A clinical counsellor who hopes to make mental healthcare more accessible was named 2025 Woman of the Year at a summit that aims to inspire.

Dayla Burgess was honoured by the Women’s Empowerment Summit, which each year acknowledges a Bermudian female who is making a difference in the lives of others.

She was surprised by the recognition at the tenth annual event, which was held last month at CedarBridge Academy.

Ms Burgess said: “When my name was called, I felt the familiar tug of impostor syndrome. But I quickly reminded myself, why not you?”

As the founder of TeleConnect Bermuda, a company that offers teletherapy services tailored for adults, Ms Burgess is committed to expanding access to high quality mental healthcare across the island and to eliminating barriers.

She said: “Every day, I work to create spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued.

“In 2024, that commitment led me to launch TeleConnect, with a mission to make care more accessible while strengthening Bermuda’s mental health and healthcare ecosystem.”

TeleConnect is now an approved mental health provider for CG and Allshores and has introduced a therapist directory to support clients and practitioners.

Carla Zuill, the summit’s founder, explained how her organisation chooses the annual Woman of The Year.

She said: “We often look for unsung heroes in the community — women who are simply getting on with life, making a difference in the lives they touch.

“This year we chose Dayla because she is not only passionate about mental wellness in Bermuda, but she has humanised the topic and is constantly engaging her peers in the subject area, which is something we did not experience just a few short years ago.

“She is more than deserving of this recognition.”