February 2020: Emergency services, business consultancy and retail are prominent industries amongst the 24 finalists of the historic 25th Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards.
For 25 years, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards have recognised more than 3,000 exceptional women in leadership, who are transforming the way we do business in leadership from all corners of Australia and across all industries.
Katherine Innes, Detective Chief Superintendent at Queensland Police, is one of the most senior women in the Queensland Police Service. As the state’s highest-ranking Detective, she leads responses to serious organised crime in all crime classes.
Alanna Bastin-Byrne, is the Director of Femeconomy – a for-profit social enterprise that connects businesses and individuals with companies that have at least 30 per cent women on the Board of Directors or 50 per cent female ownership.
The list also includes Leanne Baker, a teacher and entrepreneur who loves to help people get organised through her business Leanne Baker Daily, which offers planners and online courses.
The Telstra Business Women’s Awards celebrates Australia’s most successful women from small, medium and large businesses, for-purpose organisations and social enterprises, academia and the public sector, as well as emerging leaders. Boost Juice’s Janine Allis, cooking icon Maggie Beer and Carman’s Kitchen’s Carolyn Creswell are all part of the incredible support network of Alumni helping each other connect, learn and grow.
Alex Badenoch, Telstra’s Group Executive of Transformation & People and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, congratulated and thanked the Queensland finalists for their commitment to setting an example for women in business.
“The 25th Telstra Business Women’s Awards finalists are challenging the status quo by using their collective power to rewrite what it means to be successful. They are championing inclusion and innovation, and inspiring others to do the same,” Ms Badenoch said.
“For a quarter of a century, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards have advocated for women in business, helping promote gender equality in the workplace and recognised the women who are paving the way for future generations.
“While there is still much left to be done, every barrier these women break in business brings us a little closer to inclusion and equality.”
The finalists of the 2020 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards are:
Small Business Award Carolyn Jensen, Cardio-Jenic Julie Verner-Mackay, aXcelerate Katie Richards, Virtual Legal Sarah-Jane Peterschlingmann, ATech Services
Medium & Large Business Award Angela Vidler, Diversity Offshore Staffing Solutions Jackie Rahilly, Appoint Robyn Valmadre, Villa World Limited Ulrike Lenitschek, Travel Experience.com.au Yinzhu Quan, Rio Tinto Aluminium
Public Sector & Academia Award
Dale Frieberg, Queensland Police Service Jeanette Allom Hill, Sunshine Coast Regional Council Katherine Innes, Queensland Police Service Megan Stiffler, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Michelle Baxter ASM, Queensland Ambulance Service
For Purpose & Social Enterprise Award Alanna Bastin-Byrne, Femeconomy Andrea Jackson, The Maraway Dominique Lamb, National Retail Association Ltd Jo Thomas, Metro Arts Ruth Limkin, The Banyans
Emerging Leader Award Gemma Renton, Vine Street Digital Leanne Baker, Leanne Baker Daily Melissa Spies, Moreton Bay Physical Culture Club Onica Mhaka, Height Dynamics Tamara Shaw, Beaute Industrie
Winners of the 2020 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards will be announced on the 24th of March, at Great Room, W Brisbane. State and Territory winners will be invited to Sydney for the National Awards judging and a National Awards dinner celebration on Thursday, 28th May 2020.
