It’s time to celebrate the achievements of extraordinary local women with entries opening for the Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards.
Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager for Riverina Murray, Loretta Willaton, has urged the Young community to make 2012 the year they nominate local business women for the prestigious national Awards, now in their 18th year.
“Innovative business women can come from anywhere and we certainly have many in the Riverina Murray region who inspire others by their courage and leadership,” Ms Willaton said.
“We strongly encourage women who are nominated to enter the awards,” she said.
“For finalists and winners, they offer significant benefits from the increased public profile, networking opportunities and a share in more than $200,000 in cash and prizes,” she said.
Nokia Australia’s Managing Director, Chris Carr, said every year the calibre of entries for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards blows him away.
“There are thousands of women across Australia that are doing exceptional things in industry or research and these awards are a way to bring them together and recognise them for their achievements,” he said.
Cathie Reid, 2011 national winner of the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award and co-owner of specialised pharmacy services business APHS, called on local women nominated for the awards to take the next step and enter in 2012.
“If you believe you’ve been successful and can inspire others, it’s time for your story to be heard,” Ms Reid said.
She said the experience gave her the opportunity to reflect on and recognise what she had achieved.
She said it also gave her exposure to new networks and insights beyond her own industry which she wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“If someone nominates you, don’t dismiss it; be proud and back yourself,” Ms Reid said.
There are three qualifying categories in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards:
* Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award - Open to owners with a 50 per cent share or more in a business with responsibility for key management decision making.
* Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award - Open to employees in the private and corporate sectors, or owners with less than a 50 per cent share in a business.
* White Pages® Community and Government Award - Open to employees in government departments, statutory bodies or not-for-profit organisations.
There are two specialist categories:
* Nokia Business Innovation Award - Recognising innovation across a number of areas including sales and marketing, process, product or service.
* marie claire Young Business Women’s Award – Open to entrants in one of the qualifying categories aged 34 years or under as at 30 June 2012.
Awards are offered in each category in every state and territory and winners will be announced at public events held between September 18 and October 16.
State and territory winners are eligible for the national awards which will be announced at the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards in Sydney on November 21.
Entries are until midnight on June 19.
To nominate business women or for further information about the Awards, please visit: www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com or call 1800 817 536 between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday.
