Twenty-one women-led Australian businesses have been named finalists in the 2026 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, a competition that drew more than 1,500 entries from 56 nations and territories. Between them, these finalists have already won 70 Stevie Awards, roughly one in every 14 awarded in the program. Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Grand Stevie placements will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on 16 November, with more than 400 women and their guests expected to attend and the event broadcast live.
The finalists include Raquel Manning of Blue Diamond Property Group, who 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 awards, while Katrina Wurm and Michelle Wollaston each hold six. Malini Raj of the Australian Multicultural Women's Alliance has five, and Kerry Bolton's Caring Lotus has four. These women represent sectors ranging from property and business services to media, government, and consumer products.
Annette Densham, an award strategist and founder of Award Writing Services, which itself is a finalist in six categories, emphasized the personal significance of the recognition. "I've been doing this a long time, and it still gives me goosebumps when the finalist list drops. 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 said. Her firm was recognized for its Breadcrumb Method, a system for turning expertise into visible, verifiable authority, in the Best New Product or Service category.
Densham noted that for many clients, the real value lies beyond the trophy. "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 said.
Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, highlighted the program's enduring impact. "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," Miller said.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the organizations they run worldwide. Named after the Greek word for "crowned," the Stevie has been hailed as the world's premier business award. The program is one of nine Stevie Awards programs that together receive more than 12,000 entries annually from organizations in over 70 nations. The recognition can significantly boost business credibility, attract media attention, and open doors to new opportunities for women-led ventures.
For Australian businesses, this strong showing underscores the growing influence of women entrepreneurs in the global marketplace. The finalists span a diverse range of industries, from property development and health and fitness to therapeutic services and accounting. Their success stories serve as a testament to resilience, innovation, and leadership. The full list of winners and details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business are available at Women.StevieAwards.com, and entries for the 2027 awards open in May. More information about the Stevie Awards can be found at www.StevieAwards.com.
