Submission Guide
2024 Business Woman of the Year Awards
This Submission Guide is for the reference of the nominees for the Sunshine Coast Business Woman’s Network (SCBWN) Business Woman of the Year Awards. These Awards are designed as a true celebration of the enormous contribution Nominees make to the Sunshine Coast business community.
This Submission Guide provides you with the information you need to enter these prestigious Awards.
Submissions are due by 11:55pm on Friday 31st May 2024.
Winner of each Category receives:
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a trophy and certificate, as well as their names added to the prestigious list of names on the perpetual trophy
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12 months complimentary SCBWN Membership
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Choice of complimentary attendance at four (4) of the SCBWN breakfast, lunch or cocktail monthly events (there are nine (9) events held throughout the year for the winner to choose from)
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One (1) ticket to the 2025 Purple Room event
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One (1) ticket to the 2025 Awards Gala event
Past winners have told stories of their increased profile within the business community, enhanced business opportunities and profitability rises as a direct result of winning these Awards.
We wish to make this an enjoyable and friendly experience that will allow you to reflect on your business story and celebrate your achievements to date.
Best of luck!
Guide Contents
Step One: Check you are eligible to enter
Step Two: Understand the Awards Process
Step Three: Choose your Category
Step Four: Prepare and collate your Submission
You can download a copy of this document at the bottom of this page.
Step One: Check you are eligible to enter
You are eligible to enter if you:
- Are a female who is living in Australia and is either an Australian citizen or has Australian residency status; and,
- Have been associated with the nominated business, located within the boundaries of the Sunshine Coast Council or the Noosa Council, since 1st August 2023;
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions of Entry for the SCBWN Business Woman of the Year Awards as found on the SCBWN website; and,
- Are a previous category winner (excluding Outstanding Business Woman):
> two (2) years must have passed (since you won) if you are entering another category, or
> five (5) years must have passed (since you won) if you are entering the same category.
- an employee, or on the Executive Committee of, the SCBWN; and,
- an employee or business owner of a Sponsor of the SCBWN Business Woman of the Year Awards for the specific category for which you are entering; or
- an Outstanding Business Woman winner (for any year).
Step Two: Understand the Awards Process
There are a number of key dates and steps to the Awards Process that you can prepare yourself for now. We encourage you to put these key dates into your diary as soon as possible.
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Stage |
Key Dates |
Your Actions |
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RSVP and attend a Zoom Workshop (Not mandatory) |
Each Workshop will assist you in your Submission process and provide a forum for your questions to be answered. Past applicants have informed us that this Workshop is valuable to their submission process. PS: You can attend as many of the workshops as you like. |
RSVP to judge@scbwn.org.au by COB 2 days prior to each workshop. A link to the workshop will be provided upon receipt of your RSVP. You do not need to attend every workshop. Please note for privacy reasons none of the workshops will be recorded. |
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Submission Due Date |
Friday 31st May at 11:55pm Late Submissions are not accepted. Submissions that have started but not be formally submitted will not be included in the Judging process. |
You must have formally submitted by this date and time. |
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Become a Finalist |
By Friday 21st June You will be advised if you have become a Finalist by the Judging Chair and the results will also be published on SCBWN Website, SCBWN social media platforms and in My Weekly Preview. |
Celebrate! |
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Update your Finalist Profile online |
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Follow the prompts provided to you to complete your online bio. |
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Attend an official photo shoot and complete a short media questionnaire |
My Weekly Preview will contact you to organise a time for a professional Head Shot photo shoot at their compliments. |
Schedule a 15-minute photo shoot with My Weekly Preview. They will contact you. Your Photo and Media Questionnaire will be used in My Weekly Preview and on the SCBWN Facebook page and website. |
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Attend a formal interview |
When we contact you to advise that you have become a Finalist, we will also schedule your 30 minute interview on the dates of Monday 22nd July, Tuesday 23rd July or Wednesday 24th July. |
Place a note in your diaries now that you may be required for an interview on these dates if you become a Finalist. |
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Attend the Purple Room Event |
Thursday 1st August at 5.30pm Venue to be advised. |
An invitation will be forwarded to you by the SCBWN for your RSVP. Meet the other Finalists, Current Business Woman of the Year Winners and Sponsors. We will answer all of your questions about the Gala Award Ceremony. |
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Attend the Gala Awards Ceremony |
Venue to be advised. |
The process culminates on this Gala evening with the Category winners’ announcement. Invite your friends and family, dress up, prepare your 2-minute acceptance speech and celebrate your achievements to date. |
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Become a Winner of your Category, Sustainable or Outstanding Business Woman of the Year |
Winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Ceremony and will spend the twelve months post celebrating their achievements and becoming an Ambassador of the SCBWN. |
As a winner you will be asked to:
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Step Three: Choose your Category
There are four award Categories. As a Nominee you choose the Category that you would like to be judged, and are eligible for, dependent on your business situation. Link to: Which Category diagram?
