2026 NOMINATIONS OPEN NOW

A great way to thank and celebrate the women in your work who inspire you and your team is to nominate them for the Women in Industry Awards. Across 16 Categories ranging from Energy through to Construction, Mentor through to Business Development, this is an opportunity to provide recognition for the fantastic contributes of women across industrial sectors. 

Nominating criteria and instructions:

• Nominations for 2026 are open
• Nominations are unable to be withdrawn once nominations are closed.
• All nominees must reside and work in Australia.
• All finalists are required to have a representative at the Gala Awards evening should they be successful.

By submitting a nomination, you give Prime Creative Media permission to publish all or part of your nomination in a suitable publication.

NOTE: no content is provided to nominees for approval prior to publication so please ensure all information, supporting evidence and images are approved for publication prior to submitting the nomination. Anything that is confidential and not for publishing should be clearly identified.

View all Award categories and nomination criteria below.

MARKETER OF THE YEAR (NEW FOR 2026)

This award recognises a leading marketing, PR or communications professional who supports the Industrial, Transport & Logistics, Resources and Construction Sectors through the delivery of strategic services to organisations and industry leaders. The awardee must demonstrate how their expertise and guidance have transformed and strengthened reputation, elevated best practice, and enhanced professionalism within these sectors.

Nomination Criteria

• How has the nominee used their marketing, PR or communications expertise to deliver significant strategic impact within the Industrial, Transport & Logisitics, Resources and Construction Sectors? (30 points)
• In what ways has the nominee strengthened organisational or sector-wide reputation, elevated best practice, or enhanced professionalism through their work? (30 points)
• How has the nominee’s guidance, campaigns or initiatives led to meaningful transformation, improved performance, or measurable results for managers, firms or the broader sector?  (40 points)

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE (NEW FOR 2026)

This award recognises an outstanding individual or team in the health and medical sector who demonstrates excellence in patient care, innovation, and professional practice. The awardee must show how their expertise, leadership, and commitment have improved outcomes, advanced best practice, and made a meaningful impact on patients, the community, or the broader health and medical industry.

Nomination Criteria

• How has the nominee demonstrated exceptional healthcare standards, professionalism, and achieved meaningful outcomes for patients, clients, or the community? (40 points)
• In what ways has the nominee introduced innovative practices, treatments, or processes that improve service delivery, patient outcomes, or sector standards? (30 points)
• How has the nominee shown leadership, collaboration, and advocacy within the health and medical sector, inspiring others and advancing best practice? (30 points)

TRADESWOMAN OF THE YEAR (NEW FOR 2026)

A trade job (or skilled trade) is a profession that involves hands-on work and typically requires an apprenticeship, traineeship, or vocational education qualification (such as a TAFE certificate in Australia).

Nomination Criteria

• How does the nominee demonstrate exceptional skill, craftsmanship, and commitment to ongoing professional development in her trade? (40 points)
• How has the nominee contributed to her workplace, clients, or the broader trade industry through leadership, innovation, safety, or impactful achievements? (30 points)
• How does the nominee support or inspire other women in trades, demonstrate resilience in a male-dominated field, and act as a positive role model? (30 points)

RISING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: C-SUITE EXECUTIVE AWARD (NEW FOR 2026)

This award recognises emerging C-suite executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a strong trajectory of influence within their organisation and the wider industry.

Nomination Criteria

• How does the nominee demonstrate effective executive leadership, deliver measurable business impact, and set a strong strategic vision for the organisation? (40 points)
• In what ways does the nominee foster an inclusive, high-performing workplace culture and demonstrate strong values, ethical leadership, and a people-first approach? (30 points)
• How does the nominee contribute to the broader industry, act as a role model for women in leadership, and demonstrate strong potential for continued growth and future impact? (30 points)

