The Australian Awards for Excellence in Women's Leadership

The Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership recognise the contribution of women at a National and State/Territory level to the advancement of gender equality across Australia. More specifically the awards recognise individual women that have, through their actions, improved the likelihood of other women within their field of endeavour having greater access to leadership equality.

Karen Mundine and Rochelle Courtenay receiving their award

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014

Sam Mostyn Cutout

National Winner

SAM MOSTYN AO

Chair, Aware Super 

SAM MOSTYN AO

Chair, Aware Super 

Asha Bhat

ASHA BHAT OAM (SHE/HER)

CEO, Southern Aboriginal Corporation

Sarah Goddard

DR SARAH GODDARD (SHE/HER)

Rural Generalist, Tennant Creek Hospital

Georgie-grid

GEORGIE STONE (SHE/HER)

Actor and Advocate 

Marcia-grid

PROF DR MARCIA LANGTON AO (SHE/HER)

Associate Provost

Khadija-grid-png

KHADIJA GBLA (SHE/THEY)

Speaker; Trainer; Activist; Advocate; Model; Writer

Dr Natasha Vavrek

DR NATASHA VAVREK (SHE/HER)

General Practitioner; Founder, The Bubble Tasmania

Susan-grid

THE HON SUSAN KIEFEL AC KC (SHE/HER)

Former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia 

Wendy-grid

WENDY MCCARTHY AO (SHE/HER)

Businesswoman and Activist

Joanne Farrell

JOANNE FARRELL (SHE/HER)

General Manager, Kane Constructions; Founder & Director, Build Like A Girl

WLA - Karen Mundine

National Winner

KAREN MUNDINE

CEO, Reconciliation Australia

KAREN MUNDINE

CEO, Reconciliation Australia

MOYA DODD AO

MOYA DODD AO

Partner, Gilbert + Tobin, Former Matildas Vice Captain

PAT ANDERSON AO

PAT ANDERSON AO

Chair, Batchelor Institute

WLA - NATASHA BULLOCK

NATASHA BULLOCK

Assistant Director, Collections and Exhibitions, National Gallery

ROCHELLE COURTENAY

ROCHELLE COURTENAY

Founder & Managing Director of Share the Dignity

GEORGIE HARMAN

GEORGIE HARMAN

CEO, Beyond Blue

TU LE

TU LE

Lawyer, Marrickville Legal

ZAHRA AL HILALY

ZAHRA AL HILALY

Youth Activist, Speaker and Author

COMMISSIONER DONNA ADAMS APM

COMMISSIONER DONNA ADAMS APM

Commissioner of Tasmania Police and Secretary of the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management

WLA - Christine Holgate

National Winner

CHRISTINE HOLGATE

Chief Executive Officer, Toll Global Express

CHRISTINE HOLGATE

Chief Executive Officer, Toll Global Express

WLA - DR ANNE WALTER

DR ANNE WALTERS

Chief Plant Health Officer, Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade

WLA - DR MIRIAM-ROSE UNGUNMERR BAUMANN AM

DR MIRIAM-ROSE UNGUNMERR

Aboriginal Elder; Renowned Artist; Activist

WLA - KYLIE WARD

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR KYLIE WARD

Chief Executive Officer, Australian College of Nursing

WLA - PROFESSOR KATE WARNER

PROFESSOR KATE WARNER AC

28th Governor of Tasmania

WLA - PROFESSOR NICOLA SPURRIER PSM

PROFESSOR NICOLA SPURRIER PSM

Chief Public Health Officer, SA Health

WLA - JAHNA CEDAR OAM

JAHNA CEDAR OAM

Executive Director, IPS Management Consultants

WLA - LISA COX

LISA COX

Media Professional and Disability Advocate

WLA - ANTOINETTE BRAYBROOK

ANTOINETTE BRAYBROOK

CEO, Djirra; Co-Chair, National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services

