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Success Stories

2014 Telstra Business Women's Awards WA winners

Jenna Hanson
Business and Technology Journalist

Jenna Hanson covers business news and technology for Smarter Business™

Published:
October 13th 2014
Jenna Hanson
Business and Technology Journalist

Jenna Hanson covers business news and technology for Smarter Business™

Published:
October 13th 2014

Published: October 13th 2014

A woman championing workplace flexibility, Leadership and female retention in the construction and mining industry has been named the 2014 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman of the Year.

Sharon Warburton, executive director strategy at leading global construction contractor Brookfield Multiplex since 2011, also won the Private & Corporate Sector Award.

“Workplace flexibility is not new. What is unique about Brookfield Multiplex’s approach is its individual rather than one size fits all approach,” says the self-confessed ‘reverted workaholic’. “I encourage my teams to think about how they can work flexibly to enhance their wellbeing and motivation − I aim to give people as much autonomy and flexibility as they want, and can manage.”

Actively involved in mentoring young women and men through Brookfield Multiplex’s Emerging Leaders program, Women in Mining WA and the Association of Women in Operations, Sharon thinks the construction industry “is no longer just a man's world”. “Diversity can, and will lead to better outcomes. I am committed to helping improve the female participation and retention rates in mining and construction,” she says.

sharon warburton at the podium
[The construction industry] is no longer just a man's world.

- Sharon Warburton, Brookfield Multiplex

Kate McKenzie, Telstra chief operations officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards ambassador said the judges described Sharon Warburton as a mentor to dozens of people of both genders, praising her support of women progressing in an industry that is predominantly male-dominated. “Sharon wears many hats. She juggles motherhood with her senior executive role and directorships of a listed company and a not-for-profit. Her leadership style is one of building the team to empower them to lead,” says Kate.

Other winners include two not-for-profit CEOs – the Rise Network’s Justine Colyer, winner of the Community & Government Award, and The Centre for Cerebral Palsy’s Judy Hogben, who took out the Business Innovation Award for her leadership in distributing a powered vehicle for Australian children with cerebral palsy.

The Winners of the 2014 Telstra Western Australia Business Women’s Awards are:

 

2014 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman of the Year

Sharon Warburton, Brookfield Multiplex, Perth

Business Owner Award

Gemma Tognini, GT Media, Northbridge

Private & Corporate Sector Award

Sharon Warburton, Brookfield Multiplex, Perth

Community & Government Award

Justine Colyer, Rise Network Inc, Middle Swan

Business Innovation Award

Judy Hogben, The Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Coolbinia

Young Business Women’s Award

Laura McMahon Higgins, Questamon, Fremantle

National Awards Announcement

The WA winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on 26 November. For finalists and winners across Australia the awards offer a share in $650,000 in cash and prizes.

Be inspired by incredible Australian business women.

 For more information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards click here.

Find Out MoreBe inspired by incredible Australian business women.
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