ACT Women’s Awards Celebrate Trailblazing Women and Gender-Diverse Individuals

Our team couldn’t help but beam with pride as we celebrated the remarkable achievements of women and gender-diverse individuals at the ACT Women’s Awards this month. As part of the International Women’s Day festivities, our Apprenticeship Consultant, Rosie McKenzie, and Careers and Mentoring Specialist, Rohi Kalluri, had the honour of attending the event, which recognises outstanding contributions to the lives of women and girls in the ACT.

One of the evening’s highlights was the announcement of Lauren Cannell, CEO and Founder of Educacion Diversa, as the 2025 ACT Woman of the Year. Lauren’s international not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to providing inclusive, art-based education in human rights, sexual and reproductive health, and the elimination of violence. Her work has had a profound impact on communities both locally and globally.

Another standout recipient was Jayanti Gupta, who was awarded the Senior of the Year Award. Jayanti is the Founder and Presenter of Gender Equity Matters, a weekly program on 2XX radio that delves into issues related to gender, women, and girls in the ACT. Beyond her radio work, Jayanti is committed to empowering local women by offering training in radio presentation and leadership skills.

The Young Woman of the Year Award went to Anjali Sharma, a passionate climate change activist. Anjali co-introduced the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Equity) Bill, which aims to protect future generations from the impacts of climate change. According to the ACT Government, “Anjali works to develop the capacity of young women as climate activists in the ACT. She is currently leading a team of young women in Canberra to advocate for and champion the Duty of Care Bill.”

Let’s give another round of applause to these incredible women, who are making significant strides in improving the lives of many women and girls in the ACT. Their dedication and achievements serve as an inspiration to us all.