Top 40 Women over 40 Recognised

Philanthropist and founder of changemaker organisation 1 Million Women, Natalie Isaacs and World Vision Blog Ambassador Eden Riley are among the winners of a national Top 40 Women over 40 awards.

The awards, run by health magazine Prevention, recognised 40 Australian women aged 40 years or more, as the trailblazers tackling the big issues in health, equality, business and politics.

1 Million Women founder Natalie Isaacs (centre)

Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association CEO Professor Ngiare Brown was named the medical pioneer, joining journalist Jessica Rowe who took out the title of the Game Changer.

World surfing champion and founder of the Aim for The Stars Foundation, Layne Beachley received the gong for Wellness Warrior.

Other women included in the finalist list were Alzheimers Australia President Ita Buttrose AO, R U OK? Foundation board member Barbara Hocking OAM, and The Fred Hollows Foundation Founding Director Gabi Hollows AO.

Prevention Editor, Jacqui Mooney said women over the age of 40 were rapidly becoming one of the “most impressive, influential and empowered groups the world has ever seen”.

“In Australia, there are 5 million 40+ women who are happier, healthier, wealthier and wiser than ever before,” she said.

“These women are a force to be reckoned with: kicking goals, blazing trails and making a global impact that will inspire future generations for years to come.

“Each of these Aussie women – particularly our top five – are certainly deserving of this win.”

THE TOP 40 OVER 40:
The Game Changers

• Jessica Rowe, Journalist
• Quentin Bryce AC CVO, 70, Governor-General of Australia
• Elizabeth Broderick 52, Sex Discrimination Commissioner
• Penny Wong 44, senator representing South Australia and Minister for Finance & Deregulation
• Ita Buttrose AO OBE, 71, National president of Alzheimer’s Australia & 2013 Australian of the Year
• Catherine Burn 49, Deputy Commissioner, Specialist Operations, NSW Police Force
• Dannielle Miller 43, Co-founder of Enlighten Education and author
• Shelley Barrett 40, CEO, ModelCo Cosmetics

The Philanthropists

• Natalie Isaacs, Founder and CEO of 1 Million Women
• Barbara Hocking OAM, 65, board member, R U OK? Foundation
• Cassandra Treadwell 40, founder and executive director, So They Can
• Dr Lisa O’Brien 53, CEO, The Smith Family
• Melina Schamroth 42, social entrepreneur and founder, m.a.d.woman and Grateful in April
• Deborra-lee Furness 57, actress, director and founder of National Adoption Awareness Week
• Jessica Brown 42, founder and chief executive officer, Life Changing Experiences Foundation
• Lynne Sawyers 69, foster carer

The Wellness Warriors

• Layne Beachley, World surfing champion, Aim for the Stars founder
• Sam Mostyn 47, commissioner, National Mental Health Commission and AFL Commission
• Dr Ginni Mansberg 45, GP, television presenter and author
• Petrea King 61, author and founder of the Quest for Life Foundation
• Nicole Livingstone OAM, 42, former Olympic swimmer, television sports commentator, founder and patron of Ovarian Cancer Australia
• Diana Williams 68, founder and owner, Fernwood Fitness
• Janella Purcell 44, naturopath, nutritionist and chef
• Helen Dalley 55, national news anchor on Sky News Australia, patron of Osteoporosis Australia

The Creative Minds

• Eden Riley, World Vision blog ambassador
• Lisa Wilkinson 53, journalist and co-host on the breakfast television program Today
• Julia Morris 45, comedian, actress on House Husbands and host of Australia’s Got Talent
• Debra Oswald 53, award-winning playwright, author, co-creator and head writer of Offspring
• Eve Lawson 49, ballet mistress and repetiteur at The Australian Ballet
• Jan Latta 55, wildlife photographer, children’s author, guest speaker and publisher
• Del Kathryn Barton 40, painter, sculptor and Archibald Prize winner (2008 and 2013
• Wendy Harmer 57, comedian, editor-in-chief of thehoopla.com.au and author

The Medical Pioneers

• Professor Ngiare Brown, Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association CEO
• Dr Fiona Wood AM, 56, plastic surgeon and burns researcher, ‘spray-on skin’ cell technology pioneer
• Professor Fran Boyle AM, 51, medical oncologist specialising in breast cancer research
• Dr Catherine Hamlin AC, 89, fistula surgery pioneer, co-founder of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital
• Dr Lynn Burmeister 46, fertility specialist
• Gabi Hollows AO, 60, founding director, The Fred Hollows Foundation
• Dr Kylie Mason 40, cancer survivor, blood cancer researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
• Dr Kerryn Phelps AM, 55, GP, public health and human rights advocate, past president of the AMA