Twenty-one women-led Australian businesses have been named finalists in the 2026 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, collectively securing 70 nominations—roughly one in every 14 of the more than 1,500 entries submitted from 56 nations and territories. The finalists will learn whether they have won gold, silver, or bronze Stevie trophies at a ceremony in New York City on November 16. The event, expected to draw more than 400 women and their guests, will be broadcast live.
The finalist cohort includes a property developer who spent 35 years in rooms built for men, a woman who started a new career at 60 and found 245 million readers, and an entertainer who teaches families how to step into the world of someone living with dementia. 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.
Annette Densham, an award strategist and founder of Award Writing Services, said, "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."
Award Writing Services itself was recognised 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," Densham said.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honour the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the organisations they run worldwide. Named after the Greek word for crowned, the Stevie has been hailed as the world's premier business award. Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, said, "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."
Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the full list of winners are available at http://Women.StevieAwards.com. Entries for the 2027 awards open in May. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
The strong showing by Australian women underscores the country's growing influence in global business and the increasing recognition of diverse leadership. For readers, these finalists exemplify how perseverance and innovation can lead to international acclaim. For industries, the awards spotlight best practices and inspire organisations to support women-led ventures. As the world watches the November ceremony, the achievements of these 21 businesses will continue to resonate, encouraging more women to pursue entrepreneurial paths and raising the bar for business excellence worldwide.
