Advancement of Women Award
A collaboration of Zonta Club of Brisbane donors.
The AWA recognises a person who, through their leadership, work or advocacy, is progressing the status of women by facilitating or creating new pathways for women, or advancing the interests of women through social, community, economic, academic, political or work environments and endeavours.
Advancement of Women Award Winners
2023 Winner
Britt Furlanis
Britt's leadership acumen and achievements in the oil and gas sector were particularly inspirational. She also produces a podcast, ‘Women Unleashed’ and hopes to qualify for the Olympic equestrian team. Britt plans to spend the $5000 prize on her projects to support and empower women in Papua New Guinea.
2022 Winner
Kathy McLeish
Kathy McLeish is the Co-Chair of Women in Media Australia and was the founding Convenor of Women in Media Queensland. Kathy is an award-winning ABC journalist and producer who has reported for programs across the network including Stateline, 7.30, Landline, Australian Story and TV and radio news and current affairs.
2021 Winner
Thelma Schwartz
Thelma Schwartz is the principal legal officer of the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation providing legal and non-legal support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Queensland.
2019 Winner
Cathy Hunt
Cathy is co-founder of Of One Mind, a not for profit company behind the development of the Women of the World Festival in Australia. She received this award in recognition of her outstanding 20-year track record creating programs to empower women in addressing gender inequality, engaging a wide range of communities of women in Australia and internationally creating new pathways through art and cultural efforts including your directorship of the WOW Festivals.
AWA Eligibility Requirements
The recipient could be an administrator, scientist, teacher, business or industry leader, police officer, community worker, fundraiser or a pioneer in their field. The Advancement of Women Award is open to persons of any gender who are on the path of helping women and who can use the funds to leverage the effect of their work.
Applications open in October each year.
Any person who is:
(i) progressing the status of women by creating new pathways for women or;
(ii) facilitating women’s advancement along existing pathways or;
(iii) advancing the interests of women through endeavours in social, community, economic, academic, political or work environments and;
(iv) are not members of the Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc. or members of their family.