Gwen John, artist best known for her portraits of anonymous women (1876-1939)

Cerys Matthews, singer-songwriter, author and broadcaster (1969-present)

Jan Morris, Welsh transgender author, travel writer and historian (1926-present)

Mavis Nicholson, writer, TV and radio presenter (1930-present)

Rungano Nyoni, award-winning film director (1982-present)

Tessie O’shea, entertainer and actress (1913-1995)

Eluned Phillips, poet and twice winner of the Bardic crown (1914-2009)

Siân Phillips, actor, author and singer (1933-present)

Kate Roberts, renowned Welsh writer and Welsh nationalist (1891-1985)

Rachel Thomas OBE, award winning actress (1905-1995)

Catherine Zeta-Jones CBE, actress and first Welsh woman to win an Oscar

Business

Laura Ashley, designer and businesswoman (1925-1985)

Anna Bastek, Founder and CEO of international translation company Wolfestone (1980-present)

Dame Nicola Davies DBE, first Welsh female QC and first Welsh female High Court Judge (1953-present)

Amy Dillwyn, novelist and businesswoman (1845-1935)

Rachael Flanagan, founder and CEO of Mrs Bucket Cleaning Company (1987-present)

Angela Gidden MBE, furniture designer (1960-present)

Honno, Welsh Women’s Press, publishers of books relevant to women in English and Welsh

Martha Musonza Holman, founder of Love Zimbabwe charity and Love Zimbabwe CIC

Cynthia Ogbonna, first female managing director of Cardiff Bus (1962-present)

Hayley Parsons, founder of Go Compare and entrepreneur (1973-present)

Joanna Penberthy, first female bishop in Wales

Dilys Price, world record sky-diver and founder of Touch Trust

Rachel Rowlands, founder of Rachel’s Organic Dairy Products (1982-present)

Heather Stevens, chair of the Waterloo Foundation, philanthropist and former High Sheriff of South Glamorgan (1958-present)

Laura Tenison, founder of Jojo Maman Bébé (1966-present)

Lucy Thomas, ‘mother of the Welsh-steam coal trade’ and businesswoman (1781-1847)

Agnes Twiston Hughes, first female solicitor to qualify in Wales (1895-1981)

Rachel Williams, ambassador for “Children Matter” Welsh Women’s Aid

Susan Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion potter and businesswoman (1918-2007)

Education

Deirdre Beddoe - Prof. of Women’s History at Uni of Glamorgan and co-founder of Women’s Archive Wales

Bridget Bevan ‘Madam Bevan’, philanthropist and education pioneer (1698-1779)

Rachel Sheldon Bromwich, Welsh culture and language scholar (1915-2010)

Betty Campbell, first black head teacher in Wales and activist (1935-2017)

Rose Crawshay, suffragette and campaigner for education for girls (1828-1907)

Hester Mackenzie - First female professor in Wales (1863-1942)

Ursula Masson - Lecturer in History at University of Glamorgan and co-founder of Women’s Archive Wales (1945-2008)

Emily Frost Phipps, barrister, teacher and president of Federation of Women Teachers (1865-1943)

Sarah Jane Rees “Cranogwen”, teacher, poet, editor, Temperance Union campaigner and mariner (1839-1916)

Linda Tomos, Chief Executive and librarian, National Library of Wales

Lady Danusia Trotman-Dickenson, Emeritus Professor of Economics

Audrey Williams, Teacher, archaeologist and first female president of RISW (1902-1978)

Politics, social reform, public services

Elizabeth Andrews, teacher, Labour’s first woman organiser for Wales and councillor (1882-1960)

Joan Coke, female police constable (1914-1988)

Winifred Coombe Tennant, suffragette, politician and patron of Welsh art (1874-1956)

Rose Davies, feminist, Labour activist, teacher and councillor (1882-1958)

Jessie Donaldson, anti-slavery campaigner (1799-1889)

Val Feld, Founder of Welsh Housing Aid (Shelter Cymru) and Welsh Assembly Member (1947-2001)

Sian James, female rights campaigner, first woman MP for Swansea East and activist during miners’ strike

Audrey Jones, teacher and founding member Welsh Assembly of Women (1930-2014)

Gaynor Legall, first BME woman councillor in Wales and ethnic-minority advocate

Megan Lloyd-George, First Welsh female MP in Wales (1902-1966)

Rachel Lomax - Economist, banker, former Permanent Secretary Welsh Office and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England

Lady Rhondda (Margaret Haig Thomas aka Margaret Mackworth), suffragette, businesswoman, author, publisher and editor (1883-1958)

Gwenllian Morgan, first woman mayor in Wales (1852-1939)

Ann Pettitt, peace activist

Annie Powell, teacher, councillor, mayor (1906-1986)

Charlotte Price-White, teacher and suffragist

Dorothy Rees, teacher and first woman MP in south Wales (1898-1987)

Eirene Lloyd white, political journalist, politician and Welsh office minister (1909-1999)

Kirsty Williams, former leader of Welsh Liberal Democrats and Education Secretary

Cecily Williams-Ellis, founding member of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) (1900-1992)

Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru

Sport

Nicole Cooke, cyclist and former Olympic and World Champion

Anne Ellis OBE, former GB and Welsh hockey captain and former Wales and GB coach

Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian, winner of 16 medals, TV presenter and crossbench peer

Jade Jones, Taekwondo athlete and 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medallist

Valerie Latham, swimmer and winner of two bronze medals at 1932 Los Angeles Olympics (1912-2001)

Hannah Mills, competitive sailor and 2016 Olympic gold medallist

Sheila Morrow, former GB hockey international, captain and chair of GB hockey

Irene Steer, swimmer and first Welsh woman to become an Olympic gold medallist (1889-1977)

Kirsty Wade, middle-distance runner and three times commonwealth gold medallist

STEM

Elizabeth ‘Betsi’ Cadwaladr, nurse and author (1789-1860)

Ilora Finlay, baroness Finlay of Llandaff, professor of palliative medicine and independent crossbench peer

Haley Gomez, Professor of Astrophysics

Frances Hoggan, first Welsh woman physician, social reformer and education campaigner (1843-1927)

Karen M Holford, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University

Hilary Lappin-Scott, Professor of Microbiology and Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor at Swansea University

Elaine Morgan, author, scriptwriter and anthropologist (1920-2013)

Tavi Murray, Professor of Glaciology and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor at Swansea University

Trudy Norris-Grey, General manager, Microsoft and chair of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering)

Emily Penn, sailor, artist and co-founder of Expedition

Mair Russell-Jones, enigma codebreaker at Bletchley Park (1917-2013)

Meena Upadhyay - Distinguished Prof. (hon) at Cardiff University, medical geneticists & founder of WAWAA

Julie Williams - Professor of Neuropsychological Sciences, senior figure in field of Alzheimer’s

Olwen Williams, consultant of genitourinary/HIV medicine

100. Mary Wynn Warner, mathematician (1932-1998)