Media Release, 15 September 2014

Twenty-four Queensland women shaking things up in their communities and industries have been named as finalists for the 2014 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards.

Two women changing the face of Queensland’s health services have been honoured. They are Professor Claire Jackson, a State and national health policy advisor from the University of Queensland and mastermind behind Queensland’s new alternative to hospital waiting lists – GP Superclinics; and Lyn Davies, Managing Director of Tunstall Healthcare who led the development of a Telehealth service to help keep patients with long-term medical needs at home.

The 24 finalists join a prestigious list of Telstra Queensland Business Women Award winners, including Rosemary Vilgan, CEO of QSuper, Therese Rein, Managing Director of Ingeus Limited and CEO of Assure Programs, Dr Dimity Dornan, founder of Hear and Say, and Megan Houghton, CEO of Brisbane City Council’s CitySmart.

This year, women who are recognised as leaders in their fields include Captain Jan Becker, CEO of flight training and air transport operations group Becker Helicopters; Robyn Petrou, CEO of Energy Super; and Melinda Watt, Vice President of environmental assessment business Earth Check.

Amongst this year’s finalists, and singled out in the innovation category, are RAAF Squadron Leader Samantha Freebairn, who pioneered a scheme to develop women jet fighter pilots, and GHD’s Chief Information Officer Elizabeth Harper, who introduced revenue-generating IT services.

Young Business Women’s Award finalists showing entrepreneurial flair include Cairns magazine publisher Bree James, who runs a ‘parent friendly’ workplace at Grand Publishing with 9am to 2.30pm business hours, and Joni Norling, founder of extreme weather advisory firm, The Yellow Company.

Kate McKenzie, Telstra Chief Operations Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador said, “The diversity of our 2014 Queensland finalists shines a light on Australian business women whose innovations and leadership are changing the industries and communities around them.

“As the longest standing national business awards program for women in Australia, the Awards have uncovered stories of amazing business women at all stages in their careers.

“The 2014 Queensland finalists join a long list of incredible alumni who have inspired us with their individual achievements, and done so much collectively for the promotion of women in the Australian business world,” she said.

As a partner of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, Vanessa Nolan-Woods, General Manager of Commonwealth Bank’s Women in Focus network, said: “For 20 years, the Telstra Business Women Awards have provided a high profile platform that celebrates the achievements of successful women. The Awards create positive role models for other aspiring women.

“Women in Focus is proud of our partnership with the Telstra Awards, and the role we have played together to create a supportive network of women to inspire future trailblazers,” she said.

Winners of the 2014 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Tuesday 30 September in Brisbane. The Queensland winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on 26 November.

For finalists across Australia the awards offer a chance to share in $650,000 in cash and prizes.

Finalists for the 2014 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards are:

Business Owner Award
Capt. Jan Becker, Becker Helicopter Services Pty Ltd, Marcoola
Fiona Cosgrove , Wellness Coaching Australia, Mermaid Beach
Sharon Kneen, Eskay Kids Pty Ltd, Karana Downs
Michelle McDowall, Arabon Accountants, Sherwood
Francesca Webster, Brazilian Beauty, Windsor
Helen Wood, TMS Consulting, Brisbane

Private and Corporate Sector Award

Lyn Davies, Tunstall Healthcare, Eagle Farm
Elizabeth Harper, GHD, Brisbane
Trish Hogan, Ramsay Healthcare, Gold Coast
Cathy Mackey, Shadforth Financial Group, Brisbane
Melinda Watt, EarthCheck, Brisbane

Community and Government Award
Anne Cross, UnitingCare Queensland, Brisbane
Squadron Leader Samantha Freebairn, Royal Australian Air Force, Amberley
Prof. Claire Jackson, University of Queensland Australia, Herston
Joanne Jessop, Multicap, Eight Mile Plains
Sonja Johnson, Regional Development Australia Far, North Queensland and Torres Strait Inc, Cairns
Robyn Petrou, Energy Super, Brisbane

Business Innovation Award
Lyn Davies, Tunstall Healthcare, Eagle Farm
Squadron Leader Samantha Freebairn, Royal Australian Air Force, Amberley
Elizabeth Harper, GHD, Brisbane
Prof. Claire Jackson, University of Queensland Australia, Herston
Sonja Johnson, Regional Development Australia Far, North Queensland and Torres Strait Inc, Cairns
Francesca Webster, Brazilian Beauty, Winsor

Young Business Women’s Award
Skye Anderton, Ruby Olive Jewellery, Brisbane
Linda Ireland, Mortgage Choice, Buderim
Bree James, Grand Publishing, Cairns
Decinda MacDonald, Sugar & Spice Events, Burleigh Heads
Fleur Madden, The Red Republic, Kangaroo Point
Joni Norling, The Yellow Company, Brisbane
Stephanie Whyte, FBI Sales, Coopers Plains

More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found on their website.