Michelle O'Dwyer - Merseyside Woman of the Year 2026
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This week on the Ladies of Liverpool podcast, Leanne Campbell sits down with Michelle O’Dwyer, chef, community champion, founder of Bay Tree Cookery CIC and overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2026.
After Leanne hosted the awards and announced Michelle as the winner, she knew there was much more to her story – and this episode certainly proves it.
Michelle talks about the community work that has grown around Bay Tree Cookery, including the Christmas Day event she started after experiencing loneliness herself. What began as a simple idea has grown into a huge community effort, bringing together around 300 people who might otherwise be alone and creating a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of their circumstances or background.
She also shares her long-standing support for the Armed Forces and veterans, her work as a professional chef and the extraordinary fundraising challenges she has taken on – from cycling 300 miles across Vietnam and completing a military assault course to
This week, we are joined by Michelle O’Dwyer, chef, founder of Bay Tree Cookery CIC and Merseyside Woman of the Year 2026.
Michelle shares the incredible community work behind her award, from bringing hundreds of people together on Christmas Day to supporting veterans and fundraising through some seriously tough challenges. She also opens up about her own journey with trauma, giving up alcohol and learning to turn some of the hardest experiences of her life into what she now calls her “superpower.”