The legacy of a small group of women sitting at a kitchen table wanting to support other working ladies continues some 30 years on as it honours the region’s shining stars.
The hard work and dedication of 31 inspiring local businesswomen will be celebrated at an upcoming awards presentation – the night of nights for the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network.
Sunshine Coast News is proud to be the media partner for the 24th annual Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network Awards, which recognise the success of the region’s women in business.
The awards have attracted the best of the best across categories including Young, Corporate, Micro/Small, Professional and Sustainability.
In addition, one finalist will be named the 2023 Outstanding Business Woman of the Year from the full list of finalists, as well as a Sustainable Business Woman of the Year.
SCBWN president Min Swan said the network was excited to hold its longstanding awards in 2023 and celebrate women in business.
“Our annual SCBWN awards are more than just a glamorous event,” Ms Swan said.
“They are the vessel where strong alliances are forged, and they are where the grit and determination of our local businesswomen shine through.
“These moments of celebration, stories of resilience and the powerful connections built are the backbone of the SCBWN’s strength.
“Each year, I remind entrants that they are incredibly courageous in putting themselves forward and recognising their dedication and commitment to their careers and businesses.
“Because of the questions they’re asked throughout the process, the awards are often a big eye-opener for entrants.
“They get to self-assess and quite often it recommits them to their passion, their plan, or it helps them discover new exciting opportunities.
“Traditionally, women can stumble and struggle when it comes to self-promotion but can talk about their business as if it’s the most natural thing on earth.
“The SCBWN awards lets these formidable women recognise their personal contribution to not only their own business but the business community as well.”
As judging chair for 2023, Michelle Hamer said this year’s entrants represented the great vibrancy of businesswomen on the Sunshine Coast.
“The judges remarked that the strong leadership demonstrated in the finalist’s submissions and interviews left us with the feeling that the Sunshine Coast is a vibrant place to live and work,” Ms Hamer said.
Ms Hamer said there was also several themes evident across the pool of finalists.
“Finalists were definite about how their personal point of difference contributed to their respective business’s success,” she said.
“Numerous finalists nominated ‘communication’ as a key component for a successful business.
“Finalists spoke of the importance to them of the local community and nominated financial sustainability as a key factor to ensure their businesses (and our community) could weather the impact of the current economic challenges.”
The winners will be announced at a gala event at Maroochy RSL on Thursday, August 10.
Keep following Sunshine Coast News, and our sister publication My Weekly Preview, as we feature the winners and their outstanding achievements.
About the awards process
From 175 nominations, 61 submissions were received for this year’s awards. They were assessed by a panel of four judges to determine 31 finalists.
The finalists face two separate panels of judges, who examine entrants’ written submissions and conduct face-to-face interviews.
Finally, the judges come together to select the Outstanding Business Woman of the Year.
This woman is removed from the judging pool and the judges combine the scores of the remaining finalists to produce the five category winners.
All judges’ scores are submitted independently as part of this process.
History in the making
In January 1992, Bebe Mawer gathered a small group of women around her kitchen
table with a solid aim in mind: to create a business-focused group for women.
It was the beginnings of a network that would go on to support, inspire, mentor and educate hundreds of women.
This group, initially known as Women in the Workforce, attracted nine women to its first luncheon meeting but quickly grew in popularity.
Women in the Workforce became an incorporated association in March 1998 under the presidency of Celena Ross, about the time the group launched the Business Woman of the Year Awards, with Michelle Hamer the inaugural judging chair.
In 2000, Women in the Workforce officially changed its name to Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network Inc (SCBWN).
Today the 300-plus strong network is celebrating this incredible 25-year milestone since incorporation by sharing the history and recognising those that have put so much into the long-term sustainability of SCBWN.
Each of the past presidents have been interviewed and their stories, legacy and insights are being shared.
Read the blogs as they are released over the coming months at scbwn.org.au.
Finalists
Corporate
- Rochelle Callard, NumberWorks’nWords Sippy Downs.
- Renee Cooper, Indepth Accounting.
- Kara de Schot, Pixel Co Creative & Marketing.
- Michalle Faulkner, EastCoast Human Resource Group.
- Tracy Fitzgerald, Fish On Parkyn.
- Cheryl Ling, Jetts Fitness.
- Angela Tondelstrand, Catton & Tondelstrand Lawyers.
Micro/Small
- Christine Genocchio, Real World Ready.
- Candice Harvey, Candice Harvey Coaching.
- Stephanie Hughes, Raw Bulk Foods Online.
- Kim Matthews, Sunshine Family Support.
- Jaya McIntyre, Empire Art Photography.
- Vanessa Nock, Uniqueness Designer Jeweller.
- Beth O’Leary, Woombye Cheese.
- Kristy Paterson, Bamboo Projects.
- Lauren Smith, Smith Madden Creative Agency.
- Rachael Yurko, Thrive Financial.
Young
- Blanca Arcayos, Bonza.
- Zoey Canhao, Youi Insurance.
- Kymberlee Clift, Bubble ‘n’ Kick Swim School.
- Josie Collins, HeliMods.
- Kate Kleine, Honey by Kate Kleine.
- Claire O’Shea, Dance Energy Studios.
Professional
- Jacqui Atique, ECOllaboration.
- Amy Bennett, McGrath Estate Agents.
- Rebecca Grisman, Better Together Housing.
- Catherine Hicks, Comlink Australia Limited.
- Jayne McIntyre, The Laundry Lady.
- Anna Owen, Sunshine Coast Grammar School.
- Lucy Ravenwood, Sunshine Coast Council.
- Nicola Taylor, Dance Energy Studios.
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