Female NFP Leaders Named Women of Influence
29 September 2015 at 10:25 am
Female leaders in the Not for Profit sector have been named as winners in the fourth annual 100 Women of Influence Awards, which highlights the contribution Australian women make in the workplace and public life.
The Awards, and initiative of Westpac and the Australian Financial Review, are divided into 10 categories, including Social Enterprise and Not for Profit which named 11 women.
CEO of the McGrath Foundation, Petra Buchanan was among the category winners. Buchanan was recognised for her contribution to leading the Foundation in its mission to fund McGrath Breast Nurses in communities around Australia, as well as for her work co-founding TuShare, a sharing platform which rehouses products to prevent landfill.
“I am honoured to be recognised alongside so many interesting and inspiring women. The McGrath Foundation is an amazing cause that motivates me every day to do more and to do better in fulfilling our commitment to help every family in Australia experiencing breast cancer ensuring they have access to a breast care nurse, no matter where they live or their financial situation,” Buchanan said.
The other winners in the Social Enterprise and Not for Profit category were Claire Hammerton, CEO of ChilOut (Children Out of Immigration Detention), Amanda Tattersall, Founder and director of strategic planning of The Sydney Alliance, Eman Sharobeem, CEO of The Immigrant Women's Health Service, Fabian Dattner, Founding partner of The Dattner Grant, Jane Burns, CEO of Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, Justine Perkins, Founder of The Touched by Olivia Foundation, Kate Sutton, Director of The Humanitarian Advisory Group, Kay Schubach, advocate, consultant and ambassador of Domestic Violence NSW, Lea Waters, Director, Centre for Positive Psychology at The University of Melbourne, Maggie Haertsch, CEO of The Arts Health Institute.
Notable women from the social sector also excelled across other categories, including Aviva Tuffield, Executive Director of The Stella Prize, in Culture, Mim Bartlett, philanthropist, in Local/Regional, Renee Carr, Executive Director of Fair Agenda, in Young Leader, Rosemary Addias, Co-Founder of Impact Investing Australia, in Innovation and Anna Shepard, CEO of Regal Home Health, in Business Enterprise.
Westpac Director of Women's Markets, Diversity and Inclusion, Ainslie van Onselen said the diversity of talent among the winners shows the significant impact women have in Australia.
"The ability to motivate, mentor and inspire is key for successful leadership. The 2015 Women of Influence winners are a reflection of this ideal and represent the high calibre of female role models in Australia for young women," van Onselen said.
"Australia's most influential women know that to create a tangible difference in business today, leaders need to look after their team, while demonstrating strong strategic capabilities and vision.”
The category winners and overall winner for 2015 will be announced on 15 October at the Sydney Town Hall.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick was named as Australia’s top Woman of Influence for 2014. The Human Rights Commission said Broderick has been committed to improving gender equality through her advocacy in preventing violence against women and sexual harassment, promoting women’s representation in leadership and strengthening gender equality laws and agencies.