WLA - SHIVANI GOPAL

SHIVANI GOPAL

CEO & Founder, The Remarkable Woman

WLA - Natasha Stott

National Winner

NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA AO

Former Senator; Chair, Our Watch Australia

NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA AO

Former Senator; Chair, Our Watch Australia

WLA - SERGEANT ERICA GIBSON

SERGEANT ERICA GIBSON

Remote Policing in Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service

WLA - COMMANDER KELLY HAYWOOD

COMMANDER KELLY HAYWOOD

Navy Women’s Strategic Adviso

WLA - BELINDA HAZELL

BELINDA HAZELL

Principal Consultant, Optimum Standard

WLA - PATRICIA WARIA-READ

PATRICIA WARIA-READ

Chaplain, Department of Correctional Services

WLA - JUNE OSCAR AO

JUNE OSCAR AO

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

WLA - DR JEANNETTE YOUNG PSM

DR JEANNETTE YOUNG PSM

Chief Health Officer, QLD

WLA - CARLY FINDLAY OAM

CARLY FINDLAY OAM

Writer, Speaker and Appearance Activist

WLA - MARINA GO

MARINA GO

Independent Board Chair and Non-Executive Director

WLA - Nova Peris

National Winner

NOVA PERIS OAM OLY

Former Federal Senator and Olympian

NOVA PERIS OAM OLY

Former Federal Senator and Olympian

WLA - PRISCILLA ATKINS

PRISCILLA ATKINS

CEO, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA)

WLA - GEORGEINA WHELAN

GEORGEINA WHELAN AM CSC AND BAR

Commissioner, ACT Emergency Services Agency

WLA - ZELINDA SHERLOCK

ZELINDA SHERLOCK

Councillor & Community, Culture and Events Committee Chair, Hobart City Council; Education Officer

WLA - ANNABEL CRABB

ANNABEL CRABB

ABC Journalist, Author and Presenter

WLA - DIANE SMITH GANDER AO

DIANE SMITH-GANDER AO

Non-Executive Director, Advocate for Gender Equality; Past President of Chief Executive Women

WLA - ASHLEIGH BARTY

ASHLEIGH BARTY

Australian professional tennis player and former cricketer

WLA - JAMILA RIZVI

JAMILA RIZVI

Chief Creative Officer, Future Women; Author and Commentator

WLA - DR KERRYN PHELPS AM

DR KERRYN PHELPS AM

Councillor, City of Sydney; former President, Australian Medical Association

WLA - Tracey Spicer

National Winner

TRACEY SPICER AM

Reporter, Advocate and Author

TRACEY SPICER AM

Reporter, Advocate and Author

WLA - BETTINA DANGANBARR

BETTINA DANGANBARR

Founder & Chairperson, Galiwin’ku Women’s Space Inc; Anti-domestic violence campaigner

WLA - VIRGINIA HAUSSEGGER

VIRGINIA HAUSSEGGER AM

Director, 50/50 by 2030 Foundation

WLA - BERNADETTE BLACK

BERNADETTE BLACK

CEO and Founding Director, Brave Foundation

WLA - TANYA MONRO

PROFESSOR TANYA MONRO

Chief Defence Scientist and Physicist

WLA - SAMANTHA KERR

SAMANTHA KERR

Captain, The Matildas

WLA - LARISSA WATERS

SENATOR LARISSA WATERS

Co-Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens

WLA - HOLLY RANSOM

HOLLY RANSOM

CEO, Emergent; Non-Executive Director and Businesswoman

WLA - DR CATHERINE HAMLIN

DR CATHERINE HAMLIN AC

Pioneering Surgeon and Obstetrician

WLA - Gail Kelly

National Winner

GAIL KELLY

Businesswoman, former CEO, Author

GAIL KELLY

Businesswoman, former CEO, Author

WLA - NOVA PERIS OAM OLY

NOVA PERIS OAM OLY

Former Olympian Gold Medallist, Federal Senator and Principal Adviser, Sport & Recreation Participation

