Australian Women Lead the Way with 70 Stevie Awards for Women in Business

Twenty-one Australian women-led businesses have been named finalists in the 2026 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, collectively earning 70 nominations—roughly one in every 14 of the more than 1,500 entries received from 56 nations and territories. The announcement underscores the rising influence of Australian women in global business and the increasing value placed on recognizing their achievements.

Among the finalists, Raquel Manning of Blue Diamond Property Group leads with eight nominations, including Lifetime Achievement and Woman of the Year in Real Estate. Shelly McElroy of Dream Culture follows with seven, while Katrina Wurm and Michelle Wollaston each have six. Malini Raj of the Australian Multicultural Women's Alliance has five, and Kerry Bolton's Caring Lotus has four. These women represent sectors ranging from property and business services to media, health, and social change.

Annette Densham, award strategist and founder of Award Writing Services, which itself is recognized in six categories, noted the significance of the nominations. "I've been doing this a long time, and it still gives me goosebumps when the finalist list drops," she said. "These are women who get on with it and rarely stop to look at what they've built. Entering the Stevie Awards is that pause to pat themselves on the back and reflect on what they've accomplished." Densham's firm was recognized for its Breadcrumb Method, a system for turning expertise into visible, verifiable authority.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honour the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the organizations they run worldwide. Named after the Greek word for "crowned," the Stevie has been hailed as the world's premier business award. Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Grand Stevie placements will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on 16 November, with more than 400 women and their guests expected to attend. The event will be broadcast live.

Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, said, "As the Stevie Awards for Women in Business marks its 23rd year, we continue to be impressed by the remarkable accomplishments represented among the nominations. It's especially rewarding to see the significance a Stevie Award holds for women and the recognition it brings to their achievements, careers, and organizations. We congratulate all of this year's finalists and look forward to revealing the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements on November 16."

The breadth of categories in which Australian women are finalists—from Most Resilient Female Leader to Social Change Maker of the Year—reflects a diverse range of contributions. For instance, Michelle Wollaston of Syzygy – Life Directionist is nominated for Woman of the Year in Media and Entertainment, while Together We Can International is recognized for Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion. These nominations not only celebrate individual success but also highlight the collective impact of women-led businesses in driving innovation and social progress.

Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the full list of winners are available at Women.StevieAwards.com. Entries for the 2027 awards open in May. For more information about the Stevie Awards, visit www.StevieAwards.com.