Australia still has a long way to go when it comes to gender diversity at the very top of organisations. With just seven female CEOs currently in the ASX 200, Australia lags far behind other Western countries when it comes to equal representation.
So it’s positive to see that a record number of women have been nominated for CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards this year. Of the 85 nominees, 17 women are included this year across 20 categories.
The awards set out to identify and celebrate the achievements of aspiring and established leaders, including managing director of the year, chairperson of the year (for which Gina Rinehart is up for a gong) and CEO of the year.
The six finalists for CEO of the year include one woman, Colleen Callander, CEO of high street label Sportsgirl, who is also nominated for Retail Executive of the Year.
Callander was appointed CEO of Sportsgirl in December 2013, after holding the position of CEO at its sister company, Sussan, for six and a half years. She previously worked for Sportsgirl for nine years.
Other finalists for the awards include Tara Commerford, Head of Communications AU NZ SE Asia at LinkedIn, who is nominated for Media Executive of the Year and Michelle McPherson, CFO of NIB Holdings Limited for CFO of the year.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Sydney on 27 November.
The 17 female finalists include:
Media Executive of the Year: Tara Commerford, Head of Communications AU NZ SE Asia Linkedin
Health and Pharmaceutical Executive of the Year: Liz Camilleri, Executive Director Group Finance/CFO Epworth Healthcare
Manufacturing Executive of the Year: Mary Joan Verschuer Managing Director Schenck Process Australia
Retail Executive of the Year: Colleen Callander CEO, Sportsgirl
Financial Services Executive of the Year: Lisa Claes, Executive Director Customer Delivery ING Direct
Executive Assistant of the Year:
Jo Priest, Executive Assistant MEGT (Australia) Limited
Rebecca Turner, Executive Assistant Xchanging
Deirdre Swan, Executive Assistant Delaware North Companies
Elizabeth Robson, Executive Assistant Carnival Australia
HR Executive of the Year:
Megan Bromley, Head of Employee Experience Red Balloon
Alicia Gleeson, Executive General Manager Human Resources Crown Melbourne
Kate McCormack, Executive Director People Learning and Culture Mercy Health
Marketing Executive of the Year:
Diane Tannous. Marketing Manager Australia and New Zealand Nilfisk Advance Pty Ltd
Hannah Collins, Marketing and Communications Manager Phoenix Society
CFO of the Year: Michelle McPherson CFO, NIB Holdings Limited
Chairperson of the Year: Georgina Rinehart Chairman, Roy Hill Holdings Pty Ltd
CEO of the Year: Colleen Callander CEO, Sportsgirl