Alison Kennedy, CEO of the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, has been awarded The Downs Woman in Business of the Year Award at the Women in Business Awards last night (Thursday 8 November) at The Gipps Restaurant.

Gay Hold of Jazzy Lane Hair Studio won the Community Dedication & Social Justice Award, and April Lancaster-Smith of Excavation Equipmentwon the Aspiring Young Business Women’s Award. The Empowering Young Women’s Award went to Clifton State High School‘s Naomi Simpson, the Agribusiness Award went to Michelle McVeigh of BMOSt Ursula’s College Amy McKee took home the Rising Star Honour and Roslyn Scotney OAM won the Mary Wagner Honour.

With a background in sales and corporate relations for not-for-profit organisations, Alison took over the role of CEO at Toowoomba Hospital Foundation in January 2016. The foundation has provided more than $9 million to the Toowoomba Hospital, Baillie Henderson Hospital, Mt Lofty Heights Nursing Home and local health services in equipment, staff development, research and scholarships. Alison and the team’s constant fundraising and community events help to keep the foundation connected with the generous local community, corporate sector and service clubs.

The awards celebrate and honour exceptional women making a difference across the Toowoomba, Dalby,Warwick, Stanthorpe, Wallangarra, Goondiwindi, Oakey, Miles, Pittsworth, Allora, Clifton, Cecil Plains, Drayton, Millmerran, Nobby, Chinchilla and Kingaroy regions. Entrants may enter themselves or be nominated and undergo a rigorous judging process to achieve the level of Awardee of Merit. Finalists and winners are then selected and announced at the Women in Business Awards Official Gala Event in each Awards region.

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