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NSW Women of the Year Awards 2025 Ceremony
Since 2012 these annual awards have recognised the women and girls whose determination, bravery, skill and passion has inspired their communities and others to achieve great things.
The awards celebrate the role models who challenge inequality, innovate and inspire.
Recipients and Finalists of Women of the Year Awards 2025
We are proud to announce the recipients and finalists of the six NSW Women of the Year Award categories below.
Nominations for 2025 opened on 12 August and closed on 15 September 2024. The recipients of the awards were announced at the NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday 6 March 2025 as part of NSW Women's Week 2025 (2-8 March).
Follow Women NSW on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest Awards news and announcements.
You can also view the photo gallery and read all about past winners here.
Premier’s NSW Woman of Excellence
The Premier’s NSW Woman of Excellence is a role model who has excelled in her chosen field. In doing so, she effects lasting change and is an inspiration to others.
Recipient
Finalists
NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year
A dedicated pillar of her community, the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year is a role model who promotes economic, cultural and/or social opportunities for Aboriginal people in NSW. Open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Recipient
Finalists
NSW Community Hero
The NSW Community Hero Award shines a light on the accomplishments of an extraordinary woman who works tirelessly to contribute to the prosperity of those in her local community.
Recipient
Finalists
NSW Regional Woman of the Year
The NSW Regional Woman of the Year recognises the accomplishments of an exceptional woman living in regional NSW who inspires and advances their community and contributes to the fabric of their local area. Nominees for the NSW Regional Woman of the Year must reside outside of Newcastle, Wollongong or Greater Sydney.
Recipient
Finalists
NSW Young Woman of the Year
The NSW Young Woman of the Year has demonstrated incredible potential or achievement in her chosen field, passion or area of interest. Open to women aged 16-30 years.
Recipient
Finalists
The Ones to Watch
Recognises girls and young women aged 7 to 15, who demonstrate a single act or ongoing acts of courage, bravery, strength, determination and/or kindness to help and support those around them.
The program will showcase up to 10 girls who will be recognised and profiled as part of the NSW Women of the Year Awards 2025, as the next generation of rising stars.
The Ones to Watch girls will be featured in a video reel that highlights their achievements and will be invited to attend the prestigious NSW Women of the Year Awards events including being presented with a special acknowledgement at the awards ceremony on 6 March 2025 held in Sydney.
Local Women of the Year Honour Roll
The NSW Local Women of the Year are chosen by Members of Parliament and are recognised for their contribution to their local community.
- Di Glover - Albury
- Jasmina Bajraktarevic-Hayward - Auburn
- Theresa Quattromani - Badgerys Creek
- Monica Wilcox - Ballina
- Gillian Leahy - Balmain
- Monica Chahoud - Bankstown
- Sally Edwards - Barwon
- Kathy Sajowitz- Bathurst
- Carol Holden - Bega
- Lorgia Szmytka - Blacktown
- Rae Druitt - Blue Mountains
- Thi Tuyet Mai Bui - Cabramatta
- Lynnette McKay - Camden
- Kathleen Nichele - Campbelltown
- Diane Langmack OAM - Canterbury
- Carol Baker-Dersch - Castle Hill
- Elizabeth Riley - Cessnock
- Elizabeth Day - Charlestown
- Emma Crethar - Clarence
- Lesley Schoer - Coffs Harbour
- Millicent Weaver - Coogee
- Kate Cleary - Cootamundra
- Fiona Sutton - Cronulla
- Shazia Kimatrai – Davidson
- Christine McDonald - Drummoyne
- Nic Grose - Dubbo
- Clare Tapp - East Hills
- Martha Jabour OAM - Epping
- Pauline David - Fairfield
- Nicola Olyslagers - Gosford
- Heni Pearson - Goulburn
- Joumana Youssef - Granville
- Jacqueline Turano - Hawkesbury
- Kellie Stubbs - Heathcote
- Kate Hafey - Heffron
- Virginia Ireland - Holsworthy
- Myfanwy Webster - Hornsby
- Barbara Atkins - Keira
- Sahera Sumar - Kellyville
- Christa Wood - Kiama
- Ann Selle OAM – Kogarah
- Astrid Hocking – Lake Macquarie
- Pamela Alvarez - Lane Cove
- Marijana Nad - Leppington
- Elide Gava - Lismore
- Rowena Assaad - Liverpool
- Kylie Thomas - Londonderry
- Cheryl Paradelle - Macquarie Fields
- Marjorie Palmer - Maitland
- Melissa Burgess - Manly
- Rachael Smith - Maroubra
- Sharon Xabregas - Miranda
- Elaine Lollback - Monaro
- Janice Graham - Mount Druitt
- Katie Robinson - Murray
- Jane Lynch - Myall Lakes
- Lee-Anne McDougall - Newcastle
- Rebecca Glenn - Newtown
- Anne Ireland - North Shore
- Penny Lamaro - Northern Tablelands
- Nellie Doueihi - Oatley
- Jessica Crawford - Orange
- Judith Beilby - Oxley
- Felicity Castagna - Parramatta
- Cathy Craig OAM - Penrith
- Simone Allan - Pittwater
- Melinda Cockshutt - Port Macquarie
