Skip to primary navigation | Skip to secondary navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer |
Problems viewing this site

2008 winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Smart Women - Smart State Awards 2008!

This year's winners are an outstanding group of Queensland's brightest women. They are achieving remarkable results in the traditionally-male dominated fields of science, engineering, information and communication technology and the environment.

This year we also congratulate the winners of the inaugural 'Community Innovation Award' and the 'Green Award'.

Now in their sixth year, the Smart Women Smart State Awards continue to grow. A record numbers of entries were received from across the state this year. Judges remarked that selecting winners from this pool of amazing talent was an enjoyable, albeit exceptionally difficult, task.

Minister Keech With 2008 Award winners, September 2007 Former Minister for Women, Margaret Keech MP (centre) with the winners of the Smart Women Smart State Awards 2008 and event MC Bernie Hobbs

Community Innovation Award

Women enhancing our Indigenous communities

Office for Women logo

Sponsored by the Office for Women

Presented for the first time this year, the Community Innovation Award celebrates women working to improve the quality of life in an Indigenous Community. It showcases the achievements of a woman or group of women contributing to an Indigenous community in an innovative and positive way.

Tara Dalla Pozza and Rebecca Elu holding their 2008 Smart State Award Tara Dalla Pozza and Rebecca Elu of the Community Development Team from Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council. Absent team members are Dorothy Hobson, Johanne Omeenyo, Tasha Accoom, Ivy Hobson, Cassie Creek and Marian Pettit.

Lockhart River Community Development 2007

Lockhart River is one of the most economically and socially disadvantaged and remote Indigenous communities in Australia. The Community Development Team (CDT) has developed and implemented a diverse range of activities for the local people to help relieve boredom, empower them, provide leadership, and offer entertainment and cultural activities. From June to December 2007 the team delivered over 435 activities with over 4142 local people attending.

With the introduction of these community activities the CDT has also been successful in reducing the number of break-ins to the school, canteen and store, reducing the number of suicide attempts and preventing riots in the community.

Highly commended Community Innovation Award finalists

An impressive 61 entries were received in this category, a tremendous result in its first year. The judges' decision to select a winner was extremely challenging, and they gave high commendations to the following finalists:

Highly commended community innovation award finalists Highly commended finalists Elverina Johnson, Kylie Hutley, and Isabel Tarrago (representing Eleanor Logan) with former Minister for Women, Margaret Keech MP

Category 1:
Secondary School Students

Griffith University logo

Sponsored by the Griffith University

Sophie Hill holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Sophie Hill - Brisbane

Nuclear Factor One A and Nuclear Factor B Gene Expression in the Adult Mouse Hippocampus

Sophie's current research into the neural regenerative capacities in adult mice is assisting to better understand how the human brain works in relation to disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Category 2:
Undergraduate Students - Science

Queensland Resources Council logo

Sponsored by the Queensland Resources Council

Emily Shaw holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Emily Shaw - Brisbane

Impacts of Dust Deposition on Phytoplankton Dynamics

Emily is examining the impact of dust on the growth of phytoplankton in the Great Barrier Reef. This is the first time in Australian waters that this process has been observed. In our changing climate, Emily's findings and continued research will play an important role in terms of understanding the adverse ecological, economic and human health impacts dust is having on our ecosystems.

Category 3:
Undergraduate Students - Engineering

Energex logo

Sponsored by Energex

Nicola Mead holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Nicola Mead - Toowoomba

Investigation of Domestic Water End Use in Toowoomba

Nicola is undertaking invaluable investigations into Toowoomba's water consumption to address the prolonged drought in Toowoomba, which is of great concern for local authorities. Nicola's investigation is the second in Queensland (next to Gold Coast City Council) in understanding domestic end-use water consumption through the use of smart meters.

Nicola's results will be used to educate the community and promote their participation in water conservation activities. This information will be invaluable to water authorities not only in Toowoomba, but throughout Queensland.

