The boss of Kent’s only accredited chamber of commerce said she was “starstruck” after joining Nicole Kidman, Arlene Phillips, Sandi Toksvig and Jo Brand at the Women of the Year Lunch.

Jo James, chief executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, joined more than 400 women from all walks of life at the special 60th anniversary bash.

She was invited as one of 2015’s Women of Achievement, having been involved in winning large Government grants for infrastructure in the county as part of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership.

The event at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel on Monday was attended by a host of celebrities.

Its saw breast cancer awareness campaigner Kristin Hallenga, the founder of CoppaFeel!, named the Outstanding Young Campaigner of the Year while Cokie van der Velde won the top Barclays Women of the Year Award for her work in the fight against ebola.

Mrs James, who lives in Ashford, said: “I feel very honoured to be recognised as a Woman of the Year.

“I am in the fortunate position of being able to do a job that I enjoy immensely, working alongside a fantastic team of people in a very vibrant and entrenpreneurial business community in Kent & Medway.”