Australian Businesswomen Awarded, Celebrated for Entrepreneurial Spirit and Outstanding Achievements     

If you know a successful Audtralian businesswoman who inspires you, you will want to act fast. That’s because the Telestra Business Women’s Awards deadline is rapidly approaching and with this prestigious award up for grabs, there’s sure to be some stiff competition.  

But don’t let this dissuade you from nominating your favorite Aussie businesswoman, or from dropping your own name in the hat because the winner’s achievements will be spotlighted for an entire year as the annual award let’s Australians know all about the winner’s achievements, commitment and vision.  

Sponsored by An Australian Government Institute and Hudson, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards have been recognizing Australia’s top businesswomen since 1995.  

Now entering their thirteenth year, the Awards highlight the important contribution women make to business in Australia and provide visibility of the rise of women in senior leadership positions.  

“This is a particularly important year for women as Telstra’s telecommunications begin to transform what is possible in the work life space. Six months ago we unveiled the world’s largest, fastest, wireless network – Next G™. Our Next G™ network is making it possible for more women to work remotely and be in contact with their work while spending time with their families,” explains Telstra’s CEO Sol Trujillo.  

“Using mobile phones and wireless broadband PC cards for laptops, women can now video conference, Webcast, receive emails with large attachments, log into the corporate network at home or when traveling. Women can now work in locations that were not possible before Next G™.”    

Who’s Eligible?

Any businesswomen who is an Australian citizen or who has resident status in Australia is eligible, as long as they meet the criteria of one of the three award categories, which include:  

1)      A business owner with a 50% share or more in a business, and with responsibility for key management decision-making.
2)      An employee in the private and corporate sectors, or owner with less than a 50 percent share of a business.
3)      An employee of government departments, statutory bodies and not-for-profit organizations.  

Additionally, the following eligibility requirements must be met:

• The nominee is not an employee of Telstra, a judge or a supplier of the Awards (Government employees are eligible, excluding those working for AusIndustry are unable to enter this award. All other government employees may enter.).  

• The nominee was not a category winner of the Telstra Business Women's Awards in 2005 or 2006.  

• The nominee’s business (if applying in the Business Owner Award selection) must have been operating for at least 36 months as of June 8, 2007.  

• The nominee has not been involved in the Awards judging process in 2004, 2005 or 2006.  

• The nominee will be able to represent or promote the Awards, as outlined and approved by Telstra and the Awards.    

There are also two other award categories, which have been added. These include:  

1)      A Business Innovation Award, which is open to business owners, private sector employees and entrepreneurs; and
2)      The Young Business Women's Award, which is open to entrants who are eligible in one of the categories listed above and who will    aged 34 years or younger as of Friday June 8, 2007.    

Notification

If your nominee is selected as a finalist, she will attend a personal interview conducted by an independent panel of judges. Shortly after these interviews, short listed entrants will be advised if they will go forward as a finalist in their category. State/ Territory winners will undergo a further phase of judging for the National presentation.  

All finalists will be notified by letter. Additionally, non-finalists are notified by letter, as well.    

Award benefits

Past winners reap the benefits associated with this prestigious award, including career analysis and development, positive business profiling, new business opportunities, expansion of networks and self-development.          

Enter a nomination

You can nominate an Australian businesswoman by going to: http://tbwa.telstra.com/TBWA/Nomination/ . Once nominated, a formal submission will be needed.    

Submission

After nomination, to enter the 2007 Telstra Business Women's Awards, you must prepare and lodge a submission - either online or via mail.  

Nominations open Tuesday, April 10 and close Wednesday, May 9.  

Entries open Thursday May 10 and close on Friday June 8 2007.  

For more information on the Telstra Australian businesswoman award, please go to: http://tbwa.telstra.com/ .  

Or, to read a fascinating case study on 2006 Telstra Business Women’s Awards winner, Christine Phoenix, go to: http://businessnetwork.theage.com.au/articles/2007/04/09/28869.html .