Advancement of Women Award
A collaboration of Zonta Club of Brisbane donors.
The Advancement of Women Award honours individuals of any gender, profession or background who improve the status of women by creating new opportunities or champions women in social, community, economic, academic, political, or workplace settings.
Know Someone Advancing Women?
Nominate them for the 2026 Advancement of Women Award Today!
Recognise and support women driving change – with $7,500 to amplify their impact. Nominees could receive the award if they:
✅ Advance the status of women in their community or workplace
✅ Create opportunities across social, economic, academic, political, or work settings
✅ Use the award funds to amplify the impact of their work
2024 winner Britt Furlanis, pictured with club member Lesley Chenoweth, collecting bras to support women in Papua New Guinea
Know someone making real change, creating new opportunities and advancing the status of women in their community, workplace or beyond?
Nominate them (or yourself!) for the Advancement of Women Award and help Zonta Club Brisbane shine a spotlight on inspiring leaders championing equality, empowerment, and opportunity for women.
It’s quick and easy. Complete the form below to share a short summary of achievements, outline how the nominee advances women’s status and include any supporting materials or references.
Applications close: Monday 8 December 11:59pm.
Eligibility: Nominees must be based in Queensland.
Need inspiration?
Check out our previous AWA Winners
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KYLIE-LEE BRADFORD
2025 Winner
Kylie-Lee is the founder of Kakadu Organics, an Aboriginal-owned, female-led company that produces native foods, wellness products, and bush medicine.
Kylie-Lee’s deep cultural knowledge and lived experience fuel her passion for creating sustainable communities and increasing economic empowerment for Aboriginal people in business, particularly women in rural and remote areas. She’s recently expanded to PNG doing cross -cultural work with women in villages.
Kylie received the Advancement of Women Award for her business coaching and mentoring programs to support women in remote communities to develop successful business enterprises.
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BRITT FURLANIS
2024 Winner
Britt's leadership acumen and achievements in the oil and gas sector were particularly inspirational. She produces a podcast, ‘Women Unleashed’ and hopes to qualify for the Olympic equestrian team.
Britt spent the AWA prize on her projects to support and empower women in Papua New Guinea, and has since organised a bra drive for women in remote communities in Papau New Guinea with the Zonta Club of Brisbane and has joined the Club as a member!
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KATHY MCLEISH
2023 Winner
Kathy is the Co-Chair of Women in Media Australia and was the founding Convenor of Women in Media Queensland.
Kathy is an award-winning ABC journalist and producer who has reported for programs across the network including Stateline, 7.30, Landline, Australian Story and TV and radio news and current affairs.
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THELMA SCHWARTZ
2022 Winner
Thelma is the principal legal officer of the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation.
Thelma received the AWA in recognition of her work in providing legal and non-legal support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Queensland.
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CATHY HUNT
2020 Winner
Cathy is co-founder of Of One Mind, a not for profit company behind the development of the Women of the World Festival in Australia.
She received the Advancement of Women Award in recognition of her outstanding 20-year track record creating programs to empower women in addressing gender inequality, engaging a wide range of communities of women in Australia and internationally creating new pathways through art and cultural efforts including your directorship of the WOW Festivals.
About the Award
The Advancement of Women Award is proudly funded by generous Club members and supporters. It reflects Zonta International’s global mission to advance gender equity and human rights.
