Nominations open for Victorian Honour Roll for Women

Patti Manolis, seen here while she was chief executive officer of the Geelong Regional LIbraries Corporation, is on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. Photo: SUPPLIED

THE Victorian community is encouraged to nominate women who have made significant and lasting contributions to society, with the 2023 Honour Roll of Women now open.

Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins last week opened nominations for the roll, inviting the community to put forward women nominees while paying tribute to those honoured in the past.

More than 700 women whose achievements have helped shape Victoria, the nation and the globe have been inducted into the Honour Roll since it began in 2001.

Women from all walks of life, age groups and across industries – from health, science and technology, arts and education to politics and community activism – have been recognised as trailblazers, local champions and change agents.

Recipients from the Geelong region include former Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation chief executive officer Patti Manolis and former Gateways Support Services chief executive officer Rosemary Malone.

In recent years, nominations have expanded to include emerging leaders aged between 16 and 30 who are redefining leadership in their field of expertise, interest or endeavour.

The state government says celebrating women’s contributions is an important step towards normalising women’s leadership, and helps to address a gender imbalance in wider honours, all with the goal of building a society where everyone is valued equally, regardless of their gender.

The Honour Roll is open to women of all faiths, cultures, ages, sexual identities and abilities.

“Women from diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life have made lasting contributions to our state, and we want to shine a light on their achievements for the next generation of women and girls,” Ms Hutchins said.

“Some of our previous inductees forged new paths for women today by challenging outdated ideas of what a woman can do, while others are young women redefining what leadership is for the future.

“It is important to support and honour our female leaders, because there is no gender equality without women’s leadership. By recognising these women publicly, we are showing young girls what they can be.”

Nominations for the 2023 Victorian Honour Roll of Women are open until May 29.

To nominate and see details of past inductees, head to vic.gov.au/victorian-honour-roll-women-program