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR – 30 YEARS AND UNDER

Recognising an individual who has shown significant promise within their chosen industry or who has reached new goals at the start of their career.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the nominee has met and exceeded current role expectations, including any promotions or position advancements that have occurred since beginning in their career. (30 points)
• Explain how the nominee has shown leadership skills within their organisation. (30 points)
• Provide examples of initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (40 points)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS OF THE YEAR

Recognising an individual who has created new growth opportunities that has allowed their organisation to expand and generate greater revenue.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain any new initiatives or sales plans that the individual has introduced within the two (2) year period up until the nominations’ closing date that have helped to grow sales within the business. (30 points)
• Provide examples of any new clients or business won as a result of these initiatives/actions taken by the individual. (30 points)
• Show the increase in finanical benefit for the business from the above activities (can be a percentage increase) such as through higher revenue, new customer acquisition, formation of business partnerships, increase in sales order value etc. (40 points)

INDUSTRY ADVOCACY AWARD

Recognising an individual who has helped shape a positive view of their industry and/or helped to create a policy change that benefits those working in the sector.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain whether the nominee has advocated within their industry (i.e. for improved safety, environmental benefits, etc.) or externally (i.e. schools and other educational institutions, sister industries, etc.) within the two (2) year period up until the nominations’ closing date. (50 points)
• Demonstrate how the activities undertaken by the nominee have resulted in at least one of the following: an increase of people looking to work within the industry, increased engagement from within industry, a more detailed understanding of the industry and its benefits. (50 points)

MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Recognising an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to developing female talent within their organisation or wider industry.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain the steps the nominee has undertaken to forge a close relationship with females within the industry within the two (2) year period up until the nominations’ closing date. (50 points)
• Provide examples of any programs or initiatives the nominee has created or participated in to help develop female talent, inlcuding whether any of the females they have mentored have gone on to achieve their own success. (50 points)

SAFETY ADVOCACY AWARD

Recognising an individual working actively to improve safety for their industry.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain any initiatives or programs the individual has created or led to improve safety within their industry or workplace within the two (2) year period up until the nominations’ closing date. (40 points)
• Provide examples of measurable success as a result of these initiatives or programs. (40 points)
• Explain how the nominee plans to continue to improve upon results and further advocate for safety. (20 points)

EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING

Recognising an individual who has thought ‘outside the box’ to implement an outstanding personal contribution to their manufacturing business and the wider manufacturing community.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the individual contributes to the manufacturing sector, both at a company level and wider industry level and demonstrates leadership. (50 points)
• Provide examples of any initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (50 points)

EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORT 

Recognising an individual who has gone above and beyond to improve and positively impact the Australian transport industry.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the individual contributes to the transport sector, both at a company level and wider industry level and demonstrates leadership. (50 points)
• Provide examples of any initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (50 points)

EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING 

Recognising an individual who has shown leadership in engineering, technological excellence and innovation.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the individual contributes to the engineering sector, both at a company level and wider industry level and demonstrates leadership. (50 points)
• Provide examples of any initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (50 points)

EXCELLENCE IN MINING

Recognising an individual who has made a positive contribution to one of the many facets of the mining industry.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the individual contributes to the mining sector, both at a company level and wider industry level and demonstrates leadership. (50 points)
• Provide examples of any initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (50 points)

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

Recognising an individual who has made a positive contribution to one of the many facets of the construction industry.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the individual contributes to the construction sector, both at a company level and wider industry level and demonstrates leadership. (50 points)
• Provide examples of any initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (50 points)

EXCELLENCE IN ENERGY 

Recognising an individual who has made a positive contribution to the renewables, electricity, pipeliner or oil and gas industries.

Nomination Criteria

• Explain how the individual contributes to energy sector, both at a company level and wider industry level and demonstrates leadership. (40 points)
• Provide examples of any initiatives or drives for change that the nominee has championed, as well as any measurable outcomes of this. (35 points)
• Explain how the nominee advocates and/or encourages the advancement of women within the energy sector. (25 points)

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Woman of the Year is chosen from the winners of the other Awards categories.