Winners at NT News Woman of the Year 2025 announced
Ten Northern Territory women – who are professionals, leaders and change-makers in their respective fields – have been recognised for their contributions to community at the NT News Woman of the Year Awards. Check out the winners.
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Ten Northern Territory women – who are professionals, leaders and change-makers in their respective fields – have been recognised for their contributions to community at the NT News Woman of the Year Awards.
Angels Among Us – presented by Power and Water Corporation
This category – for selfless women who devote time and energy for others with no attention or reward – is a difficult one to judge but it was decided Kate Everett was a clear champion.
After losing their 14-year-old daughter Dolly in 2018 after she took her own life, Territory couple Kate and husband Tick founded Dolly’s Dream.
Out of the personal tragedy, Kate has tirelessly worked to spark national conversation about the devastating impacts of bullying and to help offer education and family support.
Despite her grief, Kate always makes time to listen to other people’s stories and experiences and offers advice and help where she can.
She works everyday to try and ensure no one else has to face the pain and loss that their family went through.
Champions of Education – presented by Top End Group Training
Thevi Sivanjini Chelliah has been labelled the ‘Grant Queen’ at Palmerston College Special Education Centre for the amount of free time she dedicates to applying for funding. And now she can add Champion of Education to her titles.
The special education teacher has become known for her ability to tailor learning experiences to meet diverse needs and her ability to put together creative and engaging spaces.
Thevi has applied for numerous grants including successfully applying for National Youth Week over the last 10 years to organise art exhibitions each year to provide students with special needs with a platform to showcase their creative talents.
She founded the Djembe Auslan Choir and Dance program which combines African drumming, dance and Auslan sign language and champions women’s participation in STEM and Music by helping create workshops and activities that inspire and empower young girls.
Trades and Resources – presented by Newmont
In the construction and transportable industry, Natalie Wynne stood out as a big champion of diversity and innovation and dedicated mentor to other women.
The mum-of-three is co-director of Transportable Solutions NT which is majority Indigenous owned and maintains an all-female leadership team.
Natalie and co-director Jessica Buckley – who have 30 years of combined experience in construction – have built a company that delivers transportable building solutions in the Northern Territory while fostering opportunities for women in trades.
Natalie ensures that her company operates with integrity, efficiency and a commitment to workforce development while juggling family life and striving to be a role model for her two daughters.
Champions of Sport – presented by Bridge Toyota Darwin and Palmerston
Whether it’s commentating women’s footy or volunteering for junior teams Liz Cruse is a well-known face (and voice) in the Top End sporting scene.
Liz is the sole female commentator for the ABC’s NTFL coverage and is driven to encourage more women to get behind the mic and in turn help grow the competition.
She’s been commentating the NTFL for many seasons giving insights into players, making sure the women’s game gets the coverage it deserves and showing other women to give the role a go.
Beyond commentary she’s a life member at St Mary’s and has been a long-time supporter of the club encouraging the next generation.
She also volunteers at the Nightcliff Tigers, coaches netball and is heavily involved with the Nightcliff Dragons in the NRL NT.
Professionals – presented by ISACNT
Looking at women at the top of their field, the judges were certainly impressed by Sally Gearin.
The pioneering lawyer and barrister has been a trailblazer for women and LGBTQ+ individuals and has dedicated her career to addressing powerlessness and injustice.
Recruited to Darwin by the Northern Territory Attorney-General’s Department in 1986, Sally rose to become a senior litigation solicitor and was the first woman to be called to join the Northern Territory Bar.
For 20 years, Sally developed a strong practice and achieved remarkable success winning more than 90 per cent of her cases at trial.
She has dedicated large parts of her career to pro bono work and social justice, playing a key role in establishing Darwin’s first women’s refuge Dawn House and shaping responses with fellow lawyer Judy Harrison to domestic violence.
Stars of Retail, Tourism and Hospitality – presented by Mindil Beach Casino Resort
There are very few who know Darwin’s hospitality industry like Monica Bugno.
Since moving to Darwin 11 years ago, the co-owner of The Last Supper and Pasta Parties has used her passion for quality food and community engagement to create a supportive hub.
Along with her husband Briant, Monica has helped create a vibrant cultural scene through their businesses in the Air Raid Arcade offering a range of creative and fun activities and events all within a safe space.
