2018 ACT Women’s Award winners announced

Posted on 6 March, 2018

Outstanding Canberra women doing extraordinary things to bring about change were announced tonight at the 2018 ACT Women’s Awards.

Held tonight at the National Arboretum, the 2018 ACT Women’s Awards showcased the International Women’s Day theme of Press for Progress, with award winners highlighting innovative and progressive approaches in achieving gender equity. This year, 31 nominations were received.

Ms Ashleigh Streeter-Jones  was named 2018 ACT Woman of the Year; Miss Caitlin Figueiredo, Young Woman of the Year; and Cathi Moore, Senior Woman of the Year.

2018 ACT Woman of the Year

Ms Ashleigh Streeter-Jones began volunteering with Ardoch Youth Foundation where she assisted with educational supply programs for children. As University Coordinator for World Vision’s youth movement and then as State Director, she created networks across the non-profit sector, and campaigned to produce a variety of successful outcomes, including getting child labour onto the G20 agenda in 2014. Ms Streeter-Jones has been Director of Future 21 Young Australians in International Affairs, which aspires to get more young people involved in international affairs; was part of the task force behind the official recognition of trans inclusion; and co-organised the Girls Takeover Parliament program to inspire and equip the next generation of female leaders.

2018 ACT Young Woman of the Year

Miss Caitlin Figueiredo is an international champion for gender equality. She founded World Vision VGen ACT, training thousands of youth in ethical consumerism and foreign aid. As the Alannah and Madeline Foundation Ambassador, she has helped transform the lives of girls in the ACT by supporting the foundation to end violence and bullying. As Director of Lake Nite learning, Miss Figueiredo helps women develop skills, find employment, build a community and follow their passion. Miss Figueiredo is a Board Director of the Australia Youth Council and in June 2017, launched the National Council of Women Australia at Parliament House with the Prime Minister. Miss Figueiredo co-founded the world’s largest political takeover, which reached 10 million people and trained Canberra women in leadership, public speaking and Indigenous rights.

2018 ACT Senior Woman of the Year

Ms Cathi Moore has contributed to leadership positions in key community service organisations and government boards for over 30 years, including serving as the President of YWCA Canberra and Board Member/ Treasurer of YWCA Australia where she successfully campaigned for the introduction of the 30% quota for young women under 30 in governance positions in the YWCA both nationally and locally. She is the founding member of My Coaching, My Future, which provides pro-bono coaching services for women who have left violent relationships and was actively involved in the setting up and administration of a national network of women’s organisations to more effectively advocate on the challenges facing young women in Australia.

Women’s Honour Roll launched

Tonight also saw the relaunch of the ACT Women’s Honour Roll which will digitally record and present the names of Canberra women who have received significant local honours since self-government in 1988. It will include recipients of ACT Women’s Awards, Canberra Citizen of the Year, the ACT Honour Walk, ACT Sports Hall of Fame, and ACT Scientist of the Year.

More than 300 women are represented on the Honour Roll (including our founder Amanda Whitley), which will be added to every second year to mark International Women’s Day celebrations for the ACT.  You can find the names of the inductees with their achievements at communityservices.act.gov.au.