Queensland's top business women head to Awards finals
25 Aug 2010
25 August 2010: A Cairns scientist leading a research project using algae to reduce carbon emissions from coal and a Surfers Paradise-based volunteering services co-ordinator are among finalists in the 2010 Telstra Queensland Business Women's Awards.
Seventeen Queensland business women including Brisbane and Toowoomba local government leaders and the first woman appointed as a Maintenance and Engineering Manager for BHP Billiton were named today as finalists for the Awards, now in their sixteenth year.
Among finalists for the Nokia Innovation Award are an Arundel physiotherapist who created a clinically-proven recovery system for patients after spinal surgery and the founder of a Townsville-based mental health centre that advises mining companies on the wellbeing of rural and remote workers.
Other finalists include a former sex worker who established a charity to help women move on from drugs and prostitution, a real estate agency owner who bought her first property at 16 and the Chief Chemist at Caltex's Lytton refinery who introduced a quality certification system that saved millions of dollars a year.
Telstra Chief Marketing Officer and Telstra Business Women's Awards Ambassador, Kate McKenzie, said today the Queensland finalists were a diverse group of successful business women whose achievements provided inspiration for the careers of countless others.
"Telstra congratulates the 2010 finalists from Queensland for the leadership, innovation and hard work they have displayed throughout their careers," Ms McKenzie said.
"Since 1995, the Telstra Business Women's Awards have celebrated the achievements of outstanding Australian business women.
"The finalists from Queensland this year join the tradition of women who have made significant contributions both across the State and within their local communities," Ms McKenzie said.
The winners of the 2010 Telstra Queensland Business Women's Awards will be announced at a presentation luncheon on 17 September at the Sofitel, Ballroom Le Grand, in Brisbane.
Winners of the Awards will receive a share of $200,000 in cash and prizes and become part of an exclusive national business alumni.
The Queensland winners will proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women's Awards which will be announced in Melbourne on 11 November.
Further information on the Telstra Business Women's Awards can be found at www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com
The finalists for the Telstra Queensland Business Women's Awards are:
Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award
| Yvette Adams |
The Creative Collective, Maroochydore |
| Lindy Chen |
ChinaDirect Sourcing, East Brisbane |
| Philippa Gilbert |
PhysioMax, Arundel |
| Karen Le Comte |
Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisers, Cleveland |
| Claire Richardson |
Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd, Capalaba |
| Amber Werchon |
Amber Werchon Property, Alexandra Headland |
Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award
| Angela Gambell |
Stockwell International, Upper Mount Gravatt |
| Melanie Gordon |
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Moranbah |
| Megan Houghton |
CitySmart, Brisbane |
| Lisa Roobottom |
Caltex, Lytton |
White Pages Community and Government Award
| Jennifer Fulcher |
Canefields Clubhouse, Beenleigh |
| Bronwen Healy |
HOPE Foundation, Mount Gravatt |
| Debra Howe |
Toowoomba Regional Council, Toowoomba |
| Leticia Vargas |
Volunteering Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise |
Nokia Innovation Award
| Jennifer Bowers |
Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health Queensland, Cairns |
| Philippa Gilbert |
PhysioMax, Arundel |
| Kirsten Heimann |
School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville |
| Claire Richardson |
Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd, Capalaba |
marie claire Young Business Women's Award
| Yvette Adams |
The Creative Collective, Maroochydore |
| Melanie Gordon |
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Moranbah |
| Amber Werchon |
Amber Werchon Property, Alexandra Headland |
Media contact:
Marcela Balart
Lighthouse Communications
Ph: 02 9262 3868; M: 0422 483 371
Telstra:
Karina Keisler
0419 523 776
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Telstra Business Women's Awards Network