Women of Western Sydney Awards

Woman of Western Sydney (Arts)

Recognising women who have made significant contributions to Western Sydney through leadership in the Arts sector.

Nominees must be leaders within the Arts sector of Western Sydney.

When nominating an individual for this award, you will be asked to describe how your nominee has contributed to the Western Sydney region, the nature of their leadership position within the Arts sector, and how their contributions have had a demonstrable impact on the Arts and the people of Western Sydney.

Your nominee will be contacted and asked to provide additional information to assist with assessing their nomination.

Woman of Western Sydney (Community)

Recognising women who have made significant contributions to Western Sydney through leadership in their community.

Nominees must demonstrate continuous engagement within the Western Sydney communities that is for the benefit of the people and the region.

When nominating an individual for this award, you will be asked to describe how your nominee has contributed to the Western Sydney region and to describe community engagement that is above and beyond their professional role.

Your nominee will be contacted and asked to provide additional information to assist with assessing their nomination.

Woman of Western Sydney (Indigenous Leadership)

Recognising contributions made to Western Sydney by Indigenous women in leadership.

Nominees must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women who have contributed to the Indigenous Australian communities of Western Sydney.

Nominees must demonstrate leadership as an Indigenous woman and their contributions to the Indigenous community(ies) of the Western Sydney region and beyond.

When nominating an individual for this award, you will be asked to describe their contributions to the region and how they are an advocate for the fundamental principles of social justice and self-determination.

Your nominee will be contacted and asked to provide additional information to assist with assessing their nomination.

Woman of Western Sydney (Social Enterprise)

Recognising women who have made significant contributions to Western Sydney through leadership in business endeavours that maximise social impact.

Nominees must hold a leadership role within a Western Sydney-based social enterprise. For the purpose of these awards, a social enterprise is considered an organisation that has stated social objectives.

When nominating an individual for this award, you will be asked to describe how your nominee has contributed to the development of the Social Enterprise, which in turn has impacted the Western Sydney region.

Please provide a description of how you have witnessed their exceptional leadership, and how their impact on the people of Western Sydney has gone beyond their organisational role.

Your nominee will be contacted and asked to provide additional information to assist with assessing their nomination.

Young Woman of Western Sydney

Recognising contributions made to the Western Sydney community by women aged 18-28 years old.

Nominees must be 18-28 years of age as of the nomination closing date. Nominees must demonstrate continuous engagement within Western Sydney communities that is for the benefit of the people and the region.

When nominating an individual for this award, you will be asked for their age and to describe their engagement in the community and in unpaid work that is for the benefit of the people of the Western Sydney region.

Your nominee will be contacted and asked to provide additional information to assist with assessing their nomination.

The Jennifer Westacott AO Woman of Western Sydney Award

Recognising significant contributions made to Greater Western Sydney in the business sector, in honour of Western Sydney University’s Chancellor.

Named in honour of Western Sydney University’s Chancellor, this award recognises the significant contributions and legacies of notable Western Sydney Women.

Professor Jennifer Westacott AO served as the Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia from 2011 to 2023. In recognition of this service, nominees must have made significant contributions to the economic landscape of the Western Sydney region through their leadership and/or to policy development and reform, cross-sector collaboration, equity, and business.

When nominating an individual for this award, you will be asked to describe how you have witnessed their exceptional leadership, and how their impact on the people of Western Sydney has gone beyond their organisational role.

Your nominee will be contacted and asked to provide additional information to assist with assessing their nomination.

Award Eligibility

Eligibility criteria:

• Live and/or work in Western Sydney*.
  • Verified by address provided of home or workplace.
• Demonstrate exemplary qualities in their respective fields/communities.
  • Assessed by nomination statements, personal references, and personal statements.
• Have contributed to improving the lives of people in the region.
  • Assessed by nomination statements, personal references, and personal statements.
• Achieve outcomes beyond their occupational roles.
  • Assessed by reviewing a resume.
• Young: must be aged 18-28 years old
  • To clarify, the nominee must be 18 by the nomination closing date; or no more than 28 years old by the nomination closing date.
  • Verified by declaration.

Ineligibility criteria (applies to all categories):

• Women holding senior state or federal government roles are ineligible to be nominated.
• Self-nominations will not be accepted.

Note: Western Sydney University students and staff can be nominated, however, their contributions to the region must include service outside the University.

*For these awards, the Western Sydney region includes the following 13 local government areas: Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith, The Hills, and Wollondilly.