The award, given to individuals who have made a difference to society in recognition of their exceptional achievement and dedicated service, honours Janine’s tireless commitment over the past 10 years to developing a number of world-class, award-winning jazz artists and two internationally acclaimed companies now acknowledged as leaders in the field of jazz performance and recordings, and music education.

Together with her partner, bassist Gary Crosby, she has successfully created one of the country’s leading independent record labels, Dune Records. As artist manager, Janine has achieved significant success with more than 20 music awards having been collected by Dune artists including two from the Mercury Music Prize for An Album Of The Year, two MOBO Awards, an Urban Music Award, several BBC Radio Jazz Awards and four international awards.

Born in Harrow, North West London, Janine trained as a classical pianist but later studied dance and then photography. She worked for 13 years in the City Of London — first as a PA/Secretary for a major classical music publisher and an international bank, then as a Systems & Premises Manager for an international trading company. Bored with the lack of a creative outlet, she left her job in the City in 1994 to return to the Arts as a freelance photographer. Although Janine had many of her photographs and articles published, more and more she found herself helping out on every aspect of Gary’s bands’ touring (Nu Troop and Jazz Jamaica), even driving the band bus on nationwide tours. Eventually, the workload forced her to put aside her photography ambitions and devote herself full time to music.

Learning on the job, Gary and Janine established Crosby Irons Associates Ltd (1996 - which was to become The Dune Music Company Ltd) and Tomorrow’s Warriors Ltd (1998) to provide a creative ‘home’ for exceptionally talented young musicians pursuing professional careers in jazz, whilst nurturing and mentoring the next generation of upcoming musicians. In 1999, Janine was nominated for a European Federation of Black Women Business Owners (EFBWO) Award, which recognises and celebrates the achievements of Black businesswomen.

The label, Dune Records, celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2007. In celebration of this important landmark, and to coincide with the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition Of The Slave Trade Act, Dune and Tomorrow’s Warriors are producing a series of major international showcases and large-scale projects involving live performances of new work, TV/radio activities, inspirational workshops and academic debates led by their award-winning roster of artists.

Janine Irons centre, photo by Russ Escritt