Entries are now open for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, the longest running awards program recognising women in business in Australia.
According to ABS figures from June 2014, a third of Australia’s business operators are women and Australian women’s labour force participation has increased slightly over the past decade.
There has been a 46 percent increase in the number of Australian women operating their own businesses since the 1990s, but compared to other OECD countries, they remain underrepresented. More than two in five women business operators are aged 40-54 and nearly Australian women business operators were born overseas.
Telstra is committed to promoting parity for women in business in the Asia-Pacific region. The recent McKinsey ‘Women Matter’ report has found that in China on average women account for eight per cent of seats on corporate boards and nine per cent of those on executive committees.
Meanwhile in India, Japan and South Korea, executive committee participation rates for women are less than five per cent. A lot of work has to be done to nurture and support women to excel in their profession and industry.
For the first time the is a new awards category, ‘Telstra Business Woman in Asia’, which can be entered alongside the initial five categories – Entrepreneur, For Purpose and Social Enterprise, Public Sector and Academia, Corporate and Private, and the Young Business Women’s Award.
Kate McKenzie, Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, announced that the new category is a reflection of Telstra’s growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region and will provide finalists and winners from Australia and across the Asian region the opportunity to expand their networks and build valuable relationships.
“The Asia-Pacific region is an economic powerhouse and presents great growth opportunities for Australian businesses. In addition to celebrating brilliant women, this new Award will offer our Awards Alumni the opportunity to foster valuable connections with business women in Asia and develop a greater understanding of how they are succeeding in this dynamic environment.”
The 2015 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year, Captain Mona Shindy, said the Awards provide an opportunity for nominees to reflect on their achievements, set bold goals for greater success and join a vibrant Alumni community of like-minded women.
“The Awards bring together a diverse range of talented and accomplished women from across many fields. It continues to be a privilege for me to be among such a superb group of supportive, highly-driven, wise and inspirational women,” Captain Shindy said.
“With the new Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award, the Australian Alumni will also have the opportunity to be enriched by the know-how of exceptional women who have achieved success in the fast growing Asian region.”
To be eligible for the Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award, nominees must work in the corporate or private sectors and reside in Asia. The presentation of the Award will take place at the National Awards dinner in Melbourne in November.
Entries for the 2016 Telstra Business Women’s Awards close at midnight AEDT on Monday 20th June 2016.
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