- Jenice Manton - Port Stephens
- Kamilia Mahfouz - Prospect
- Belinda Mckinlay - Riverstone
- Zulma Marquez - Rockdale
- Jeannette Oujani - Ryde
- Karen Leask – Shellharbour
- Jorj Lowrey - South Coast
- Janet Passmore - Strathfield
- Beth O'Connor - Summer Hill
- Katrina Pastourmoglou - Swansea
- Brianna Skinner - Sydney
- Sally Cronberger - Tamworth
- Tammy Jackett - Terrigal
- Jenna Smith - The Entrance
- Tracey McDonagh - Tweed
- Lee Watts - Upper Hunter
- Georgie Beck - Vaucluse
- Vickie Burkinshaw - Wagga Wagga
- Catherine Knox - Wahroonga
- Samantha Neaves - Wakehurst
- Jacqui Rosewood - Wallsend
- Glenys Paranihi - Willoughby
- Sarah Irani - Winston Hills
- Pania Gregson - Wollondilly
- Alyssa Norris - Wollongong
- Marney McQueen - Wyong
Award eligibility requirements and terms and conditions
Below are the eligibility requirements and terms and conditions for the NSW Women of the Year Awards 2025.
- Nominee is a woman or girl residing in NSW.
- Self-nominations will be accepted.
- Awards will not be granted posthumously.
- Sitting state and federal politicians and current vice-regal officers are not eligible.
- Retired politicians and vice-regal officers will be considered for work undertaken in addition to their official duties.
- A previous winner cannot receive a second award in the same award category but can be considered for recognition in a separate category in following years.
- Unsuccessful nominees, including previous finalists may be re-nominated in subsequent years. Re-nominations must highlight achievements and/or contributions accomplished after the previous nomination.
- Groups of people or couples will not normally be eligible though in exceptional cases the selection panels reserve the right to consider such nominations.
- Nominees for the NSW Young Woman of the Year must be aged 16 to 30 years.
- Nominees for the Ones to Watch must be aged 7 to 15 years.
- Age criteria as of 6 March 2025.
- Nominees for the NSW Aboriginal Women of the Year must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
- Nominees for the NSW Regional Woman of the Year must reside outside of Newcastle, Wollongong and Greater Sydney.
- Nominees must consent to their nomination before an entry is submitted.
- Nominations will be accepted from 9:00am on Monday 12 August 2024 to 11:59pm on Sunday 15 September 2024.
- Nominations must be submitted online. Hard copy nomination forms will not be accepted. Please email WomenOfTheYear@tco.nsw.gov.au if you have any difficulty submitting your nomination online.
- All required fields must be completed and criteria must be addressed for the nomination to be considered valid.
- Nominators must provide required contact details for themselves and their nominee including an active email address and mobile phone contact number.
- Entry is conditional upon confirmation of eligibility by the selection panel.
- Nominees may be contacted by The Cabinet Office to request additional information including a photo and biography.
- Nominees who progress through the assessment process will be subject to a National Police Background Check and referee check.
- An awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 6 March, during NSW Women’s Week 2025 (2-8 March) in Sydney and finalists will need to be available to attend the event.
- Travel arrangements to attend the Ceremony in March will be organised for finalists where required.
- A nominee can be entered into more than one category using separate nomination forms.
- The panel reserves the right to move your nomination to another award category if they deem it more suitable.
- All nomination forms and materials submitted remain the property of The Cabinet Office.
- Entry into the NSW Women of the Year Awards is deemed acceptance of the Terms and Conditions.
- Nominees must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered for shortlisting.
- The judging panel's decision is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
- Successful nominees agree to make themselves available for media and promotional activities outside of the awards ceremony event.
- Where a nominee has a current media contract it must not preclude her from participating in media activities around the award ceremony and promoting the NSW Women of the Year Awards for the following year.
- Upon returning a signed permission form, nominees grant permission for The Cabinet Office to use and disclose their personal information provided through the nomination process, additional submissions, correspondence, photographs and videos at its discretion including for, but not limited to, media and promotional purposes.
- Alternative format nomination forms can be made available for people with disability upon request. Please email WomenOfTheYear@tco.nsw.gov.au.
- Personal information about nominees and nominators provided will only be used for the conduct and promotion of the NSW Women of the Year Awards.
- Should you have any enquiries about access to your personal information held by The Cabinet Office please direct your request to: WomenOfTheYear@tco.nsw.gov.au.