The Inspirational Women Awards New Zealand
Founded in Queenstown in 2022, the Inspirational Women Awards have grown into New Zealand’s largest national women’s awards programme open to wāhine from all industries and walks of life, celebrating extraordinary women from across Aotearoa while raising funds for Women’s Refuge services.
Our podcast series lets listeners hear our finalists' stories.
The Inspirational Women Awards 2026 will be held at QT Queenstown on November 21. Meet our 2026 finalists.
The Inspirational Women Awards New Zealand is a non-profit initiative created to celebrate and elevate women while raising awareness of domestic violence. Each event is created in partnership with New Zealand's family violence charities.
We hope this biennial event helps the Women's Refuges provide safe nights for women in the community. We hope this event will encourage women experiencing family violence to be less afraid to speak out and get help, and that spreading awareness and raising funds will play a part in reducing the horrifying violence statistics that darken our beautiful country.
The Inspirational Women Awards were founded and run by Julia Strelou (hello@galaforwomensrefugequeenstown.co.nz)
Registered charity (CC64864)
“Annual fundraising events such as this gala will help with ongoing support in the community for women and children that are experiencing domestic violence."
— The Women’s Refuge.
Together, we can empower
Listen to Karen’s story
Karen was the 2023 Entrepreneurial Woman Category Winner. She is a female powerhouse and serial entrepreneur who overcame hardships to own seven businesses, including the award-winning Blue Kanu Restaurant. She is now known as Queenstown's Queen of Hospo.
A survivor, she advocates for women's empowerment, has raised significant funds for individuals and charities, and hosted cultural events to celebrate Maori heritage.
Listen to Cassandra’s story
Cassandra Treadwell was the 2022 Inspirational Woman Category Winner. She is the Co-Founder of So They Can, an international non-profit focused on educating children in East Africa. They also run a Women and Girls' Empowerment Program that exists to prevent gender-based violence.
Cass has learned kindness, gratitude, and mindfulness through the communities she works with. Julia Strelou talks with her about how the children she supports give her more back in return.
Listen to Pauline’s story
Pauline was the 2022 Entrepreneurial Woman Category Winner. She is the founder of K9 Medical Detection. An inspiration when it comes to following your dreams, she has spent the last 40 years working with dogs. She is now, here in New Zealand, researching a dog's ability to successfully detect the unique odour of cancer in urine. A procedure that if made available to patients has the potential to save lives.
Listen to Clare’s story
Clare has been involved in philanthropy since she was a teenager, she has spent time working in various non-profits, has travelled and worked in East Africa, and has been both a grantmaker and a funding applicant.
She is now the Chair of Impact100 Wakatipu, a local chapter of a global initiative, Impact100, which helps women give as one.
We caught up with Clare to discuss her philanthropic journey and get advice for other women looking to start their own journey.
Women inspiring women
Listen to the stories of female leaders and change-makers who are making the world a better place in a podcast designed to empower and inspire women.
The podcast features inspirational, entrepreneurial, and women who are striving to make positive change with an emphasis on giving a voice to survivors and those making a difference in this sector.
FAQs
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The Inspirational Women Awards are a non-profit awards and gala celebrating New Zealand's female leaders and change-makers while raising awareness of domestic violence.
Founded in Queenstown in 2022, the Inspirational Women Awards have grown into New Zealand’s largest national women’s awards program open to wāhine from all industries and walks of life.
All funds raised through this event go to the family violence charities of New Zealand.
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All of the proceeds from this event go to: Women’s Refuge National, Women's Refuge Lower-South, specifically the branches Gore & Clutha Women's Refuge Te Whare Piringa O Marua Wai (Affiliated) and Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge (Affiliated), and Central-Lakes Family Services.
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TERMS & CONDITIONS 2026
You acknowledge and agree that these terms and conditions apply by purchasing tickets to attend this event.
Unless COVID-19-related circumstances are detailed in point. Three occur, no refund or exchange on tickets will be given unless refunded 30 days before the event or unless required by law or at the discretion of the event managers. Humanitix fees are nonrefundable.
