Voting open for Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year People’s Choice by Harvey Norman and The Star Gold Coast
Voting is now open for People’s Choice in the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards by Harvey Norman. Check out all the finalists
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Voting is now open for People’s Choice in the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards by Harvey Norman.
The public can now vote for their favourite from the 33 finalists before the poll closes at 12am on November 2.
The annual awards ceremony recognises women who go above and beyond to make our community and the Gold Coast a better place.
The winner of each category - as chosen by a panel of judges - and the People’s Choice will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at The Star Gold Coast on November 16.
The finalists for the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards by Harvey Norman for 2024 are:
ANGELS AMONG US (By St Hilda’s School)
- Pam Sturgess, Gold Coast Local Charities lunches - the amazing heart behind the Gold Coast Local Charity lunches which she started six years ago;
- Belinda Doman, Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club deputy president, Surf Life Saving Australia learning and development coordinator - a dedicated and passionate volunteer integral to Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club since 1994.
- Rachel Glass, Glasshouse Community Supports managing director - an inspiring leader who has turned personal challenges into a driving force for positive change in the community.
CHAMPIONS OF EDUCATION (by Affinity Education)
- Dee Thomas, The Hair Academy & The Barber Academy co-founder, director - influential in the hair and barbering industry, known for entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to education;
- Rochelle Lewis, Elanora State High principal - trailblazer in education, going beyond her role as a school leader to inspire, mentor, and advocate for her students and staff. Her dedication to nurturing the next generation is evident through a hands-on approach in guiding both students and teachers toward success - and empowers staff to have a balanced lifestyle;
- Janet Dalby, Airways Aviation CEO - 25 years in education, training, and international education, with a passion for empowering women.
CHAMPIONS OF SPORT (by Harvey Norman)
- Alexa Leary, Gold-medal-winning Paralympian - star and inspiration of Paris Games 2024 after surviving a horrific bike training accident and injury;
- Karina Brown, Gold Coast Titans NRLW star - First player signed to Titans NRLW side, ex Queensland captain of Queensland and helped start Burleigh Bears, Easts Tigers female teams;
- Krystal Scott, Southport Sharks senior women’s physio - former Gold Coast Suns player and critical member of Sharks off-field support team
ENTREPRENEURS (by Coastal)
- Christie Perrin, GWEN Creative and Busy Girls Social Club founder/director - started GWEN over two years ago, now with five all-female staff under 25, a Gold Coast Women in Business rising star;
- Regan Merka, Burleigh Wagon founder - innovative company specialising in all-terrain strollers
- Amanda Appel, Makki Group, Kwila Lodge, The Bower Estate managing director - co-founded two successful events venues, rapidly growing in status.
ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIORS (By City of Gold Coast)
- Holly Richmond, marine biologist, wildlife vet nurse and conservationist - film director, SeaWorld Foundation rescue team member, public educator;
- Dr Claire Madden, Sea World Village Roadshow Theme Parks head veterinarian - champion of marine wildlife conservation, lead researcher;
PROFESSIONALS (by Gold Coast Bulletin)
- Melissa Inglis, Rose Litigation Lawyers partner - manages 15 lawyers, herself a highly specialised commercial litigator,delivering no-nonsense advice to clients, with a view to achieving a commercial outcome regardless of complexity, ex-Young Professionals Gold coast and Queensland Law Society Early Career sub-committee;
- Stefanie Doree Fontana, Kingsford Lawyers lawyer and partner - business achiever, charity sponsor, champion for women’s rights, family law and advocacy against domestic violence;
- Kathleen Simpson, DV Lawyer director - beacon of hope and strength for countless victim survivors of domestic and family violence.
WELLNESS WARRIORS (Gold Coast Titans)
- Renae Colbert, The Herbal Connection founder/owner - driven by a lifelong dream of starting her own wholefoods/health foods store;
- Sarah Percy, Female Physio Co director/pelvic floor physiotherapist - soul purpose has been to educate all women about their body.
- Dr Sonu Haikerwal, Haan Health director clinical lead - saves lives every single day, runs her own clinic and owns the building. "My true values which are aligned with the concept of holistic health and wellness in the mainstream medicine. My aim would be to inspire women by my philosophy of the ‘Lifescript’ that encompasses emotional, lifestyle and core medicine. Recently a 57 year old patient of mine came back to see me having lost almost 50 kilos through this holistic program, which is what makes my work so fulfilling."
YOUNG WOMEN (by Glitter Girl)
- Sara Leung, Film maker, Tedx Curator, tech startup - many hats, founder of Pairpal (a dating app innovation) along with behing an achiever in tech and film-making;
- Annie Rogers, My Voice Communication and Ladybird Lane Designs founder - winner of Next Gen’s ‘Young Achiever of the Year’ in 2023, with a socially inclusive mindset to innovation;
- Soraya Abdel Aal, Multicultural Communities Council policy intern, Department of Justice and Attorney General First Nations Justice Office - Griffith University government and international relations society president, UN Youth Queensland facilitator and Young
Australians in International Affairs executive member
- Emerson Jones, world number one junior tennis player - top of world juniors at 16, Junior Wimbledon runner up in 2024
STARS OF TOURISM (by Experience Gold Coast)
- Bronwen Hemmings, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa director of marketing - 17 years experience in marketing in tourism and hospitality, high strategic acument, 2023 Property Marketing Leader of the Year at Elite Awards APEC;
- Renee Soutar, Village Roadshow Theme Parks general manager of marketing - champion of her fellow women and tourism, Australian Amusement Leisure & Recreation Association, and Griffith University Department of Tourism, Sport & Hotel Management industry advisory board volunteer roles;
- Alicia Szerszyn, Paradise Resort Gold Coast sales and marketing manager - dedication, innovation, and leadership across 14-year tenure in this role, leading a dynamic team of five young women;
CHAMPIONS OF THE ARTS (by We Are Phoenix)
- Pru Wilson, Everybody Now and Gold Coast Eisteddfod director and photographer - producer, choreographer, dancer,director, photographer, videographer, adjudicator, dance convenor and also a stage manager;
- Mishel Finlayson, Sambaliscious director - first Australian to perform at the highest level of Rio Carnival, appeared on the cover of Brazilian Vogue, representing Australia and Samba around the world;
- Chloe Popa, Gold Coast Music Network co-founder and managing director - co-founder and managing director of Blank plus Gold Coast Music Awards.
FASHION RETAIL STARS (by Lewis Land Group)
- Ingrid Bonner, founder of Homebodii - founded hugely-successful Homebodii in 2012 after noticing a gap in the market for female sleepwear, featured in New York Fashion Week, Vogue’s Best Sleepwear in Australia award;
- Brooke Hutchesson, Just Sunnies sales and operations manager - in 15 years at Just Sunnies, helped transform it from a Burleigh Heads-based online sunglass retailer to Australia’s largest distributor of eyewear;
- Amber Scherrenberg, Frankly My Dear Store co-owner - from weekend market to having 35 staff and Pacific Fair and Westfield sites. With an allergy to nickel, all her jewellery at Frankly My Dear is nickel free, hypoallergenic & water resistant, the collections are meticulously crafted using high-quality materials.
The winners will be decided at a glitzy ceremony at The Star Gold Coast on November 16.
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