Nominations open for AFR and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards
Nominations have opened for The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards.
The announcement:
Nominations have opened for The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards, which are dedicated to recognising and celebrating influential women across Australia.
Westpac Group Chief Executive Officer, Gail Kelly, and Fairfax Media Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Greg Hywood, officially launched the 2014 program at an event in Sydney this morning. Joined by last year’s Innovation and overall Woman of Influence Award winner, Professor Adele Green AC, Mrs Kelly marked the launch with a call for nationwide entries to recognise inspiring Australian women across a range of industries.
Mrs Kelly said: “It is crucial that as a community, we recognise, promote and celebrate the impact influential women are making as leaders in their respective field.
“Last year’s overall winner, Professor Adele Green, is such an incredible example of this through her influential work in proving that daily sunscreen use can halve the risk of melanoma. The greater understanding Adele has given us of this insidious disease is of particular relevance to us here in Australia when you consider that 11,000 Australians are diagnosed with melanoma every year.
“I would encourage you all to help recognise the outstanding and influential women in your own lives by nominating those women for the one of the Awards. We have so many inspirational women who are making a difference with their work, not only today, but also inspiring our future generations to make real change.”
Fairfax Media’s CEO, Greg Hywood commented: “We believe that sharing the positive stories of women in our society can have a powerful impact in helping individuals and companies in Australia to think and act in more progressive ways.
“Fairfax Media welcomes your involvement and interest in the 2014 awards – and we encourage every potential entrant to take this opportunity to let themselves shine bright.”
Now in its third year, the 100 Women of Influence Awards are open to all Australians to nominate outstanding and influential women across corporate, community, arts, philanthropy, public and not- for-profit sectors.
The awards continue to grow year on year, with a 33% increase in nominations received in 2013, compared to 2012. It is expected this year’s program will grow again as people take the opportunity to celebrate women in Australia who achieve outstanding results in their fields.
There are ten categories including: Board/Management, Public Policy, Young Leader, Social Enterprise and Not-for-profit, Philanthropy, Global Influence, Innovation, Local/Regional Community, Diversity and Business Enterprise. Entries will be assessed by a panel of esteemed judges, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
The overall 2013 Woman of Influence and Innovation winner Prof. Green said “Being the overall winner for the 100 Women of Influence Awards was a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of my field of work and the role that women play. It opened unexpected doors and presented new opportunities for my team and I. I encourage you to nominate women you admire, so both the community and they themselves can see the power and far-reaching benefits of their efforts.”
Nominations for the 2014 100 Women of Influence Awards are open from today, Friday 4 July, and close on 10 August 2014. Entries can be submitted online at www.100womenofinfluence.com.au.
The program culminates in an awards presentation event where winners will be announced from the 100 finalists, at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday 22 October 2014.
Source: Third Avenue media release
