Awards celebrating success of leading South Australian business women

A submarine and shipbuilding company executive, the head of the State’s peak food body and a Riverland winemaker are among 19 leading business women named as finalists for the 2013 Telstra South Australian Business Women’s Awards.

With more than 20 years experience in the defence industry, Dr Margaret Law is the manager of Future Submarine Capability at Osborne-based ASC Pty Ltd, where she is responsible for fostering scientific and engineering innovation. She is one of six finalists for the Private and Corporate Sector Award.

Another is Catherine Barnett, the Chief Executive of Food South Australia Inc. She has been at the forefront of establishing a unified peak body to advocate for manufacturers and processors in the State’s food sector, while forming strategic alliances with growers, service providers, allied businesses and all distribution channels and supporting the showcasing of local products.

Glossop winemaker Jenny Semmler, proprietor of the 919 Wines label which specialises in organic fortified wine and table wine, is among the finalists for the Business Owner Award, along with Leigh McClusky, Company Principal of public relations firm McClusky & Co, and Olivia Harvey, owner and centre manager for Dogcity Daycare.

Two women are finalists for both the Young Business Women’s Award and the Community and Government Award – they are are Nicole Graham, Chief Executive of the Spastic Centre of South Australia, and Carmen Garcia, Director of Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc.

Taryn Sexton, Chief Executive of the Local Government Managers Australia SA Division, and Rebecca Clarke, Principal of Walford Anglican School for Girls, are also among the finalists for the Community and Government Award.

Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director Telstra Innovation, Products and Marketing and Ambassador of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, said the Awards celebrated the hard work and determination of business women in South Australia.

“For 19 years we’ve run the Awards to inspire leading business women to realise their potential and celebrate their success. We believe the 2013 South Australia finalists are entrepreneurs, innovators and managers who can inspire our nation and the following generation,” Ms McKenzie said.

CommBank’s Women in Focus program, which opens doors to opportunity for women across Australia, is an Official Partner of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.

Karen James, General Manager, Women in Focus and Affiliate Business Banking said: “Partnering with the Telstra Business Women’s Awards for the fifth year is vital to our purpose. The Alumni inspire the womeninfocus.com.au community through speaking at our events, sharing their story and expertise online, and mentoring women in the community.”

Previous winners of the Telstra South Australia Business Woman of the Year Award include Kylie Bishop, Chief Executive of environmental consulting company LBW Environment; Kelly Baker-Jamieson, founder and Managing Director of Edible Blooms, and Melissa Mellen, Director of traffic engineering firm Murray F. Young & Associates (MFY).

Winners of the 2013 Telstra South Australia Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Tuesday 24 September in Adelaide. The South Australian winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on Thursday 14 November.

For winners across Australia the awards offer a share in $200,000 in cash and prizes.

Finalists for the 2013 Telstra South Australia Business Women’s Awards are:
Business Owner Award

Teuta Bennett, NetCraft Australia, Frewville
Olivia Harvey, Dogcity Daycare, Kent Town
Petrah Harslett, teachers.on.net, Eastwood
Leigh McClusky, McClusky & Co, Parkside
Jenny Semmler, 919 Wines, Glossop
Cheryl Shigrov, Precious Cargo Education Pty Ltd, St Peters
Private and Corporate Sector Award

Catherine Barnett, Food South Australia Inc, Glenside
Marion Bunnik, Bunnik Tours, Adelaide
Petra Churcher, ipac south australia, Wayville
Dr Margaret Law, ASC Pty Ltd, Osborne
Laura Mabikafola, Locher Human Resources, Keswick
Alison Pearson, Westfield, Modbury
Community and Government Award

Rebecca Clarke, Walford Anglican School for Girls, Hyde Park
Carmen Garcia, Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc (MYSA), Adelaide
Nicole Graham, scosa, Woodville
Bronwyn Klei, SACA, Wayville
Jodie Rugless, City of Charles Sturt, Woodville
Taryn Sexton, Local Government Managers Australia SA Division, Eastwood
Young Business Women’s Award

Alexandria Doherty, Doherty Trade Services, North Plympton
Carmen Garcia, Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc (MYSA), Adelaide
Nicole Graham, scosa, Woodville

More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found on the Telstra Business Awards website: http://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/