Category 4:
Undergraduate Students - Information and Communication Technology

Department of Public Works logo

Sponsored by CorpTech

Helen Vahdat holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Helen Vahdat - Brisbane

Web Based Assessment Portal

Helen has a passion for technology and uses it intelligently to create efficiencies in the workplace. She has produced a sophisticated Information and Communication Technology system that allows individuals to increase their income by having their skills measured in a fast streamlined system. Helen's innovative project is an asset to the community.

Category 5:
Postgraduate Students - Science

University of Queensland logo

Sponsored by The University of Queensland

Romina Rader holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Romina Rader - Palm Cove

Pollinating Insects in Natural and Agricultural Systems

The decline in pollinators for our crops is not only a problem in Australia, but is a problem for ecosystems globally. Romina's research in North Queensland demonstrates that there are other insects, such as flies and beetles, that also provide a pollination service to our farmers that has, until recently, gone unnoticed. Her research will ultimately help make farming more sustainable by improving existing pollination services provided by native insects.

Category 6:
Postgraduate Students - Engineering

Department of Main Roads, Local Government, Sport and Recreation logo

Sponsored by the Department of Main Roads and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation

Kateryna Bazaka holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Kateryna Bazaka - Cairns

Fabrication of Polymer Films from Terpinen-4-ol

The plasma polymerization Kateryna adopted from material fabrication is an environmentally friendly, pollutant-free, low cost technique for producing polymer materials from non-synthetic source. This innovative new concept is based on using tea tree oil. With Australia contributing more than 80% of global production of this oil, Kateryna's project can help to revolutionise this market in Australia.

Category 7:
Postgraduate Students - Information and Communication Technology

TechnologyOne logo

Sponsored by TechnologyOne

Shoshana Fogelman holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Shoshana Fogelman - Gold Coast

Development of New Environmental Calibration Technology for Online Water Monitoring

Shoshana has developed a range of new online water quality monitoring sensors, incorporating a dynamic technology that cost-effectively and accurately monitors water quality. This technology employs a combination of software and hardware to environmentally calibrate conventional water sensors, so that they are capable of autonomously and intelligently responding to their environment.

Shoshana's study is of great interest to industry, government and research organisations. Her research shows how artificial intelligence combined with analytical chemistry can respond to the environment in order to better manage water.

Shoshana has published a number of journals and conference papers relating to the water industry and was a founding member of the Young Water Professionals Special Interest Group, which has gained strong industry support.

Category 8:
Women in Industry/Business - Research Science

Department of the Premier and Cabinet logo

Sponsored by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Dr Kirsten Heimann holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Dr Kirsten Heimann - Townsville

Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Micro Algae

Dr Kirsten Heimann has undertaken ground breaking research that uses micro-algae as a source for bio-diesel.

Kirsten's research broadly focuses on micro algae and is especially interested in algal strain isolation and the cloning of cells to enable the use of the most productive native species for biotechnological applications and the use of micro algae as indicators of water quality.

Kirsten has published 31 international scientific publications and has over 20 years of experience in research into micro algae and its environmental and commercial applications. Since the start of her career she has generated over $1 million of research funding and has a string of industry and academic awards to her name.

Category 9:
Women in Industry/Business - Engineering

Trackstar Alliance logo

Sponsored by Trackstar Alliance

Melanie Gordon holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Melanie Gordon - Moranbah

Project Manager Dragline Shutdown

Melanie is the first female Project Manager for a dragline shutdown at BMA, Australia's largest coal producer and a leader in the international coal industry. Melanie is responsible for leading 176 people on this project. She has faced many challenges, including a flood stopping work for 15 days and creating serious health and safety issues on site, where thanks to her astute management no injuries occurred.

Melanie is also a champion for women in mining and has actively promoted engineering as a career, appearing on TV, radio, magazines and at conferences, schools and career expos speaking about her experiences as a successful woman in a male-dominated industry.

