Chappell (pictured above) is also the FCO’s lead on the government’s GREAT campaign to promote Britain abroad. She picked up her ‘Community Spirits’ award at a ceremony last night at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in Mayfair.
Around 200 women under 35 years old were nominated for a total of 11 award categories. The awards were hosted by SME magazine Real Business in association with Shell.
“I was very surprised to have won this award,” she told CSW. “There have been so many extraordinary and inspiring women among the nominees, so I am really chuffed.”
One of the key achievements contributing to her success, she said, was a project she led while working as ambassador in Guatemala from 2009 to 2012.
As part of a campaign to fight violence, Chappell worked with local youth groups to organise a human chain on Guatemala’s 3,765m-high Volcán de Agua – an extinct volcano south-west of Guatemala City - in protest of domestic violence.
More than 18,000 Guatemalans of all ages joined in, contributing to a “massive undertaking”, Chappell said.
The event, she said, was a success, not only because it received substantial media coverage, but also thanks to the “power of being part of something so much bigger than one individual”.
Another contributing factor to winning this trophy, she said, was simply “being a young female leader in quite a traditionally male-led department”. She added: “I think the FCO has changed in that respect a lot over the years, but the perception outside of the department is still catching up.”
Chappell first joined the civil service straight after finishing university almost 15 years ago via the fast stream programme. Entering the civil service that way was lucky, she said. “I was literally the last girl in. Three people dropped out before I got a place. I was very lucky.”