WLA - SIMONE WILKIE

MAJOR GENERAL SIMONE WILKIE AO

Commander, Australian Defence College

WLA - MARITA CHENG

MARITA CHENG

Women in Technology Advocate

WLA - TARYN BRUMFITT

TARYN BRUMFITT

Founder, Body Image Movement

WLA - KATE STANNAGE

DR KATE STANNAGE

President, Australian Paediatric Orthopaedic Society

WLA - KIRSTIN FERGUSON

DR KIRSTIN FERGUSON

Non-Executive Director, Chairman and Creator #celebratingwomen

WLA - MAGDA SZUBANSKI

MAGDA SZUBANSKI

TV and Film Actress, Comedian and Marriage Equality Advocate

WLA - GILLIAN TRIGGS

PROFESSOR GILLIAN TRIGGS

Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission

WLA - Ann Sherry

National Winner

ANN SHERRY AO

Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia

ANN SHERRY AO

Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia

WLA - ANDREA MASON

ANDREA MASON

CEO, Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women's Council

WLA - SALLY BARNES

SALLY BARNES

Director of National Parks, Parks Australia

WLA - LUCY OFLAHERTY

LUCY O'FLAHERTY

Chief Executive Officer, Glenview Community Service Inc

WLA - TANYA HOSCH

TANYA HOSCH

General Manager - Inclusion and Social Policy, AFL

WLA - LEONIE NOBLE

LEONIE NOBLE

National President, Women's Industry Network Seafood Community

WLA - KATARINA CARROLL

KATARINA CARROLL

Commissioner Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

WLA - ROSIE BATTY

ROSIE BATTY

CEO, Emergent; Non-Executive Director and Businesswoman

WLA - KATE MCLOUGHLIN

KATE MCLOUGHLIN

General Manager of Paralympic Performance, Australian Paralympic Committee

WLA - Elizabeth Broderick

National Winner

ELIZABETH BRODERICK AO

Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner

ELIZABETH BRODERICK AO

Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner

WLA - PATRICIA ANN

PATRICIA ANN MILLER AO

Deputy of the Administrator of the Northern Territory

WLA - JULIE MCKAY

JULIE MCKAY

Commander, Australian Defence College

WLA - SUSAN FAHEY

SUSAN FAHEY

CEO and Principal Solicitor, Women’s Legal Service Tasmania

WLA - JACQUI MCGILL

JACQUI MCGILL

Asset President, Olympic Dam, BHP Billiton

WLA - RABIA SIDDIQUE

RABIA SIDDIQUE

Lawyer, Humanitarian, Speaker and Author

WLA - ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK

THE HON. ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK MP

Premier of Queensland

WLA - MICHELLE DIXON

MICHELLE DIXON

CEO and Partner, Maddocks

WLA - LAYNE BEACHLEY

LAYNE BEACHLEY AO

7 Time World Surfing Champion & Founder of The Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars Foundation

WLA - Dame Quentin Bryce

National Winner

THE HONOURABLE DAME QUENTIN BRYCE AD CVO

Former Governor General of Australia

THE HONOURABLE DAME QUENTIN BRYCE AD CVO

Former Governor General of Australia

WLA - CLARE MARTIN

CLARE MARTIN

Freelance Journalist and Former NT Chief Minister and Labor Leader

WLA - PETA CREDLIN

PETA CREDLIN

Chief of Staff, Office of the Prime Minister

WLA - CHRISTINE MILNE

CHRISTINE MILNE

Leader of the Australian Greens

WLA - NATASHA STOTT

NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA AM

Australia’s Ambassador for Women & Girls & Former Senator

WLA - JULIE BISHOP

THE HON JULIE BISHOP MP

Minister for Foreign Affairs in Australia’s Federal Coalition Government

WLA - TERRI IRWIN

TERRI IRWIN AM

Conservationist, Tourism Ambassador and Owner of Australia Zoo

WLA - JANINE ALLIS

JANINE ALLIS

Businesswoman, Channel Ten’s Shark Tank Mentor and Owner of Boost Juice

WLA - MICHELLE BRIDGES

MICHELLE BRIDGES

Author, Trainer, Entrepreneur and Champion of Change

WLA - Julia Gillard

National Winner

JULIA GILLARD

Former Prime Minister of Australia

JULIA GILLARD

Former Prime Minister of Australia

WLA - BESS NUNGARRAYI

THE HON. BESS NUNGARRAYI PRICE

Minister for Community Services, Statehood, Women’s Policy, and Parks and Wildlife

WLA - ELIZABETH COSSON

ELIZABETH COSSON AM CSC

Deputy Secretary of the Business Services Group, Department of Immigration and Border Protection

WLA - LARA GIDDINGS

LARA GIDDINGS

Former Premier of Tasmania

WLA - MAGGIE BEER

MAGGIE BEER

Culinary Icon

WLA - CARMEN LAWRENCE

THE HON. CARMEN LAWRENCE

Former Federal President of the Australian Labor Party

THE HON. ANNA BLIGH

THE HON. ANNA BLIGH

Former Premier of Queensland

WLA - CAROL SCHWARTZ

CAROL SCHWARTZ AM

Founding Chair, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia

WLA - ITA BUTTROSE

ITA BUTTROSE AO OBE

Legendary media editor, best-selling author and 2013 Australian of the Year