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Award Category |
Category Guide |
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Young Business Woman of the Year |
A Business Owner or Employee who is 19 – 35 years old as at 1st August 2024. A Young Business Woman can choose another Category to enter if they are eligible for that Category. |
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Corporate Business Woman of the Year Sponsored by BOQ Maroochydore |
A Business Owner with more than five (5) full-time equivalent staff employed by the business. |
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Micro Small Business Woman of the Year Sponsored by University of the Sunshine Coast |
A Business Owner who employees five (5) or fewer full-time equivalent staff. |
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Professional Business Woman of the Year Sponsored by Pacific Ford |
An Employee who has no ownership in the business they are nominated for. |
The recipient of Sustainable Business Woman of the Year is chosen from the above categories as the person who is most focused and active in creating a sustainable business for the future. This Category is sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Council.
The recipient of the award for the final category, the Outstanding Business Woman of the Year Award (sponsored by Pacific Law) is selected from the Finalists across all categories by the Judging Chair, Written Judges and Interview Judges.
If you are unsure of your eligibility for a Category, please do not hesitate to contact the Judging Chair, judge@scbwn.org.au for a discussion and confirmation of Category Choice.
Step Four: Prepare and collate your Submission
There are three different types of Judges involved for this Award Process:
- Selection Panel – determines the Finalists from all submissions entered
- Written Judges – only sees the written submission of the Finalists, and does not meet you face to face
- Interview Judges – only meets the Finalists face to face, and does not see your written submission
We therefore encourage you to put your best foot forward in both the written and interview stages of judging and assume neither type of Judge knows anything about you.
Your online submission must include:
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Section |
Details |
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Setting up your submission online |
Visit the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network > Awards > Step 2 Awards Submissions Open webpage to login and create your username and password on your first login. Provide us with your:
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Tab One: |
Your profile should include:
Please note this profile will be used if you become a finalist for publicity purposes. |
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Tab Two: |
Q2: Is there an end point to your current position/business? And if so, what would you do next? And if not, what would you like to be doing if you could not continue in your existing position/business? Q3: How do you design your personal and professional life to ensure you can sustain your success? |
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Tab Three: |
Q5: Nominate your top five elements of a successful business, and how you monitor these in the business you own or work in today? Q6: Using a 3 year timeline, outline your business goals and identify what measurable outcomes you will use to monitor your success in achieving them. Q7: What insights have you gained from dealing with a difficult situation or conflict in your business? |
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Tab Four: |
Q9: Nominate a successful business person and describe the ideas/lessons you have learnt from this person. Then describe how you have implemented these (ideas/lessons) in your business/career. Q10: What is your definition of sustainability? Describe how this definition is demonstrated in your business. |
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Tab Five: Business Woman of the Year |
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Tab Six: |
Please provide a brief history of your professional career, including:
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Attachments |
Please provide:
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You may save and exit your submission at any point.
Note: We strongly suggest you continue to check that you have maintained internet connection and save your work regularly. We have had instances of submissions being lost due to internet connection failures or the failure to save as you go.
Don’t forget to officially submit your online submission by hitting the SUBMIT option prior to Friday 31st May 2024 at 11:55pm.
Contact Information:
The SCBWN is honoured to have your involvement in the 2023 Business Woman of the Year Awards. These Awards maintain their credibility in the Sunshine Coast community because of the integrity of process.
A Judging Chair is appointed to guide this process and maintain the integrity, credibility and prestige of these Awards for all past, future and current Awards holders. The 2024 Judging Chair is Michelle Hamer.
As Judging Chair, Michelle is available to answer any questions you may have and assist you throughout this exciting and rewarding process.
If you wish to contact Michelle at any point, please do not hesitate to do so. Her contact details are:
Downloadable PDF
