Cairns Business Women's Club Awards
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Each year the Cairns Business Women’s Club seeks to recognise the exceptional skills of Cairns business women and the contribution they make to the business community through the annual Cairns Business Women’s Club Awards.
About the awards
There are five categories with two major categories: Business Owner and Small Business Owner; and three distinction categories: Manager-in-Business, Young Female Entrepreneur and New Direction in Business categories.
The Annual Cairns Business Women’s Club Awards started in 1985 and have now become one of the most recognized and sought after ‘badges of honour’ in the Cairns business community.
Business Woman of the Year (Business Owner)
To acknowledge those who own and manage their own business of 5+ employees; for their outstanding skills and contribution to their business and the business community.
Small Business Owner of the Year (1 – 4 employees)
To encourage those who own and manage their own small business of 1 to 5 employees; for their outstanding skills and contribution to their business.
Manager-in-Business Woman of the Year
To acknowledge women in the public or private sector for their outstanding skills and contribution to their employer as a manager or middle manager.
Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year
To encourage entrepreneurial women under the age of 30 who have in the past two years started their own business.
New Directions in Business Woman of the Year
To recognise women over 45 who in the past two years have had to start their career again and have done so by starting their own business.
The Jean Skea Memorial Encouragement Award
In 1996, long serving Club member Jean Skea died and at the initiation of Jean’s husband, George, and because she was held in such high regard by the Club, the Jean Skea Memorial Encouragement Award was set up to recognise the achievements of women in the Cairns business community. This award is given at the discretion of the judges and is open to all categories. To qualify, however, nominees must be financial members of the Cairns Business Women's Club.
The number of women being nominated has increased substantially over recent years, which in turn generates greater awareness and media attention.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility is determined by the criteria for each Award category but, generally speaking, the Awards are open to residents of Tropical North Queensland, from Cardwell to the Torres Strait and west to the border of the Northern Territory. Depending on the category, women who own and operate their own entity; women working in business in Tropical Nth Qld who have at least two years career experience are eligible. The Awards are OPEN TO MEMBERS & NON-MEMBERS.
** Applicants must be available to participate in all of the events associated with the Awards. If participants are unable to attend all events, approval by the Awards Chair must be sought in writing.
** Applicants must comply with relevant Award criteria (Available in the Submission Kit)
Judging Criteria and Submission Details
Nomination may be by a colleague, club member or by self nomination. Previous nominees and finalists are encouraged to nominate again. The judging panel is made up of local business people and corporate leaders. Committee members are excluded from either being nominated or serving on the judging panel. Nominees are judged on a combination of the following;
Current resume - detailing professional history
Written submission - addressing criteria in a questionnaire provided upon nomination
Interview with a Judging Panel of regional Business Leaders
