SOME of the best, bravest and brightest women in the last half century have won the accolade of Scotswoman of the Year, and everyone has a favourite SWOTY.

But as ANN FOTHERINGHAM discovered, for Anne Ledgerwood, newly appointed general manager of event sponsor St Enoch Centre, the task of picking this year's winner is a difficult one.

I THINK last year's winner, burns survivor and champion fundraiser Erin McNeill, stands out," explains Anne Ledgerwood, on a stroll around the Evening Times SWOTY exhibition in the St Enoch Centre.

"She is young, vibrant and exciting - everything that SWOTY should be as we enter a new era.

"But I also have a soft spot for Jean Donnachie and Noreen Real, the Glasgow supergrans who won the title in 2008, which was the first year we were involved as event sponsors."

Anne took over the reins of St Enoch from Susan Nicol, joining a small, but growing, band of female shopping centre managers in the UK.

"Traditionally, mall managers came through a technical route, so the role was dominated by men," explains Anne.

"Nowadays, shopping centres are about more than simply retail, they are about creating experiences, so I'd expect to see more female managers."

Anne, who lives in Ayrshire with her husband James and sons Harry, 12 and nine-year-old Oliver, was marketing director at the centre before her promotion earlier this year.

"I wanted to be a teacher at school," she recalls.

"I was first introduced to marketing at college, and it took me down a completely different career path from teaching, but it's one I love doing."

After several years working in the public sector, Anne was part of the team involved in launching Braehead Shopping Centre.

"It was my first taste of shopping centres and I loved it," she smiles.

"We try hard at St Enoch Centre to involve people in the community of the place - which is why we are delighted to be back on board with the Evening Times to support Scotswoman of the Year.

"The event is so important in the hearts and minds of people from Glasgow and beyond. It's an inspirational evening and part of the fabric of the city."

She adds: "One of the things I love about SWOTY is that every winner is important, all the way back to the first in 1963 and it's fantastic to continue to celebrate their achievements."

Growing up in the Vale of Leven, Anne was inspired by her grandmother, Annie Montague.

"She was a real personality, a fantastic storyteller," she smiles.

"I was really close to her and even though she died 13 years ago, there is not a day goes by without someone in our family talking about her.

"She instilled in me the importance of family and community, and that has always stayed with me."

Anne is relishing the challenge of her new role at St Enoch.

"It's going to be an exciting time, both here at the centre and in Glasgow over the next year," she says.

"With the Commonwealth Games coming in 2014, and the buzz around big events like the MTV Awards, it feels like the city is going places."

Anne loves shopping, citing London's new supermall, Westfield, and the colourful mix of bazaars and modern malls in Istanbul as her favourite retail destinations. But she admits it can be hard to switch off.

"I love shopping, but whenever I'm in a shopping centre I can't help but think - that's a good idea, or, I wouldn't have done it that way..." she laughs.

"My husband and kids don't get to go on shopping trips at the weekends, because I do it all day long."

She pauses, then grins. "Come to think if it, my husband is probably quite happy about that..."