Category 10:
Women in the Industry/Business - Information and Communication Technology

Queensland Transport logo

Sponsored by Queensland Transport

Teresa Murphy holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Teresa Murphy - Brisbane

TechnologyOne Student Management

Teresa led a team to develop world-class student management software, and from this built TechnologyOne's Eduction Solutions division into a multi-national, highly successful business.

Teresa's student management system is capable of meeting the growing need for student-centric services whilst also supporting the evolving strategic and operational needs of universities and education institutions in Australia.

Category 11:
Women in the Community/Public Sector - Science

Queensland Health logo

Sponsored by Queensland Health

Dr Ala Lew-Tabor holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Dr Ala Lew-Tabor - Brisbane

A New Cattle Tick Vaccine - An Environmentally and Economically Friendly Solution to Manage Ticks

Ala leads a team in the search for a new vaccine for the single biggest health issue for Australia's northern cattle, the 'cattle tick'.

Ala has innovatively applied her experience and knowledge to develop solutions to improve the management of livestock diseases. Her research will greatly assist the Australian agriculture and export markets, and reduce the impact of harmful pesticides on the environment.

Category 12:
Women in the Community/Public Sector - Engineering

Engineers Australia logo

Sponsored by Engineers Australia - Queensland Division

Julie Martin holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Julie Martin - Brisbane

Power Systems Bolingbroke Project

Julie is the first female Project Manager for TrackStar Alliance, a consortium of five specialist corporations working on coal rail power systems projects. She is currently working on the coal rail power systems projects that are making a significant contribution to the government's plan for managing its growth challenges.

The award reflects Julie's exceptional project management and engineering expertise. She developed her passion on the back of her University of Queensland engineering degree.

Category 13:
Women in Community/Public Sector - Information and Communication Technology

Department of Communities logo

Sponsored by the Department of Communities

Dr Yan Li holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Dr Yan Li - Toowoomba

Cooperative Education in USQ Networking Programs with Leading Industry Organisation and Service to South East Queensland Regional IT Professionals

Yan led a complex project entitled the 'CISCO Network Academy' that is delivering fundamental improvements in teaching practices across the University of Southern Queensland. Yan's project integrates professional industry training into the university's academic courses for the mutual benefits of students and potential employers. She also obtained $266,500 in funding for the project.

Yan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computing at the University of Southern Queensland. She was awarded the Dean's Award in December 2007 for her tireless efforts and outstanding achievement.

Green Award

Environmental Protection Agency logo

Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency

Amanda O'Malley holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Amanda O'Malley - Innisfail

Also presented for the first time this year, this is a special award taken from all entries from all categories. It celebrates the nominee whose entry best considered environmental issues.

This award was especially difficult to judge as many of the nominees are passionately working on projects with significant environmental implications.

Ecology and Trophic Relationships within Wet Tropics Freshwater Turtle Communities and their Sensitivity to Climate Change and Habitat Alteration

Amanda has conducted the first investigation into a newly described freshwater turtle inhabiting the Johnstone River, known locally as the 'Pink Nose Turtle'. When facing challenging field research in a remote area with no access to power, Amanda designed her own equipment - enabling her to gain a better understanding of the declining turtle population.

Encouragement Certificate

Department of Education, Training and the Arts logo

Sponsored by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Julia Baker holding her 2008 Smart State AwardWinner - Julia Baker - Gold Coast

The Biodiversity of Hastings Point

A student at Coomera Anglican College, Julia has already been recognised for her contribution to science on a world-wide scale. Her most recent field project at Hastings Point examines the diversity of organisms that inhabit this area and whether this ecosystem would be able to survive a sudden change in environmental factors or human impact.

Highly commended finalists

The standard of nominations this year was exceptional, and some very deserving nominees missed out on awards only because there can be only one winner of each category.

Former Minister for Women, Margaret Keech MP with some of the Highly commended nominees Former Minister for Women, Margaret Keech MP with some of the Highly commended nominees

The following finalists were highly commended by the judges for their achievements:

Undergraduate Students

Postgraduate Students

Women in Industry/Business

Women in the Community/Public Sector

New Awards

Last updated: 31 March 2009