At The Stevie Awards For Women in Business in New York on Friday 16 November, a steady stream of Australian women walked the stage to collect their awards for their achievements in business.

Known as the Oscars of the business world, The Stevie Awards are hotly contested in the northern hemisphere. This year, a record number of Australian women entered, with Annette Densham and Lauren Clemett from the Award Wining Accelerator taking out the top award, The Grand Stevie, as the only Australians/New Zealanders to do so in the 15-year history of the awards. Annette said attending the awards in person was a highlight of her year. “Being in the space of so many incredible women is inspiring and uplifting … and then when you hear the names of Australian women being called out, it is exciting,” Annette said. “The crowd certainly knew there were Aussies in the audience. We bring our enthusiasm wherever we go.”

Brisbane’s Gail Creighton-Davies, a winner in the Women Helping Women category said, “When I read my final submission, I took a step back and finally saw me, and I liked what I saw. I saw what others see in me, and now believe I can achieve my goals of growing the group and helping more women around Australia and around the world,” she said. “No one makes it alone so don’t be afraid to share your plans and goals, you never know who will hold the key to help you get there.”

Melbourne’s Anita Bentata, from Activating Artermis, won the gold for Women Helping Women and silver for Maverick of the Year, has created an online community to help women recover from the trauma of domestic violence. Fellow Melbournian Christine Stow, who helps women find money through grants and other sources, said winning silver for her work in this space was a defining moment.

Brisbane’s Jane Anderson, who is used to being in the background building other people’s brands, won two Stevies in Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Services and Mentor or Coach of the Year – Business. Chrissy Leontios, a family and domestic violence lawyer based in Townsville, who won four Stevie awards including gold for Start Up of the Year, said being the only business from regional Australia showed how it does not matter where your business is based, you can compete with the city businesses.

Holley Sommerville-Knott is the youngest of Australian winners. At 15, she won gold as Young Entrepreneur of the Year, for her dedication and commitment to ridding the planet of harmful uses of palm oil. Through her social enterprise, Tell Someone Who Cares, she makes and sells soaps make from a better alternative.

Angela Henderson, from Angela Henderson Consulting, another Brisbane-based business, won Entrepreneur of the Year, Asia, Australian and New Zealand. Angela works with women in business, helping them get their foundation right so they can grow and prosper.

The 2019 Stevie Award nominations are now open.

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