2026 Alumnae Awards
The Women’s College Alumnae Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of our alumnae who embody the College’s values of leadership, service, and community impact.
Since their inception in 2020, the Awards have highlighted the diverse accomplishments within our alumnae community, showcasing individuals who are making significant impacts locally and globally. These awards celebrate alumnae who are not only achieving personal success but also contributing to their communities and inspiring others.
Pictured left to right: 2025 Alumnae Awards winners Dr Ruth Dill-Macky, Georgie Dent, Izzy Graham and Joanne Bergamin. Read more about these recipients below.
Latest news: nominations are open!
Do you know an outstanding Women’s College alumna making a difference in her field or community? Celebrate her achievements by nominating her for The Women’s College 2026 Alumnae Awards today.
Nominating a fellow Wooza is a powerful way of acknowledging the impact they have made as an alumna.
2026 Alumnae Awards timeline
Nominations open
10:00am Thursday
30 October 2025
Nominations close
5:00pm Thursday
22 January 2026
Judging
Thursday
5 February 2026
Finalists announced
Monday
23 February 2026
Winners announced
Thursday
12 March 2026
How to nominate
- Click here to read the 2026 Alumnae Awards guidelines.
- Gather the required documentation for your nominee.
- Complete the 2026 Alumnae Awards nomination form.
Read the guidelines:
Click on the full screen icon ⛶ to expand the guidelines.
Click on the magnifying class icon 🔍 to zoom in.
Click on the cloud icon ☁️ to download a PDF copy of the guidelines.
Meet the 2025 Alumnae Award Winners
Alumna of the Year Award
Dr Ruth Dill-Macky is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota. Her research program is recognised for its research on Fusarium head blight (FHB or scab) of wheat and barley. Ruth has also worked on bacterial leaf streak and the cereal rusts.
Ruth’s interests in plant pathology are in the management of diseases through host resistance, cultural control practices, and epidemiology, including understating the factors impacting the accumulation of Fusarium-associated mycotoxins.
The many graduate students she has advised have gone on to establish careers in industry or academia in North and South America, Asia and Africa.
Ruth currently leads the United States Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. In this role, she provides leadership to a consortium of research scientists, producers, and industry representatives who work to enhance the safety and supply of our food chain by reducing the impact of FHB in cereals.
Alumna 1981 – 1983
Inspirational Alumna Award
Georgie Dent is a best-selling author, former lawyer, and leading advocate for families, children, women’s empowerment and gender equity. As CEO of The Parenthood, she leads campaigns for paid parental leave, quality early childhood education and care, and family-friendly workplaces, engaging a network of over 80,000 parents and supporters.
A sought-after speaker and media commentator, Georgie is a regular guest on The Today Show and The Project, and has appeared on Q&A, Lateline, The Drum, Weekend Sunrise and more. Her writing has been featured in The Guardian, The Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar and more.
Her memoir, Breaking Badly, was published to critical acclaim in 2019. Recognised for her advocacy, Georgie has received numerous awards, including an Edna Ryan Award and a Pro Bono Impact Award. She has also represented Australia on the global stage, including at the 2018 Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality.
Alumna 2000
Community Alumna Award
Joanne Bergamin is a seasoned communications and sustainability professional with expertise across the resources and energy sectors in Queensland – most notably with critical minerals company QEM Limited, Arrow Energy, and as a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed gold company Sunshine Metals.
Seeing a space for women to drive women’s visibility and leadership in energy and resources, with a keen eye to sustainability, Joanne co-founded and chairs the national WISER (Women in Sustainable Energy & Resources) network. This role builds on Joanne’s experience of serving on the board of not-for-profit community organisation Sports Gold Coast.
Taking a break from resources, she moved to Italy in 2007, living and working in Rome and the Vatican for 13 years, including as a journalist for the Pope’s newspaper. Joanne explored, photographed and wrote about her adopted countries, and she is published in various online and print publications.
During the 2025 Federal Election, Joanne ran Senator Susan McDonald’s Office.
Alumna 1992 – 1994
Young Alumna Award
Izzy Graham grew up on her family’s cattle property in Western Queensland and completed her schooling at Somerville House in Brisbane.
Izzy commenced her professional nursing career in 2016 at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, working predominantly in the Intensive Care Unit. Between 2020 and 2021, she completed her Graduate Diploma in Midwifery on the Central Coast of NSW.
In January, 2022 Izzy commenced her career aspiration – working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at the Charleville Base in Queensland as a Flight Nurse (Midwifery) in the Aeromedical Retrieval service and Primary Health Care service.
In October of 2024, Izzy took on the role of Nurse Education Officer – Aeromedical for the Charleville Base. During 2023 and 2024, Izzy was also a committee member of the Channel Country Ladies Day, an event for rural and remote women of Queensland, creating inspiration in isolation.
Alumna 2013 – 2014
History of the Alumnae Awards
2021 winners and finalists
Alumna of the Year: Amanda Johnston-Pell (1989 – 1991)
Community Alumna Award: Suzanne Bosanquet (1994)
Inspirational Alumna Award: Phoebe Young (2001)
Young Alumna Award: Phoebe Thomas (2009 – 2011)
Finalists:
Georgia Hayward (2017 – 2019)
Olivia Maragna (1995)
Anna McAfee (1998 – 2000)
2022 winners and finalists
Alumna of the Year: Dr Margaret (Margie) Bale (1991 – 1994)
Community Alumna Award: Alison Kubler (1991 – 1992)
Inspirational Alumna Award: Imogen Alton (2018)
Young Alumna Award: Risa Utama (2018 – 2020)
Finalists:
Carly Kind (2001 – 2003)
Liz Mackinlay (1990 – 1993)
Genevieve Windley (1994 – 1996)
2023 winners and finalists
Alumna of the Year: Professor Susan Moloney (1981 – 1983)
Community Alumna Award: Leigh McCready (1995 – 1997)
Inspirational Alumna Award: Jacqueline Schultz (1993 – 1995)
Young Alumna Award: Georgina Hopson (2009 – 2011)
Finalists:
Charmaine Chalmers (1996)
Laine Kapetanakos (2017)
Dr Rebecca Vonhoff (2001 – 2002)
Lexie Warren (1983 – 1986)
2024 winners and finalists
Alumna of the Year: Dr Leonora Risse (1997 – 2000)
Community Alumna Award: Dr Kay Strom (1981 – 1983)
Inspirational Alumna Award: Nikki Parkinson (1985)
Young Alumna Award: Anna McDougall (2011 – 2013)
Finalists:
Kate Avery (1995 – 1996)
Rebecca Nicholas (1997 – 1999)
Jan Willett (1973 – 1975)
2025 winners and finalists
Alumna of the Year: Dr Ruth Dill-Macky (1981 – 1983)
Community Alumna Award: Joanne Bergamin (1992 – 1994)
Inspirational Alumna Award: Georgie Dent (2000)
Young Alumna Award: Izzy Graham (2013 – 2014)
Finalists:
Monique Correy (2011)
Medina Handley (1999 – 2001)
