Double celebration for manager

Mar 10 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

COMPANY boss Lianne Walker has high hopes of a double celebration on Thursday.

Not only is the group general manager of Washington’s Walker Filtration going to Buckingham Palace to pick up her MBE, but she is returning to County Durham in the evening as a finalist in the nebusiness awards.

She is proud to follow her father Brian Walker, who founded Walker Filtration in 1983 and was made an MBE in 2001.

But she is preparing herself for a hectic day of travel before the awards, organised by The Journal and Evening Gazette in association with Business Link. “It really was a huge surprise and a great honour to be awarded an MBE. It was a particular joy for me as I am following in my father’s footsteps,” she said.

“When we heard we had been shortlisted for the North East Business Awards we were delighted. It was only a few days later that the double booking on the same day sank in.”

Ms Walker and members of her staff are shortlisted for not one, but two awards at the Durham and Wearside finals of the nebusiness awards, the Export Award and Company of the Year.

Walker Filtration employs 150 staff making hi-tech filtration products for the compressed air and gas market together with a range of products designed for the medical sector.

After working her way through the business for 17 years, Lianne was appointed group general manager in 2005 and has steered the company through a period of significant growth.

The past three years have seen the company increase sales by 58%, which includes a 76% increase in exports. The company is now a world leading manufacturer in its markets and exports account for 85% of sales.