Women's Leadership and Inspiration Award 2025
The Ku-ring-gai Council Women's Leadership and Inspiration Award will recognise and celebrate outstanding women in our community who demonstrate leadership, advocacy, and a commitment to advancing gender equality.
Aligned with Ku-ring-gai Council’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, this award will highlight the achievements of local women who are dedicated to fostering positive change.
The Ku-ring-gai Council Women’s Leadership and Inspiration Award aims to
- Celebrate and elevate leadership: Recognise and celebrate the outstanding leadership and contributions of women in the Ku-ring-gai community who are working to break down barriers, create opportunities and lead change in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- Advocate for gender equality: Support the continued advancement of gender equality and women’s rights by spotlighting the women who are leading the charge in addressing systemic barriers, empowering vulnerable groups and supporting women in underrepresented fields.
- Promote positive change: Highlight and support initiatives that promote tangible, lasting improvements for women and girls within the community, especially those that challenge discriminatory practices, advocate for resource equity and address the needs of marginalised groups.
- Inspire future generations: Inspire future leaders and community members by showcasing women whose actions serve as role models, encouraging others to become involved in advocacy, leadership and empowerment for gender equality.
Nomination guidelines
- Nominations may be received from community organisations, sporting associations, service clubs, businesses or individuals. Self-nomination will not be accepted.
- Nominations need to include the nominee’s contact details.
- Nominations need to address the criteria in relation to their contributions to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment.
- Nominations must be submitted on the approved nomination form.
- Nominations will need to include two referees for the nominee.
- Sitting local, state or federal politicians and current Council employees are not eligible for nomination.
- The closing date for nominations is XX / XX / 2025.
Eligibility and award category criteria
Nominees for the Ku-ring-gai Council Women's Leadership and Inspiration Award must:
- reside within the Ku-ring-gai Council area;
- be aged 18 years or older;
have made meaningful contributions in one or more of the following categories:
Addressing systemic barriers for women and girls
Advocating for change that addresses gender inequality in areas like health, education, sports or the workplace; efforts to challenge stereotypes or discriminatory practices; raising awareness of inequities faced by women and girls.
Supporting women in underrepresented fields
Providing mentoring, coaching, advocacy, networking opportunities, and access to grants or training in fields like leadership, finance, technology, engineering, trades, and recreation.
Empowering vulnerable women and girls
Delivering direct support services, creating opportunities for those in marginalised or at-risk situations, and advocating for individuals in crisis.
Advancing education and lifelong learning for women and girls
Expanding access to education, driving innovation in curriculum design, and offering mentorship that supports academic and personal growth.
Community building and grassroots impact
Fostering strong networks, establishing safe and inclusive spaces, or leading grassroots initiatives that uplift and empower women and girls.
Entrepreneurship and economic empowerment
Launching business ventures or social enterprises that create sustainable economic opportunities and promote financial independence for women.
Resilience and personal triumph
Drawing on personal experiences of overcoming adversity such as violence, disadvantage, disability to inspire and support others on their journey.
Assessment criteria
The nominee’s contributions to advancing women’s rights and equality will be assessed against the criteria listed below:
Alignment with award category criteria
How well does the nominee’s work reflect the specific category they’re nominated for?
Depth and breadth of impact
What is the scale of their contribution - individual, community or regional? How many people have been affected and how deeply?
Innovation and leadership
Has the nominee shown creativity, courage or leadership in their approach? Are they making a meaningful difference in their local community?
Sustainability and legacy
Is their impact ongoing within the local community? Have they inspired others to continue the work or contribute to local programs?
Personal story and values
Does the nominee’s personal story reflect resilience, compassion, integrity and a commitment to gender equity? Does their story add depth to their achievements?
Submit a nomination
Selection panel composition and evaluation process
The selection panel will be chaired by the Mayor and include up to 3 members from the Status of Women Advisory Committee, alongside relevant staff members as delegated by the General Manager. This panel will evaluate nominations based on clearly defined criteria, focusing on leadership, advocacy and community impact, as outlined in the eligibility and assessment criteria.
The process has been designed to ensure fairness, transparency and integrity. A final eligibility check, including a referee review, will be conducted to uphold the objectivity and validity of the selection process and decision-making.
Ultimately, the panel will make the final decision, ensuring that the most deserving nominee is selected based on their contributions to the community.