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2012 Queensland Finalists Announced

5 Sep 2012

Queensland women leading businesses to international growth

Queensland women who have expanded their businesses overseas or attracted international backers for their innovation are among finalists for the 2012 Telstra  Queensland Business Women’s Awards.

Therese Rein, Managing Director of rehabilitation services provider Ingeus Limited and CEO of Australian business psychology services company Assure Programs, and Julie Agnew, Mackay-based founder of JADE Corporate Professionals, are finalists for the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award.

Ms Rein established Ingeus, a global leader in welfare-to-work services in 1989. It  employs 2300 people and operates in 10 countries. She introduced payment based on measurable outcomes and case management to assist long-term unemployed people back to work, innovations that have been extensively emulated within the sector.

Ms Agnew provides leadership training, organisational change management and other services for small, medium and large business including government  departments and multinational companies in the mining industry. In the past year  she has expanded to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands where her focus is building employee capacity for locally-owned companies.

Other finalists include accountant turned psychologist Chandra Clements, CEO of Sentis, a company that delivers sustainable change business services in 22  countries, and Carolyn Burnes, who owns a beef cattle property in South-West Queensland. Carolyn owns AC Contractors and operates the Quilpie Cattle Spelling Yards and once drove 1500 head of cattle 900 kms for six months, mostly with the  help of only one young jackeroo.

Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director Telstra Innovation, Products & Marketing and Ambassador of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, said the Awards were a celebration of the enormous diversity of amazing business women in Queensland.

“For 18 years, the Awards have shone a spotlight on the achievements of  inspirational women. In 2012, the 19 Queensland finalists range from women who have shown courage and determination to start and grow their own businesses to others who are influential leaders in local business and community sectors. The innovation in ideas and technology that they reveal is vital to the future of the  State’s economy,” Ms McKenzie said.

Mark Steyn, CEO of Hudson Australia/New Zealand said: “As sponsor of the Private & Corporate Sector Award, Hudson is passionate about profiling successful women in business and recognising the hugely valuable contribution they continue to make to corporate and community life. It is a privilege to be associated with an event that showcases the excellent calibre and quality of talented women working across Australia. We are also proud to promote the opportunities available to high performing women across Australia.”

Winners of the 2012 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards will be  announced at a gala luncheon on Friday 5 October in Brisbane.

The Queensland winners proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business  Women’s Awards that will be announced in Sydney on 21 November. The winners share in $200,000 in cash and prizes split amongst the state/territory and national winners, and become part of an exclusive national business alumni with wide networking opportunities.

Finalists for the 2012 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards are:

Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award

Julie Agnew JADE Corporate Professionals, Mackay
Therese Rein Ingeus & Assure Programs, Brisbane
Roz Shaw Hawkins Management Company, Port of Brisbane
Melanie Summer   Flash Fotos, Maroochydore
Kate Thomas Communikate,West End

Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award

Amery Burleigh Sofitel Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Chandra Clements   Sentis Pty Ltd, Brisbane
Karla Way-McPhail Undamine Industries & Coal Train Australia, Yeppoon
Liza Ringdahl ThomsonAdsett, Fortitude Valley
Carolyn Thomson Kadoe Commercial Coatings, Pelican Waters

White Pages® Community & Government Award

Karen Brus Jobmatch Employment Agency, Gympie
Carolyn Devries New Way Lawyers, Corinda
Caroline Hudson Mater Health Services, South Brisbane
Andrea Lee SCISCO Career Pathways, Broadbeach
Deeann Natividad   Mission Australia, Warwick

Nokia Business Innovation Award

Carolyn Devries New Way Lawyers, Corinda
Therese Rein Ingeus & Assure Programs, Brisbane
Carolyn Thomson   Kadoe Commercial Coatings, Pelican Waters
Juliette Wright GIVIT, Newstead

marie claire Young Business Women’s Award

Carolyn Burnes AC Contractors, Quilpie
Chandra Clements Sentis Pty Ltd, Brisbane
Carolyn Devries New Way Lawyers, Corinda
Raeleen Kaesehagen   Octahedron, Brisbane
Frances Martin Sunshine Coast Council, Sunshine Coast

More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found at
www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com

Media contacts:
Jane de Gault | 0419 818 956 | Telstra
Elouise Campion | 0437 436 016 | Telstra
www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/
Reference: 252/2012

Download press release

Telstra Business Women's Awards Network


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