She also ensures they prioritise local suppliers at The Last Supper to help boost and support NT businesses.
On top of running multiple businesses, Monica manages the Darwin Foodies NT Facebook group and is developing a podcast called Local Territory Flavour to highlight local businesses, ingredients and recipes.
STEM – presented by NEC
It is impossible to spend any time in Dr Carla Eisemberg’s presence without seeing her passion for science or people.
Whether it is through education, research, comedy, presenting a radio show or dressing up in a turtle costume, Carla is always finding new ways to share her life’s work with others.
The senior lecturer in STEM Pathways at CDU is known for her research on applied ecology and wildlife conservation – particularly for her work with freshwater turtles.
She is also the driving force behind Inspired NT and CDU Radicle and started the NT Science Week Awards (now Radicle Awards) in 2021.
Carla is particularly passionate about STEM being accessible to women and First Nations students and since 2019, has designed and delivered a CDU First Nations STEM program.
On top of her many roles, she also has a regular science radio segment on ABC Darwin radio and enjoys performing stand-up comedy.
First Nations Women – presented by Glencore McArthur River Mine
When it comes to significant achievements made in community, it was agreed there was no better fit than Senior Elder, Aunty Bilawara.
Aunty B, as she is widely known, is dedicated to sharing Larrakia culture, lore and language.
The Larrakia academic in-residence at Charles Darwin University works closely with the Larrakia Nation on the revival of the Larrakia language and provides her cultural knowledge and expertise to staff and students.
Aunty Bilawara is an internationally published author of 12 books and is an honorary elder for numerous groups and organisations including the Australian Defence Forces NT, NT Border Forces and Darwin Festival.
For several years she was deputy Chair of the NT Government’s Activate Darwin Committee and in 2024 received the Menzies Companion Award.
Rising Star (under 25 years) – sponsored by Australian Computer Society
This award is designed to highlight incredible young talent and champion emerging leaders and in this, the judges agreed that Ella Day stood out from the rest.
Within 10 months of working at Territory True Support Services, Ella had worked her way up to operations manager where she is known for her impressive work ethic and attention to detail.
Ella, who is 20, works a 40-hour week balancing work on the floor supporting clients and undertaking administrative duties and is studying a Masters in Occupational Therapy and Bachelor in Health Science through Charles Darwin University.
And outside of work, she has also completed 150 hours of community service in coaching athletics.
People’s Choice – brought to you by Santos
From the nine categories, all the finalists went into a ‘People’s Choice’ award – voted by ntnews.com.au readers – and the results came down to the wire.
Nearly 2,000 readers cast their vote with Champions of Sport category finalist, Vicki Bridge, winning the category with 156 votes.
After nine years of running marathons, Vicki achieved her goal of earning the Abbott World Majors Six Star Medal in March this year after she crossed the finish line at the Tokyo Marathon.
To achieve this, Vicki has run six of the world’s major marathons since 2016 despite battling injuries and juggling family and training.
When not training or raising her two boys, Vicki is big supporter of junior soccer and can usually be spotted volunteering or fundraising at the Port Darwin Football Club.
NT News Woman of the Year 2025
Anti-bullying and youth suicide advocate Kate Everett has been named as the 2025 Woman of the Year.
Due to the awards also landing on the national Do It For Dolly Day, Kate was unable to attend in person.
However, she managed to video in onto the screen at Mindil Beach Casino Resort having just arrived in Melbourne from Sydney and through tears said: “This is an absolute honour to win but also to be nominated in a group of such inspiring women.”
When asked if she had any advice, she added: “Today’s about spreading kindness so if everyone can go and do a random act of kindness today we’d appreciate it.”
Romy Carey, chief executive of the NT Cattlemen’s association, who came in Kate’s place, paid tribute to the NT News Woman of the Year and said: “And she’s just the kind of resilient that’s quietly fierce and a deeply compassionate, amazing woman.
“But what sets her apart as what I think most Territory women is not just her grit or her grace. It’s ability to transition seamlessly from the dust and the chaos of the cattle yards to and wander into a room with royalty, quite literally.
“She carries herself with strength and humility and an unwavering sense of purpose.”
The inspiring individual stories of all winners and category finalists will feature in a special liftout to be published in the NT News at the end of May.
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Originally published as Winners at NT News Woman of the Year 2025 announced
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