By Karen McKeown OAM
IN the spirit of celebrating female empowerers, residents are encouraged to celebrate the positive and empowering role women play in the Penrith community by nominating them for the 2026 Local Woman of the Year Awards.
The Local Woman of the Year Awards is an annual program that provides me with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contributions of a local woman, aged 18 years and over, in the Penrith electorate.
I am proud to announce, we will be running the 2026’s Award’s under the theme ‘Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment’, in which we seek to examine roads to better economic inclusion for women and girls, not just in Australia but across the world.
The awards shed a spotlight on the remarkable achievements and contributions of Penrith’s women.
If you know of a woman who has shown perseverance and grit in helping make our community diverse, inspiring, and dedicated to positive change, nominate her for the Local Woman of the Year Awards. Together, we can honour those whose commitment and passion define the Penrith community.
The winner of the Local Woman of the Year Awards will receive:
• Framed certificate signed by the Premier, Minister for Women, and myself;
• An invitation to the NSW Women of the Year Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 5 March 2026; and
• Inclusion in the Honour Roll printed in the NSW Women of the Year Awards Ceremony program and listed on the Women NSW website.
Nominations are now open for the awards program and will close on Friday, 10 October 2025.
The awards program will run in conjunction with International Women’s Day as we recognise the diverse achievements and impacts women have had on our community.
Penrith’s women are not just contributors; they are empowerers and role-models for our younger generations. It’s time to ensure they receive the acknowledgment they deserve.
For more information about the Local Woman of the Year Awards and to submit a nomination, visit www.karenmckeown.com.au/nominations/local-woman-of-the-year-2026/.
