South Australia’s top trailblazers recognised in 2024 Woman of the Year Awards
The first woman of Afghan descent to serve in Australia’s military has been named SA’s Woman of the Year, one of six inspiring women recognised in the awards. Here are their stories.
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Kbora Ali has two uniforms she wears with pride – her camouflage fatigues as the first woman of Afghan descent to serve in the Australian Defence Force and the colourful, richly embroidered Hazara dress of her cultural heritage.
On the eve of International Women’s Day, dressed in cocktail attire among 200 guests, Ms Ali was crowned The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year.
Previous trailblazers to earn this accolade are Julie-Ann Finney, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Professor Helen Marshall and 2023 winner Australia’s first female astronaut Katherine Bennell Pegg.
The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year Awards annually acknowledges the incredible accomplishments of South Australian women, like Corporal Ali, across six categories.
Far more than a gala night of glamour and celebration, the awards honour both high profile names and individuals who have flown under the radar despite their remarkable achievements.
Keynote speakers included SA governor Frances Adamson and via video from Germany astronaut-in-training 2023 Women of the Year Katherine Bennell Pegg.
Deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide Jessica Gallagher presented Corporal Kbora Ali with the University of Adelaide Rising Star award.
Ms Ali is a member of Afghanistan’s persecuted Hazara community, her family fled when she was a little girl arriving in Australia in 2007.
On Thursday, she walked the pink carpet with the other category winners, finalists, distinguished guests and sponsors, before accepting her award.
The first Afghan woman to join the Australian Army, Corporal Kbora Ali was honoured with the University of Adelaide Rising Star Award.
Corporal Ali said she could never have imagined securing the honour as a young child.
“I’m actually shocked and emotional,” she said.
“This is amazing and such an honour. A girl like me could not have dreamt of such an honour like this.”
Corporal Ali paid tribute to her parents for giving her the opportunity to come to Australia, and said she hoped to inspire other young women.
“Never give up and keep fighting. Keep going,” she said.
“I’m most proud of just giving hope to other people. I was given hope by my dad when he came here by boat.
“My mother was the backbone while my father was in Australia. This is for my parents.”
Corporal Ali said she was thankful every day for her life in Australia.
“I always think what my life would have been if I wasn’t here. Every day waking up I’m grateful to live here and the life I get to live here,” she said.
She talked about the challenges she faced after moving to Adelaide in 2007 with her family, joining her father, a refugee from Afghanistan.
Corporal Ali said she feels pride every time she puts on the military uniform.
“I wanted to give back and I think in my family at least, we never had any female or boys in the military,” she said,” she said.
This years list of accomplished women extend to disability and veterans’ rights advocates, medical research trailblazers and STEM luminaries, as well as passionate campaigners for people in need and sporting sensations.
In total, 38 incredible women were celebrated across six categories – Jobs Statewide Leader of the Year, University of Adelaide Rising Star, Phil Hoffman Travel Community Champion, The Advertiser Foundation Inspiration Award, SA Weekend Innovation Award and SkyCity Hospitality Hero Award.
The evening of awards began with the crowning of STEM superstar Dr Sarah Scholten who took out SA Weekend Innovator of the Year for her significant contributions to her field, with the experimental physicist generating international attention.
Dr Scholten said she was shocked to be taking home the first honour.
Said she was always “determined” to understand how the world works and urged other young women interested in STEM to put themselves out there.
“I’d say just go for it. It’s super rewarding,” Dr Sholten said.
“Put yourself out there, don’t be afraid. There’s a lot of likeminded women out there who are thrilled to have them with you.”
The SkyCity Hospitality Hero accolade was awarded to Penley Estate head winemaker, Kate Goodman secured the SkyCity Hospitality Hero award.
Named 2024 Winemaker of the Year by the prestigious Halliday Wine Companion, Ms Goodman thanked her “terrific mentors” in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
“I’ve had people lift me up and support me rather than push me down,” she said.
Ms Goodman also described how she’s changed her outlook on life after battling breast cancer in 2017 and 2021, at one stage losing her sense of taste and smell.
“When you get to look something like that down the long, dark barrel not just once, but two times, you start seeing what’s important and what’s worthwhile,” she said.
“I don’t believe busy is best. I’ve definitely changed my outlook.”
The Advertiser Foundation Inspiration of the Year Award was given to Courtney Hunter-Hebberman, a proud Peramangk and Ngarrindjeri woman whose quest to find justice over her daughter’s death sparked the Walkley Award-winning Dying Rose investigation.
Ms Hunter-Hebberman said the award was in “honour of my daughter Rose”.
“My daughter is still here in this room,” she said.
“She was a beautiful woman, she was just 19.
“She was a passionate, strong woman… and that was cut short.”
Ms Hunter-Hebberman said it had been a “really difficult journey” but it’s vital to continue raising awareness of the high rates of domestic violence against Indigenous women.
“This shouldn’t be happening in 2024,” she said.
“The more people that know and speak up about these things happening, the more awareness we can raise.
“We can continue to truth-tell but you guys are truth-listening - that’s the most important part.”
The Jobs Statewide Leader of the Year award was presented to ZoosSA CEO Elaine Bensted. Bensted said she was “surprised” to be named Jobs Statewide Leader of the Year.
“I have an amazing team of staff and volunteers. None of us do it by ourselves,” she said.
Recognised as a global leader in animal conservation, Ms Bensted’s childhood hero was Dr Jane Goodall and she said she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.
“I grew up wanting to be a vet, but I faint when I see blood,” she said.
It’s been a boom year for Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park, and Ms Bensted said it was a team effort.
Social media campaigner Alexandra Thomas was recognised as the Phil Hoffman Travel Community Champion for her rural social change initiative #plantaseedforsafety.
Thomas said her father was her inspiration.
“He’s the stereotypical Aussie battler,” said Ms Thomas, who grew up on a remote sheep station, lived through severe drought and from age 15 became a carer for her seriously ill father.
“Born and bred in country, lives in Crystal Brook. This is all for him.”
Finalists and winners enjoyed deluxe prize packs from Penfolds and State Opera of SA, with Cosi Fan Tutte tickets and prestige South Australian wine.
The awards concluded with the crowning of Ms Ali as the overall 2024 winner of The Advertiser Sunday Mail Sky City Woman of the Year.
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