Geelong’s outstanding women crowned

GEELONG’S most inspirational women have been celebrated for their continuous efforts to make the region fairer and more equitable at the City of Greater Geelong’s 2023 Women in Community Life Awards.

Held at Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct on Wednesday evening (March 8), the International Women’s Day event acknowledged and honoured work women do to make the Greater Geelong community a better place.

This year’s winners are:

Melinda Kennedy – First Nations Woman in Community Life (sponsored by Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens MP)

Jessica Wynn – Women in Community Life for a Gender Equal Future (sponsored by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West)

Jess Robinson – Women in Community Life for Disability Rights (sponsored by Barwon Health)

Kylie Skew – Women in Community Life for Leadership in Women’s Health (sponsored by GMHBA)

Kate Lockhart – Women in Community Life for Climate Action (sponsored by Community for Geelong)

Lana Purcell – Women in Community Life for Human Rights (sponsored by Zonta Club of Geelong)

Issara Saeyim – Women in Community Life for Education (sponsored by Soroptimist International of Geelong)

All winners received a Wathaurong Glass artwork, $500 and will have the opportunity for a ‘mutual mentoring’ session with a leader from the organisation that has sponsored their award.

Councillor Belinda Mooney congratulated all nominees for their passion to their community and mentioned the awards were an appropriate way of marking International Women’s Day.

“When you consider the remarkable way in which all of the women nominated have worked to help others, it’s fitting that we applaud them on an international day of celebrating the contributions of women,” Cr Moloney said.

“I hope that hearing the stories of our region’s inspirational women will further inspire community members to make Geelong a vibrant and inclusive place for all to live.”

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan also applauded the award winners and nominees for their extraordinary work.

“The awards provide well-deserved recognition to the many women in Greater Geelong who have worked selflessly and made outstanding contributions to the community,” Mayor Sullivan said.

“We have heard inspiring stories about all of our nominees; women who have shown remarkable dedication in both professional and volunteer roles to make Geelong a better place to live.”

With this year’s International Women’s Day event theme of ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’, the event also featured a keynote address by Code Like a Girl cofounder Ally Watson OAM.

More information about each of the winners can be found at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/wiclaward