Ten brilliant business women representing a diverse range of sectors from tourism and social welfare to photography and the law have been named as finalists for the 2015 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Awards.

They include Helen Martin, managing director of eco-friendly Banubanu Wilderness Retreat on Bremer Island, 15 kilometres north of Nhulunbuy. A former Federal public servant and champion for East Arnhem Land tourism, she is a member of the NT Chief Minister’s Indigenous Tourism Advisory Council.

Another finalist is Dale Wakefield, executive officer of Alice Springs Women’s Shelter (ASWS) since 2007 who has 25 years’ experience in the health, women’s and disability services sector. The ASWS has supported women and children experiencing domestic and family violence in Central Australia since 1977.

Other entrepreneurs named as finalists this year include Jessica Dix, managing director and principal photographer of Berrimah-based Majestic Media, Hollie Goodall, professional triathlete and owner of NT Swim School and Mary Linnell, founder of Easy Glass Services, a glazing business located in Darwin.

Deborah Bampton is a finalist for one of the new Awards in 2015, the For Purpose and Social Enterprise category. She is service development manager and administrator within the Disability Services at Somerville Community Services, a not-for-profit organisation supporting Territorians for 50 years.

Megan Lawton, CEO of the Law Society Northern Territory since 2011, and Zimbabwean-raised Deborah Hall, general manager Northern Territory of CPA Australia, are finalists for the Government and Academia Award.

Other finalists include Alice Beilby, founder and executive director of Katherine-based Savanna Alliance (Australia) Corporation Limited, a 100 per cent Aboriginal social enterprise supporting Aboriginal businesses, and Brigid Beilby, owner and pastry chef of Darwin-based Alley Cats Patisserie.

The 10 finalists join an Alumni that includes winners Darwin optometrist Helen Summers, Department of Housing chief executive Anne Bradford, Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency CEO Priscilla Collins, CEO of Darwin’s Venture Housing Jillian Ritherdon and Shannon Hallatt, owner of OT for Kids NT.

Telstra Chief Operations Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, Kate McKenzie, said Northern Territory business women were excelling in a broad range of sectors.

“Now in their 21st year, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards not only celebrate women who have the courage to start their own business and lead their industries, but also offer them a platform to encourage others to challenge the status quo and think differently,” Ms McKenzie said.

“The 2015 Northern Territory finalists join a long list of successful business women, whose unique and innovative approaches to leadership at state and local community levels, and in some cases, globally, continue to impress and inspire the Awards judges.”

Vanessa Nolan-Woods, General Manager Business & Private Banking and Women in Focus, CommBank, a long-term partner of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, said: “The Northern Territory Telstra Business Women’s Awards finalists are achieving extraordinary things.

“This is exactly the mandate of Women in Focus – to support women to succeed across diverse industries and become positive role models for other women through connection and collaboration. Women in Focus is proud to support these awards and play a proactive part in encouraging future trailblazers.

Finalists for the 2015 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Awards are:

Start-up Award
Brigid Beilby, Alley Cats Patisserie, Darwin

Entrepreneur
Jessica Dix, Majestic Media, Berrimah
Hollie Goodall, NT Swim School, Darwin
Mary Linnell, Easy Glass Services, Darwin
Helen Martin, Banubanu Wilderness Retreat, Bremer Island

For Purpose and Social Enterprise
Deborah Bampton, Somerville Community Services Inc, Darwin
Alice Beilby, Savanna Alliance Corporation Ltd, Katherine
Dale Wakefield, Alice Springs Women’s Shelter, Alice Springs

Government and Academia
Deborah Hall, CPA Australia, Darwin
Megan Lawton, Law Society Northern Territory, Darwin

Young Business Women’s Award
Brigid Beilby, Alley Cats Patisserie, Darwin
Jessica Dix, Majestic Media, Berrimah

Winners of the 2015 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Friday 2 October in Darwin. The Northern Territory winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on Wednesday 18 November.

For more information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards and to nominate brilliant business women for the 2016 Awards, visit www.womensawards.com.