Should the Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services be cancelled due to government-enforced restrictions due to COVID-19, we will attempt to move the event in the first instance. Still, we will refund participants in full on request, excluding Humanitix fees. Should the event be cancelled entirely due to COVID-19, we will fully refund participants on request, excluding Humanitix fees.
When you are at the event venue, The Rydges Lakeland Resort, you must adhere to all instructions from The Rydges staff.
By attending, you consent to Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services carrying out filming, sound recording, and/or photography at the event, and you consent to the use by Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services of any such recording or photography for promotional, marketing, and other purposes.
The Rydges Lakeland Resort Staff reserve the right to remove guests who do not follow their instructions or behave disorderly.
Entry may be refused if tickets are damaged or defaced in any way or are not purchased from the official Humanitix page.
NOMINATION TERMS & CONDITIONS
Submission of a nomination or consent to be nominated constitutes acceptance of the following terms and conditions.
Candidates must be female or identify as female.
Candidates must be living in New Zealand, and either New Zealand citizens or permanent New Zealand residents.
Candidates must not be judges of the awards
Candidates must be aged 18 years or over
A candidate may nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party.
If nominated by a third party, the nomination must obtain the consent of the person they are nominating before submitting the entry form.
Employees of category sponsors may only enter the category in which their employer is not the sponsor.
Nominations open on 8th March 2026 (International Women's Day), and close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, 8th June 2026.
The judging panel and the event staff reserve the right to verify nominations in each category, for example, by requesting further information or contacting referees.
Finalists for each category will be announced on July 8th, 2026.
The winners of each category will be announced at the awards.
The judging panel reserves the right to make a new award outside the original categories where they see necessary.
The judging panel reserves the right not to select an award winner in a category.
The judging panel's decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
The event organisers accept no responsibility for late or incomplete entries.
The entry, judging, and award process are managed by the organisers of the Inspirational Women Gala for Women's Refuge Services.
For enquiries about eligibility or other questions relating to the awards, please contact hello@galaforwomensrefugequeenstown.co.nz.
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The Inspirational Women Awards are a national women’s awards programme celebrating wāhine making a positive difference across New Zealand. Unlike industry-specific awards, the Inspirational Women Awards recognise women from all walks of life, including community leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, volunteers, professionals and change-makers.
The awards include the Woman of the Year New Zealand, Change-Maker of the Year, Inspirational Woman, Entrepreneurial Woman, Community Recognition, Resilient Woman and People’s Choice Awards.
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The Woman of the Year New Zealand Award is one of the highest honours presented at the Inspirational Women Awards. It recognises an exceptional New Zealand woman whose leadership, achievements and contribution have created meaningful impact.
Nominees can come from any field or background, including business, community service, charity, advocacy, health, education, sport, the arts and social change.
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The Woman of the Year New Zealand Award is open to eligible wāhine from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nominees do not need to work within a particular profession or industry. The award is designed to recognise extraordinary women from all walks of life who demonstrate leadership, impact and a commitment to creating positive change.
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Yes. The Inspirational Women Awards are open to eligible women from a wide range of industries, professions and backgrounds.
You do not need to be a business owner, executive or member of a particular industry to be nominated. The awards recognise women contributing through business, community service, advocacy, charity, volunteering, leadership, entrepreneurship and other forms of positive impact.
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Nominations for the Inspirational Women Awards are completed online during the nomination period.
You can nominate an inspiring woman you believe deserves recognition, or eligible women can nominate themselves. Nominees are assessed by the Inspirational Women Awards judging panel, with finalists progressing to the national and regional awards.
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The Inspirational Women Awards recognise women across several categories, including Woman of the Year New Zealand, Change-Maker of the Year, Inspirational Woman, Entrepreneurial Woman, Community Recognition, Resilient Woman and People’s Choice.
Categories are designed to recognise different forms of achievement, from national leadership and entrepreneurship to community contribution, resilience, advocacy and positive social change.