Karan Hayward named 2025 Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership NT recipient
The head of a Tennant Creek organisation helping to record, revive and retrieve languages has been recognised with a prestigious award. See the full list of winners.
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The head of a Tennant Creek organisation helping to record, revive and retrieve languages has been recognised in the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership.
Karan Hayward, chief executive of Papulu Apparr-Kari Aboriginal Corporation (the Language Center) has on Tuesday been announced as the 2025 NT Award recipient.
The awards, hosted by Women and Leadership Australia, celebrate exceptional Australian women and gender-diverse people who encourage change and societal improvement.
Ms Haywood led the Language Centre for more than three decades.
She has also led many committees and boards, as chairwoman of the Barkly Region Chamber of Commerce, Barkly Bush fire council, Patta TC Council Local Authority, Barkly Region Alcohol reference group and more.
She was appointed to the Barkly Shire Council as Alderman and in 2018 was nominated for a local hero Australia Day award for the NT.
“I am so honoured to be the recipient of this award,” she said.
“I believe we are here to ensure we leave a better world than the one we came into.
“As a mother of Torres Strait Islander/Indigenous children I strive to ensure they all have the education and knowledge to survive and be leaders of our people in the future.
“My ambition and aspiration are to ensure that our children live in a safe environment with economic development and independence, to enable them to obtain employment and to learn both ways to be strong and to still speak our languages in the future.”
Women and Leadership Australia general manager Karen Surmon said the award honoured Ms Hayward’s “lifelong commitment to empowering Indigenous people in the Barkly and Tennant Creek regions”.
“Described as a pillar of the community, her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to cultural preservation, education, and economic development are truly commendable,” she said.
“Through initiatives that uplift voices, foster resilience, and celebrate heritage, Karan embodies the essence of excellence in leadership.”
Since the awards were created in 2014, recipients have included Julia Gillard, Christine Holgate, Sam Kerr, Magda Szubanski, Janine Allis, Marcia Langton, Rochelle Courtenay, and Quentin Bryce.
This year’s winners include:
- Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM (NATIONAL), Australia’s Former Chief Scientist
- Heidi Yates (ACT) Change Leader, Strategist, Human Rights Lawyer
- Linda Burney MP (NSW), Member for Barton
- Anja Christoffersen (QLD), Disability Advocate and Social Entrepreneur; CEO of the Women with Disabilities Entrepreneur Network
- Dr Manasi Murthy Mittinty (SA), Senior Lecturer; Speaker and Author; Founder CHERISH
- Associate Professor Justine Shaw (TAS), Founder of Homeward Bound; Conservation Scientist & Advocate for equity in STEM
- Suzie Betts (VIC) Founder of Boob Armour
- Janine Dureau (WA), CEO of The Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council
- Karan Hayward GAICD (NT), CEO of Papulu Apparr-Kari Aboriginal Corporation
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Originally published as Karan Hayward named 2025 Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership NT recipient
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