Telstra Women’s Award Looks to Social Enterprise
6 May 2015 at 9:40 am
Women running social enterprises and Not for Profit organisations are eligible to enter a new category designed to showcase those delivering positive social change in the 2015 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
Telstra Chief Operations Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, Kate McKenzie said the introduction of new categories in Australia’s longest-running business women’s awards was important to reflect changes in Australian business.
“We believe in a broad definition of success, so we’ve adjusted our Awards categories this year to make sure we continue to recognise vibrant business women from all industries,” McKenzie said.
“In 2015 we’ll introduce a new category For Purpose and Social Enterprise which recognises that more and more Australian women are leading businesses, including Not for Profits and social ventures, designed to deliver positive social and environmental change here in Australia and overseas.
“Another key change this year is the addition of both Start-Up and Entrepreneur categories that are open to the many inspiring women who’ve backed themselves and taken the risks to turn their passion into businesses. We’ve also lowered the age of the Young Woman’s category to 29 years and under, to highlight women who are breaking new ground early in their careers.
“I urge you to nominate a brilliant business woman you admire and then encourage her to enter the Awards.”
In 2014, Anne Cross, the CEO of UnitingCare Queensland was named the 20th Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Cross, a former front-line social worker and champion of the Not for Profit sector, reshaped the way healthcare, community and aged care services are delivered to hundreds of communities and the thousands of people UnitingCare helps every day.
Mia Klitsas, Director of Millie and More and 2014 Telstra Victorian Young Business Women’s Award winner, said: “After reading an online article about the high rates of school absenteeism amongst Ugandan school girls I realised my existing business in women’s personal care was the perfect platform to drive positive change in areas I was truly passionate about.
“As women in social enterprise businesses, I really think we’re setting an excellent example for younger women; if we want to see positive change in the world, we have to create and help drive it."
Other Telstra Awards Alumni running social enterprises include Audette Exel AO, founder of the Adara Group, Annabelle Chauncy OAM of School for Life Foundation, and Diana Butler of The Care for Africa Foundation.
The 2015 Telstra Business Women’s Awards six Awards categories include:
- Start Up (owns minimum 25 per cent; business under three years old);
- Entrepreneur (owns minimum 25 per cent; business more than three years old);
- For Purpose and Social Enterprise (delivers positive social/environment change as its core mission; includes not for profit and social ventures);
- Government and Academia (government departments; educational institutions; statutory bodies);
- Corporate and Private (employed by the organisation); and
- Young Business Women (under 29 as at 30 June 2015).
The Telstra Awards are open to women in all States and Territories. Nominations can be made at womensawards.com or by calling 1800 817 536. Entries are open from 11 May to 29 June.
