Leading ACT innovators celebrated in business women's Awards
ACT innovators, including a young entrepreneur who founded a dog walking business, a CEO who turbo charged online education for pharmacists, and the owner of a thriving eco-friendly landscape business, are among 15 finalists for the 2013 Telstra ACT Business Women’s Awards.
Liesel Wett, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, is a finalist in the Business Innovation Award and Community and Government Award, who counts introducing online professional development for pharmacists as a recent career achievement.
Among six finalists for the Business Innovation Award are Elizabeth Avery Scott, who established the Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art in 2009 with actor-director husband James Scott, and horticulturist Lisa Roberts, who co-founded Provincial Plants and Landscapes, a sustainable business of two nurseries, a landscaping company and polyculture farm.
Ms Avery Scott says her vision is to develop local talent for stage and screen by making participation in dramatic art accessible and to help students make money from their craft, while Ms Roberts says her business is the only carbon positive nursery-landscaper in Australia.
Two leaders of the local health sector are also among the finalists for the Community and Government Award. Veronica Croome, Chief Nurse for ACT Health, champions education, training and research for nurses and midwives and Margaret Beerworth, Director of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia – ACT Branch, promotes pharmacy and community preventative health programs in areas such as cardiovascular health.
Young entrepreneur, Rhiannon Beach, is a finalist for the Young Business Women’s Award. As a teenager Ms Beach was the Australasian winner of a CPA Australia competition where students had to create a real life business scenario. At the age of 19, she launched her own professional business, Pups4Fun, specialising in dog walking and behavior modification.
Also a finalist for the Business Owner Award, Ms Beach said: “One of the most difficult business challenges was to believe in myself and maintain drive and dedication when financial institutions and suppliers did not consider me a serious business.”
Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director Telstra Innovation, Products and Marketing and Ambassador of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, said the Awards celebrated the hard work and determination of business women in the ACT.
“For 19 years we’ve run the Awards to inspire leading business women to realise their potential and celebrate their success. We believe the 2013 ACT finalists are entrepreneurs, innovators and managers who can inspire our nation and the following generation,” Ms McKenzie said.
CommBank’s Women in Focus program, which opens doors to opportunity for women across Australia, is an Official Partner of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
Karen James, General Manager, Women in Focus and Affiliate Business Banking said: “Partnering with the Telstra Business Women’s Awards for the fifth year is vital to our purpose. The Alumni inspire the womeninfocus.com.au community through speaking at our events, sharing their story and expertise online, and mentoring women in the community.”
Previous winners of the Telstra ACT Australia Business Woman of the Year Award include Dr Helen Watchirs, ACT Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Robyn Walker, Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force, and Kate Sykes, owner of CareerMums.
Winners of the 2013 Telstra ACT Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Wednesday 9 October in Canberra. The ACT winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on Thursday 14 November.
For winners across Australia the awards offer a share in $200,000 in cash and prizes.
Finalists for the 2013 Telstra ACT Business Women’s Awards are:
Business Owner Award
Elizabeth Avery, Scott Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, Fyshwick
Rhiannon Beach, Pups4Fun, Curtin
Louise Curtis, Lollypotz, Canberra
Caron Egle, SAGE Thinking, Canberra
Allison Guy-Ritchie, PCA People, Canberra City
Lisa Roberts, Provincial Plants and Landscapes, Pialligo
Private and Corporate Sector Award
Anita Borella, GHD Pty Ltd, Canberra
Katrina Pilcher, Altis Consulting, Canberra City
Community and Government Award
Margaret Beerworth, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Barton
Veronica Croome, ACT Health, Canberra City
Julia Newton-Howes, CARE, Australia Canberra
Fran Raymond, UN Women Australia National Committee, Canberra
Gemma Van Halderen, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Belconnen
Liesel Wett, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Deakin
Business Innovation
Elizabeth Avery, Scott Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, Fyshwick
Louise Curtis, Lollypotz, Canberra
Caron Egle, SAGE Thinking, Canberra
Julia Newton-Howes, CARE Australia, Canberra
Lisa Roberts, Provincial Plants and Landscapes, Pialligo
Liesel Wett, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Deakin
Young Business Women’s Award
Rhiannon Beach, Pups4Fun, Curtin
Anita Borella, GHD Pty Ltd, Canberra
Tara Taubenschlag, CMAX Communications, Barton
More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found on the Telstra Business Awards website.