Women of the Year Awards

• Young Woman of the Year – Rising Star award: recognising women aged 35 years or under who have made a meaningful contribution to the community and/or inspired others through exceptional professional or personal achievements.
• Courageous Commitment: honours women who have demonstrated dedication to improving health, wellbeing, safety and/or sustainability through advocacy, campaigning, fundraising, community work and/or thought-leadership.
• Excelling in Arts or Sport: celebrates women who use their sporting and/or creative talents to represent, motivate and inspire others.
• Impact in STEM or Innovation : recognises leaders in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, economics, politics, or entrepreneurship who are making a difference in their field and the broader community.

To be eligible, nominated individuals must:

• Be a woman or individual who identifies as a woman
• Live, work or study in the City of Kingston
• Have contributed to community outcomes aligning with Council’s strategic priorities and policies
• Have made an outstanding contribution to the community (within Kingston or outside) whose achievements positively influence the changing social, environmental or economic landscape.

Please note:

• Any community member or community group/organisation can make a nomination.
• Individuals cannot self-nominate.
• Previous nominees can be nominated again.
• Previous winners and honourable mentions are not eligible.
• Kingston Council employees are not eligible unless being nominated for their work outside Council.

In choosing the recipients of the Kingston Women of the Year Awards, nominees will be assessed according to the following assessment criteria.

General criteria (applies to all categories)

• Significance and impact of contributions made
• Demonstrated level of commitment to the betterment of the community
• Degree of difficulty of the achievement and sacrifices made
• Future goals and likely impact on the community
• Previous awards and recognition received
• Personal attributes of the nominee such as being an inspirational/positive role model for their peers, overcoming adversity, showing vision, leadership, innovation and creativity
• Personal, academic and professional achievements.

Young Woman of the Year

• Aged 35 years or under at the time of nomination
• Demonstrated commitment to improving community health, wellbeing, safety, and/or environmental sustainability
• Notable contributions or achievements with a clear link to community benefit or inspiring others.

Courageous Commitment

• Sustained commitment to improving community health, wellbeing, safety, and/or environmental sustainability
• Clear evidence of meaningful impact through advocacy, campaigning, fundraising, volunteer service, or thought leadership that has led to positive change or inspired others.

Excelling in Arts or Sport

• Demonstrated excellence, talent, and skill in the fields of sport and/or the arts (including music, performance, visual arts, literature, etc.)
• Evidence of the nominee’s influence in motivating, inspiring, or representing their community through their achievements or leadership.

Impact in STEM or Innovation

• Demonstrated innovation, originality, or leadership in business, economics, politics, entrepreneurship or STEM fields
• Achievements that benefit the community and serve as a source of inspiration.

All nominations are required to be supported by two independent referees. For all eligible nominations received, Council staff will contact the referees to explore the merit of their nomination and ask that the referees provide a letter of support for their respective nominee.

Referee eligibility:

• Should be independent of the nominee and nominator
• Someone who has had close involvement with the nominee during their service or is able to comment directly on the nature and impact of their achievements

Once nominations have closed, the selection panel will consider all eligible entries against the assessment criteria and select a winner.

The selection panel consists of the Mayor and fellow Councillors of the City of Kingston.

All eligible nominations will be announced online.

• Nominations open on Tuesday 23 September 2025.
• Nominations close at midnight on Sunday 2 November.
• The Award winners will be officially announced at Kingston’s International Women’s Day Civic Event in March 2026.

For assistance with obtaining a hard copy nomination form or other questions, please contact our Community Leadership and Capacity Officer on 1300 653 356 or email community@kingston.vic.gov.au.

Women of the Year

• 2019 - Emma Gierschick OAM
• 2020 - June Rea
• 2021 - Simone Hardham
• 2022 - Bronwyn Currie & Paula Westhead
• 2023 - Adrianne Fleming OAM
• 2024 - Amy Salisbury & Nimita Bagadia
• 2025 - Dr. Nirali Shah and Leanne Maloni

Honourable mentions and category award Winners

• 2019 - Cindy Rella, Alecia Minster, Shauna Moore, Marissa Palamaras, Anna Wang & Sarah Loh
• 2020 - None
• 2021 - Megan King, Vanessa Heredia, Arna O'Connell & Joan Bradd
• 2022 - Anne Grigg, Sandra Davies OAM, Dolly Bhargava & Nidhi Shah
• 2023 - Aunty Katrina Amon, Jess McKenna, Michelle Kornberg & Harini Karthikeyan
• 2024 - Evelyn Townley & Gwyn Nichols, Kerrie Waworis, Dr Carolyn Beaumont, Dr Kate Robb
• 2025 - Brenda Robinson, Ria Breider, Monica Cashin and Vanessa Henry