Keynote Speaker, The Hon. Michael Kirby, AC CMG

When he retired from the High Court, The Hon. Michael Kirby was Australia's longest serving judge. 

Kirby's life spans from his humble beginnings in Concord to his work as the first Australian to serve as a Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Human Rights. 

Kirby was a leader in law reform and human rights with the OECD, UNESCO and WHO.  His legal and humanitarian contribution as a judge, both in Australia and overseas, is unparalleled.

About the Winner, Dr. Christine Durham

A car accident left Christine with a severe brain injury that she has struggled to overcome – she refused to give in to the life that seemed inevitable. Striving to be ‘alive’ again, she found writing- that is, typing with one functioning finger! – a good catharsis for the fear and pain of rehab. The result was a published book - Doing Up Buttons, which brought an unexpectedly overwhelming response.

Through public speaking, mentoring, campaigning and educating, Christine has dedicated her life to offering hope and inspiration to people, especially those who are living with an acquired brain injury (ABI). 

At 63, Christine started a PhD on ABI and ways to provide better support for those living with the injury. She feels this will give her more credibility amongst other professionals. She is also writing a text book on ABI and has contributed to other books. 

Congratulations to the finalists: Karin Vosmansky & Alecia Elbelli.

Keynote Speaker, Madeleine West

Determined, versatile, never say die attitude, self motived and vibrant are all the words used to describe Madeline West. Madeleine West was the keynote speaker at the 2011 BrainLink Women of Achievement Award. Being hit by a bus would not dent her dreams. Madeleine West shared her inspiring story, her passion and fun approach to life.

About the Winner, Susan Barton  AM

Susan’s volunteer work in an orphanage and a visit to an infectious disease hospital in Sri Lanka 35 years ago was a defining moment to change her life forever. Having six of her own children including two adopted from Sri Lanka and Haiti she fostered children in her own home for 15 years before she had the opportunity to speak at a “Workshop” 20 years ago, where she told her story of how she fostered damaged young people and she had one more to add to the family but room was a constraint. Within a week a caravan arrived and Susan was partnered with the business community enabling her to make her vision a reality and teach others of how they can reach children that need a sense of belonging, thus the Lighthouse Foundation was formed.

The Lighthouse Foundation’s “Model of Care” is able to replicate a caring family environment with surrogate parents, aunties and uncles allowing them to delicately deconstruct the trauma of what an abused child has suffered and start the healing process. Susan has the ability to connect people and create the ripple effect. She informally mentors those around her from young people, senior supervisors, psychologist’s clinical and residential carers and intake workers. Susan’s mission is to change the way Australia responds to the homeless and out of home care, thereby increasing the availability of the Lighthouse model throughout the State and eventually the country.

Susan says that “Protecting children is everyone’s business and to have a child come up and eventually hug you, trust you and even become one of our carers is what brings a smile to my face and makes this all worthwhile". Susan has a heartfelt drive, enthusiasm and resilience to keep asking with humility and conviction. Susan is truly a social entrepreneur, making a huge difference to our community.

Congratulations to the finalists! They were: Shirley Woods, Heather Barton, AM,Rachael Maza-Long, Dr Linda Denehy and Kate Weiss.

Keynote Speaker, Ita Buttrose

Its time to honour what you know, who you know and to remember the champions who have cheered you along the way. Who better to lead by example than Ita Buttrose, a dynamic woman shared her insights on what it takes to be an inspirational leader, mentor and a good friend - no matter if you are 20, 40 or 80 years of age.
 

About the Winner, Sharon Tonkin

Sharon Tonkin has spent 30 years devoted to the care of others as a nurse. After marrying, she moved to a town in north-west Victoria and worked as a midwife there before an amalgamation of 5 regional health services meant that local women had to travel to Horsham to give birth. She continues to provide pre and post-natal services today.

This dedicated healer is now a manager of East Wimmera Health Service, leading 54 staff while adjusting to changes in nursing trends and diminishing recruits in this drought-affected area. She lobbied to keep the local ANZ Bank in town and raised $33,000 to build a helipad at the hospital to ensure the speedy evacuation of patients needing critical medical help. Then, in 2008 she experienced the horror of her husband being critically injured in a car accident. He sustained a brain injury, needed the help of a ventilator to breathe, and had post traumatic amnesia for 6 weeks whilst at the Alfred Hospital.

Specialist support was not available in her town, so she made it her mission to help her husband rehabilitate through unique therapies to help him walk again and re-tune his motor skills using computer games such as the Nintendo Wii. Her family has also experienced the death of a son, and has two daughters and a foster son in their family unit. Her meditation comes from her love of fine needlework.

Congratulations to the finalists! They were: Melina Schamroth, Jenny Newman and Leeanne Carey.

Keynote Speaker, Christine Nixon, APM

Keynote speaker christine nixon, APM shared her view on Is it really a man's world? Who better to tell us than the woman who has attempted major challenges, dealt with high pressure and crisis situations. Christine was our first female police commissioner and once the head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction & Recovery Authority, she continues to prevail as an inspiring leader.

About the Winner, Tania de Jong, AM

Tania de Jong is an inspirational singing entrepreneur who has united disadvantaged communities using the power of song. Among her many achievements, Ms de Jong established Creativity Australia a not-for-profit organisation that runs a choir program aimed at migrants living in public housing, which creates networking and employment opportunities while fostering wellbeing and creativity, leadership and communication. Ten years ago she founded The Song Room, which has assisted more than 200,000 disadvantaged young people to develop a passion for lifelong learning through music and creative programs.
 

Congratulations to the finalists! They were: Bev Brock, Melissa Noonan and Mary Galea.

A celebrity debate on "What makes a woman so great?” was the theme for the 2008 BrainLink Women of Achievement Award.  Featured on the panel was the cutting and clever thorn between the roses; Paul McDermott (Host of Good News Week), the unstoppable achiever Joan Kirner (former Premier of Victoria), the woman behind emergencies, Mary Barry (CEO of the Victorian S.E.S.) and the guru scientist all-rounder, Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan. Keeping the lively conversation humming was a female who is not shy when it comes to being in a “man’s world” the MC, sports presenter, Angela Pippos.

About the Winner, Sarah Davies 

Sarah Davies was born in a convent in East Pakistan and when civil war broke out her family escaped to Nyrobi, Africa, where she lived until she was seven. This young woman knows firsthand how it feels to have no belongings and to be seen as different at school. She is now living in Melbourne with her family raising three young children and providing respite care for an 11 year old autistic girl.

Sarah Davies is passionate about community issues including youth homelessness and education with a focus on setting up scholarships for teenagers. This breathtakingly positive woman is CEO of Melbourne Community Foundation and is also chair of Kids Undercover. One of their creations is building bungalows for young people in order to keep the family unit together and provide some space thus preventing the teenager leaving home.

Balancing all of this and her family life, Sarah is also a Bail Justice with the Department of Justice working a monthly roster dealing with youths who are arrested outside of court hours. The list goes on about Sarah's community work, creativity and innovation. She is certainly a multidimensional woman who is humble, diverse, graceful and full of energy to make change where it counts.

Congratulations to the finalists! They were:Melina Schamroth, Margaret Smith and Kathy Kaplan.