Some of Queensland’s most innovative women have shone at the prestigious Smart Women - Smart State Awards 2008.

The awards recognise outstanding Queensland women achieving results in non-traditional areas such as science, engineering and information communication technology.

This year, outstanding women who have made innovative achievements in Indigenous communities were also awarded. The Community Development Team at Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council won for their innovative community projects. (Note: Winner Far North Region – Lockhart River)

Contributions to Environmental Sciences were also recognised with a new Green Award, won by Amanda O’Malley for her investigation in to a newly described fresh water turtle found in the Johnstone River. (Note: Winner Far North Region – Innisfail)

Minister for Women Margaret Keech presented the awards at a ceremony attended by Premier Bligh and other leading Queensland women.

‘Congratulations to these amazing women for being innovative and excelling in their chosen fields,’ Mrs Keech said.

‘The Bligh Government is improving services and supporting and encouraging women to excel in roles traditionally held by men.

With the State facing skills shortages, it is important that women are able to work in any industry they choose.

‘Winners of the awards were up against some of the best minds in Queensland in some of the most complex and crucial fields.’

Mrs Keech proudly congratulated the winners of this year’s awards.

Secondary School Students Award

Sophie Hill conducted research into the neural regenerative capacity of mice to provide an understanding of how the human brain works. (Note: Winner from Gordon Park)

Undergraduate Students – Science Award

Emily Shaw researched impacts of dust on the growth of phytoplankton in the Great Barrier Reef. This is important in terms of understanding adverse ecological, economic and human health impacts of dust. (Note: Winner from Birkdale)

Undergraduate Students – Engineering Award

Undergraduate Students – Information and Communication Technology Award

Helen Vahdat has developed a world class web based assessment portal. The system enables people to have their skills measured online. (Note: Winner from Cleveland)

Postgraduate Students – Science Award

Romina Rader is conducting research with potential global applications. She is discovering alternative insects to bees to pollinate crops. This is research is vital as bee populations across the globe are dying due to disease and climate change. (Note: Winner from Palm Cove)

Postgraduate Students – Engineering Award

Kateryna Bazaka has found an innovative use for a component of tea tree oil. She uses it to create specialist material that has applications for electronics and biotechnology. (Note: Winner from Aitkenvale)

Postgraduate Students – Information and Communication Technology Award

Shoshana Fogelman has developed a money saving range of on-line water quality monitoring sensors. Unlike traditional sensors that require constant calibration, these are able to adjust to the conditions of their environment automatically. (Note: Winner from Gold Coast)

Women in Industry/Business – Research Science Award

Dr Kirsten Heimann’s research can potentially be used to replace our dependence on fossil fuels. Her groundbreaking techniques include how to use micro algae to make bio-diesel. This has global applications. (Note: Winner from Condon)

Women in Industry/Business – Engineering

Melanie Gordon led the way for her project management on a dragline shutdown in a central Queensland mine. These shutdowns occur only once every seven years. It takes over a year of planning to dismantle, service and re-assemble the machine weighing over 3,000 kg. (Note: Winner from Moranbah)

Women in Industry/Business – Information and Communication Technology

Teresa Murphy has developed a world class student management system. This system has global export potential in the education sector. (Note: Winner from Toowong)

Women in the Community/Public Sector – Science

Dr Ala Lew-Tabor is researching a cattle tick vaccine. Ticks are the number one health problem for beef cattle in the state. Queensland’s beef cattle industry is worth $3.4 billion. It currently costs over $175 million to manage ticks in the state’s beef cattle each year. (Note: Winner from Greenslopes)

Women in Community/Public Sector - Engineering

Julie Martin is the first female project manager for TrackStar Alliance. She is working on a coal rail power systems project. (Note: Winner from Milton)

Women in the Community/Public Sector - Information and Communication Technology

Dr Yan Li has created a world class collaborative project with CISCO systems. This enables her students to better develop leading ICT skills at the University of Southern Queensland. (Note: Winner from Toowoomba)

The winners of the Smart Women - Smart State Awards 2008 were announced by Minister Keech at a ceremony held at the State Library of Queensland, Brisbane on 2 September 2008.

ENDS

Media Contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236

Interviews with winners can also be arranged