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Police and arts chiefs named among Awards finalists

One of the State’s highest ranking police officers and a self-described campaigner for making art more accessible are among 14 finalists for the 2011 Telstra NSW Business Women’s Awards.

Catherine Burn, Deputy Commissioner for Corporate Services in the NSW Police Force, and Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Director of Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), were named as finalists for the White Pages Community & Government Award in the national Awards program introduced by Telstra in 1995.

Ms Burn, who says “my passion is customer service and community engagement and making sure we get it right for the community, victims and witnesses,” is one of three Deputy Commissioners reporting to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

After a 27-year career that includes operational commands in Burwood and Redfern, Ms Burn is responsible for ensuring the State’s police officers have the capability, resources and capacity to do their jobs, while leading human resources, finance, education & training, ICT and other services.

Ms Macgregor, a British-trained curator and leading Sydney arts administrator, took over the MCA when it had dwindling funds and visitor numbers 12 years ago.

In this time, she has revitalised the museum, introducing engaging exhibitions, innovative education programs. Ms Macgregor has trained staff to be MCA ambassadors and gained long-term funding commitments from the NSW Government.

Now overseeing a $53 million redevelopment of the MCA, with a sustainable public  and selfgenerated operating fund, Ms Macgregor has attracted new corporate sponsors to take art programs on the road.

Rachel Johnson-Kelly, Chief Information Officer at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission who has spent the past three years leading ASIC’s $300 million IT transformation, is another finalist for the White Pages Community & Government Award.

Other Telstra Business Women’s Awards finalists include Lyndey Milan, one of Australia’s best known food and wine professionals, Veena Sahajwalla, Director at the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology at The University of NSW, and Jodie Fox, owner and cofounder of custom-designed women’s footwear retailer Shoes of Prey.

Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director of Telstra Innovation, Products & Marketing and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador said the Awards program celebrates the success of extraordinary women and is part of Telstra’s commitment to gender equality.

“For 17 years Telstra has shone the light on leaders in business who inspire, connect and achieve so much. Their achievements, leadership and entrepreneurial drive have impacts that go well beyond their workplace,” Ms McKenzie said.

Michelle Sherwood, Executive General Manager of Strategic Marketing at Sensis, said: “It’s terrific to be involved in a program that recognises and celebrates the passion and achievements of women in the workplace, especially in the Community and Government sector.

“As sponsor of the Community and Government category we are thrilled to be able to showcase the leadership, business acumen, passion and enthusiasm of women in the workplace,” she said.

Winners of the 2011 Telstra NSW Business Women’s Awards will be announced at a gala luncheon on 30 September in Sydney. The winners share in $200,000 in cash and prizes and become part of an exclusive national business alumni.

The NSW winners proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards which will be announced in Melbourne on 18 November.

Finalists for the 2011 Telstra NSW Business Women’s Awards are:

Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award

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Telstra Business Women's Awards Network

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