Oscar Wins NFP Category in Women of Influence
18 October 2013 at 5:44 pm
An Indigenous leader has won the Not for Profit category in the top 100 Women of Influence Awards announced in Sydney.
The CEO of the Marninwarntikura Fitzroy Women’s Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation, June Oscar has won in the category of Social Enterprise and Not for Profit in the Top 100 Women of Influence – an event by The Financial Review and Westpac which celebrates and recognises influential women who are changing Australia.
The overall award for the top Woman of Influence went to Senior Scientist Adele Green from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. Green is known for her work in convincing Australians to wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and was among the first identify the skin cancer epidemic in Australia.
Taking out the top award in the Philanthropy category was Sam Meers, the Executive Director of the Nelson Meers Foundation, a private philanthropic arts foundation.
June Oscar was one of 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to appear on the Westpac/Australian Financial Review’s top 100 list.
Reconciliation Australia CEO Leah Armstrong said that the high proportion of First Nations women on the list augured extremely well for the challenges facing Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“June Oscar epitomises the calibre of the women on this list with her determination to make change in her home community of Fitzroy Crossing,” Armstrong said.
“From station cook she went on to lead a successful fight to reduce the devastating impact of grog in her community; taking on the alcohol industry, government and parts of her own community to an historic victory.
“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander finalists on this list show the high calibre and deep pool of women leaders in our communities and this is a truly encouraging sign as Australia continues towards reconciliation and equity.
“To close the gaps and overcome the decades of prejudice and disadvantage will require both men and women of high intellect, energy and capacity and the list released today suggests we already have a strong cohort of women meeting these criteria.
“On behalf of Reconciliation Australia I offer our heartfelt congratulations and praise for their continued leadership. They are a source of inspiration to us all.”
