Daphne Mahon, who knocked her way into the archives of property history earlier this year in Ireland by becoming Alsop’s’ first female auctioneer was honoured to attend The Woman of the Year awards yesterday in London.
Founded in 1955, the lunch and awards celebrate women’s dedication, success and achievements. Winners of this year’s awards included Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, author PD James, women’s rights activist Zainab Salbi, singer Kate Woolveridge and team GB’s Olympic and Paralympic women medallists.
Daphne’s remarkable achievements were recognised by the organisers of the Women of the Year Awards who invited her to attend the lunch. Speaking after the awards Daphne commented “I was honoured to have been invited to such an event, it was a truly inspiring and very humbling day meeting women from all different walks of life and hearing how they are doing outstanding things in their field.” Highlighted as one of the many extraordinary women in the room, Daphne received special mention in the programme being described as “the first woman property auctioneer in 106 years at Allsop, Britain’s leading property auction house.”
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, President of the Women of the Year, said: “The magic of this event – and what makes it unique – is the way in which it brings together the most fabulous women from the widest range of geographical, social, ethnic and political backgrounds; from the very well-known to unsung heroines doing outstanding work in their community.
Property has always been a staple part of Daphne’s life growing up in the small town of Kesh in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland and as a young child she would travel to numerous property and machinery auctions around the country with her father. When asked about her aspirations of becoming an auctioneer Daphne reflects “I grew up attending Allsop and other auctions and knew as a little girl I wanted to become an auctioneer.”
Daphne attended the University of Ulster, Jordanstown where she received a first class honours degree in Property Investment & Development. While attending a course in Missouri, USA, she became a member of the Professional Ringman’s Institute and assisted the auctioneers in the hectic Property and Chattel auctions, American style. Here, she stood out in a male dominated arena. In September 2008 she joined Allsop on their graduate rotation scheme and qualified as a chartered surveyor.
In 2009, Daphne won the prestigious RICS Matrics Auction Competition in the UK. The national biennial competition dates back to 1975 and previous winners are now in the auction teams of Allsop, Acuitus, and Jones Lang LaSalle. Daphne made her debut on the Rostrum at the Allsop Space may property auction at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin where she helped raise €13 million.
Daphne’s exceptional achievement was recognised by the organiser of the Women of the Year Awards who invited her to attend the lunch. Speaking after the awards Daphne commented “I was honour to have been invited to such an event, it was a truly inspiring and very humbling day meeting women from all different walks of life and hearing how they are doing outstanding things in their field.”
