Andrea Mason named 2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Woman of the Year

Congratulations to Andrea Mason, CEO of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, and the 2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Woman of the Year. Andrea will join other state finalists at the national 2016 Telstra Business Women’s Awards in Melbourne on 16 November 2016.

Andrea, who was also the recipient of the 2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s For Purpose and Social Enterprise Award in Darwin this week, has devoted her career to focusing on opening just and fair access to Aboriginal people through employment, workforce planning, tenancy management and negotiating reconciliation plans.

Andrea impressed the judges by demonstrating a true cross-cultural, cross-jurisdictional approach to driving social change. Her actions and leadership have impacted 26 communities across three states and have the potential to create a national wave of empowered women in remote and regional areas.

Ms Mason said her role involves a wide variety of responsibilities, and she enjoys working closely with remote communities. “I love being the type of leader that I am because it means I can take communities with me on a journey.”

For more than 20 years the NPY Women’s Council has been supporting its members through service delivery, advocacy, education and employment. All services are provided for women and their families to increase their capacity to lead safe and healthy lives with improved life choices, in the NPY tri-state region remote communities. Due to the nature of the organisation, the range of services on offer and the geographical remoteness of the communities, Andrea has to be very adaptable in her role. On a day-to-day basis she can move from being a policy maker, to a social reformer, a negotiator, an advocate or an inspirational leader. She is also responsible for the 413 members of the Council, who are all women over the age of 16. As an Aboriginal woman herself, she says it is a career highlight to work in an Aboriginal women’s member-led organisation.

Other winners of the 2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Awards are:

Karen Sheldon – Karen Sheldon Group

2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Entrepreneur Award winner

Karen Sheldon heads up a unique enterprise. What initially started off as a hospitality business in 1982, expanded through a staff buy-in into a company developing diverse services that focus on addressing Indigenous economic and employment disadvantage. To achieve this, the four divisions of the business: hospitality, employment services, training and development, and the Saltbush Mob Residential Alcohol Habilitation Centre work together in synergy. In addition, Karen Sheldon’s Future Stars Indigenous Employment Program provides positive employment experiences with planned pathways and long-term intensive holistic mentoring, guiding participants towards a brighter future. Karen says she and the company directors look forward to the day when ‘the gap’ has been closed on Indigenous disadvantage, so they can concentrate on even more creative pursuits in fostering micro and small enterprise development.

Carolyn Edwards – Henbury School

2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Public Sector and Academia Award winner

Carolyn is a devoted educator with more than 31 years of experience in the NT school system. Currently, she is the principal of Henbury School which is a comprehensive specialist high school in Darwin. The school focuses on advocating the rights of students with disabilities, assisting them to achieve autonomy and enabling their participation in the economic, civic and social life of the community. Under her leadership, the school has transformed into an educational leader and focuses on creating individual pathways for every student. The school empowers students with special needs to pursue their hopes and dreams through an educational program tailored to their needs. Leading a team of passionate staff, the school also offers a Transition to Work program that helps provide a range of meaningful opportunities to students.

Andrea Moriarty – Killarney Homes (NT) Pty Ltd

2016 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Corporate and Private Award winner

After spending 16 years working as a nurse, Andrea Moriarty, decided to steer her career in an entirely new direction. Wanting to work in a family-friendly environment, she joined her brother’s construction firm, Killarney Homes, which builds eco-efficient housing adapted to the Territory’s tropical climate. It was an opportunity for her to use her people and project management skills in a completely different way. In her role as the client services director, a fairly unique role in residential construction, Andrea is the interface between the client and the construction team. She ensures that the client understands the building process, as well as expected work and deadlines, and translates the client’s concerns back to her team. Andrea sits on several industry boards in order to expand her business experiences, and to have the opportunity to influence the direction of construction at a high level. Killarney Homes won the 2014 Telstra Northern Territory Medium Business Award.

Now in their 22nd year, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards are Australia’s longest running and most esteemed women’s awards program. They recognise and reward the courage, leadership and creativity of brilliant business women.

State and Territory category winners will be flown to Melbourne for the National Awards judging, culminating in a glittering Gala Dinner on the night of Wednesday 16 November 2016.

For information about the Awards and to purchase tickets to the Awards Dinners, please call 1800 817 536 between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday.

Nominations for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards are open year-round. If you, or a brilliant business woman you know, deserve recognition, nominate today: https://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/nominate/