Shepperton Care Home Manager Wins Eminent Woman of Impact Award
Margielyn Gonzaga, Home Manager at The Burlington care home in Shepperton, has been named Recipient of the Eminent Woman of Impact Award at the 2026 Women’s Community Impact Awards Dorset.
The awards, organised by Arts for Survival in celebration of International Women’s Day, recognise women making profound differences in communities across Dorset, the UK, and beyond. Gonzaga will receive her award at a gala ceremony on Saturday, 7th March 2026, at the Hilton Bournemouth Hotel.
The recognition celebrates not only Gonzaga’s extraordinary leadership at The Burlington, but her wider commitment to empowering others and creating lasting change across multiple communities.
“I’m genuinely humbled to receive this award,” said Gonzaga. “But honestly, any impact I’ve made comes from working alongside incredible people, our team at The Burlington, the women I serve with at Women’s Voice, and the Aklanon community here in the UK. We create spaces where people feel valued and where their voices matter. That’s what drives me, and knowing that this work has made a difference means the world.”
Gonzaga’s impact reaches far beyond The Burlington’s walls. As an Executive Board Member of Women’s Voice and President of the Aklanon Community in the UK and Ireland, she has been a tireless advocate for the vulnerable and a champion for community empowerment. She has also led international charitable initiatives, bringing her passion for service to a global stage.
With more than three decades of nursing expertise, Gonzaga has redefined excellence in healthcare. Originally from the Philippines and a member of the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council since 2003, she has transformed care standards and mentored the next generation of nursing leaders with compassion and integrity.
Under Gonzaga’s leadership, The Burlington has earned the Care Quality Commission’s highest possible rating, ‘Outstanding’, for being responsive to people’s needs, and achieved ‘Good’ ratings across all other categories. The home has also won the Physical Activity Award at the National Activity Awards in 2025 and was crowned Champion of People and Progress at the Surrey Care Awards 2025.
Gonzaga has pioneered intergenerational programmes with local schools, including partnerships with Saxon Primary School that bring children and residents together for activities like National Puzzle Day. These initiatives create moments of genuine joy that benefit both generations, fostering relationships that enrich the whole community.
Ameet Kotecha, Founder and Managing Director of Boutique Care Homes, said:
“This award recognises what the company sees every single day, a leader who doesn’t just manage, but truly cares. Margie’s passion for people, her commitment to excellence, and her genuine love for residents, their families, and the team shine through in everything she does. She’s created something special at The Burlington: a place where residents feel at home, families feel reassured, and staff feel inspired to be their best. Margie embodies everything Boutique Care Homes stands for.”
