Ceiling smashers: Share the amazing stories of women who inspire you

These are some of the South Australian women who have empowered other females to achieve greatness - but we want to unearth other amazing stories too – share them here.

Founder Body Image Movement Taryn Brumfitt, First female on Current Affairs Paula Nagel, Chief Operating Officer SAHMRI Amanda McIlrory and Mountaineer Katie Sarah. Picture: Keryn Stevens

• Nominate an inspirational woman here

From a nun to an entrepreneur and a top lawyer – these are some of the South Australian women who have empowered other females to achieve greatness.

In fact, they have inspired four of the 125 ladies on The Advertiser’s Ceiling Smashers list – which celebrates women who have achieved historic firsts and changed the course of history – to become trailblazers in their own fields.

SAHMRI’s inaugural chief operating officer Amanda McIlroy, mountaineer Katie Sarah, journalist Paula Nagel and body-image campaigner Taryn Brumfitt were all nominated on the list – and now they are paying it forward.

We asked them to each nominate another woman they thought should be included on a second dossier of 125 women – for you, chosen by you.

Ms Sarah nominated Dame Ruby Litchfield, who she said “truly epitomised the idea of a pioneering woman”.

She was the first woman appointed to both the Housing Trust and Adelaide Festival Centre Trust boards, as well as a founding member of Adelaide City Broadcasters and the Adelaide Festival.

“I love a quote I came across attributed to her: ‘I don’t seek glory, I just do things. If I’ve got a challenge I make a success of it’,” Ms Sarah said.

“What an inspirational woman.”

Ms Nagel, the state’s first woman to front a current affairs program on television, nominated Sister Deirdre Jordan – an educator, nun and Flinders University’s first female chancellor.

“(She has) achieved a long list of historic firsts, and remains still a woman who is inspirational to us all,” Ms Nagel said. “She was also one of the first women in the state to be appointed a Companion of The Order of Australia for services to education in 1989.”

Ms McIlroy nominated one of the state’s best legal minds Loretta Reynolds – a corporate partner and chair of Thomson Geer Lawyers.

“Loretta’s talent and drive has made her a shining success story professionally, having been recognised as South Australia’s Lawyer of the Year for three consecutive years across the fields of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate law,” Ms McIlroy said.

“But for me, the inspiration really lies in her positive and pragmatic approach to supporting women in business and law, combined with her generous approach to both mentoring and supporting non-for-profit organisations.”

Ms Brumfitt nominated Gemma Munro, the co-founder of a world-leading training and development organisation, Inkling.

Dr Munro’s aim is to help people “come home to themselves and lead lives of purpose, passion and peace”.

We want to hear about the amazing women in your life and unearth their uplifting stories that have never been brought to the fore.