NOMINATIONS have opened for the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) Coffs Coast Woman of the Year Award.
The honour celebrates exceptional women in the region who have shown innovation, dedication, and a significant contribution to empowering the local community.
Since its inception by the IWD Planning Committee in 2015, the award has recognised women from the City of Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Shire who actively engage with the community – whether improving the lives of others or promoting economic, cultural, or social wellbeing.
Past recipients include inspiring women such as Christina Monneron (2015), Charlotte Young (2016), Jane Tavener (2017), Aunty Bea Ballangarry (2018), Shelley Lowe (2019), Lily Isobella (2020), Emma Aspden (2021), Jade Naidu (2022), Doris Cowan (2023), Falak Othman (2024) and Tiga Cross (2025).
In 2018, a runner-up award was introduced.
The 2026 awards ceremony will take place during the 27th IWD Breakfast on Friday 6 March and is organised by Coffs Harbour’s three leading women’s groups, the Zonta Club of Coffs Harbour Inc., Business and Professional Women (BPW) Coffs Coast, and the Coffs Coast Business Women’s Network Inc. (BWN).
The winner and runner-up will receive an engraved trophy and public recognition.
The main award winner will also receive $1500, sponsored by The North Coast Hotel Group, while the runner-up will receive $1000, sponsored by One Agency Coffs Harbour.
Both cash prizes will allow the women to advance their objectives.
IWD committee member Jenny Wiseman said, “Women need to be recognised for the very special work they are doing in the community.
Each nominee contributes to the community in a variety of unique and diverse ways.
In their own sphere they support and benefit so many people.
“Our hope is that being a finalist in the Woman of the Year Award allows even more of our Coffs Coast community to know what they do and be inspired by it.”
2025 Finalist Noelene Skinner, said she “was honoured being a finalist and to be recognised in our community [for] what we do has inspired me to continue supporting, and giving back to the community”.
Nomination forms can be submitted now, either electronically through the website iwdcoffscoast.org.au or by sending a request for a form to iwdwoy2026@gmail.com.
The closing date for nominations is 18 November.
By Andrew VIVIAN
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