Twenty-one Australian women-led businesses have been named finalists in the 2026 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, collectively earning 70 nominations—roughly one in every 14 of the more than 1,500 entries received from 56 nations and territories. The finalists will learn whether they have won gold, silver, or bronze on 16 November at a ceremony in New York City, which will be broadcast live and is expected to draw more than 400 women and their guests.
The scale of the Australian showing underscores the growing visibility of women entrepreneurs in a global competition that has been hailed as the world’s premier business award. Raquel Manning of Blue Diamond Property Group leads the group with eight Stevies, including Lifetime Achievement and Woman of the Year in Real Estate. Shelly McElroy of Dream Culture follows with seven, then Katrina Wurm and Michelle Wollaston with six each. Malini Raj of the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance has five, and Kerry Bolton’s Caring Lotus has four. Between them, they have already won 70 Stevie Awards, a record that signals sustained excellence across sectors ranging from property and business services to health, disability advocacy, and media.
For many of these women, the recognition is not merely about trophies. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and it still gives me goosebumps when the finalist list drops,” said Annette Densham, award strategist and founder of Award Writing Services. “These are women who get on with it and rarely stop to look at what they’ve built. Entering the Stevie Awards is that pause to pat themselves on the back and reflect on what they’ve accomplished.” Densham’s own firm was recognized in six categories, including Best New Product or Service for the Breadcrumb Method, its system for turning expertise into visible, verifiable authority. “People think awards are about the trophy or ego or bragging. For most of my clients, the moment that matters is reading their story and realising they’ve done a lot more than they gave themselves credit for,” she added.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the organizations they run worldwide. Named after the Greek word for “crowned,” the Stevie has become a benchmark for excellence. Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, noted, “As the Stevie Awards for Women in Business marks its 23rd year, we continue to be impressed by the remarkable accomplishments represented among the nominations. It’s especially rewarding to see the significance a Stevie Award holds for women and the recognition it brings to their achievements, careers, and organizations. We congratulate all of this year’s finalists and look forward to revealing the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements on November 16.”
The implications of this strong Australian presence extend beyond individual accolades. Recognition on a global stage can open doors to new markets, investment, and partnerships, while also providing a platform for advocacy on issues such as gender equality, disability inclusion, and social change. Several finalists are nominated in categories like Social Change Maker of the Year – Gender and Disability, Women Helping Women, and Most Resilient Female Leader, reflecting a broader trend of businesses prioritizing impact alongside profit. For women who may have spent decades in male-dominated industries—such as the property developer with 35 years in rooms built for men—or those who started new careers later in life, the awards offer validation that can be transformative.
Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the full list of winners are available at Women.StevieAwards.com. Entries for the 2027 awards open in May. More information about the Stevie Awards programs can be found at www.StevieAwards.com.
