Melissa Leong, Jane Huxley, Lisa Wilkinson, Jules Robinson, Julie Inman Grant, Molly Picklum and Emma McKeon. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
The 2025 marie claire Women of the Year Awards, presented by Georg Jensen and supported by Volvo, Olay, F5 Collective and Constellation Brands, was held at Bell Shakespeare last night, and brought together more than 150 of the country’s most influential women for a powerful evening celebrating extraordinary women. The evening was a reminder of what happens when women show up, speak up and stand together.
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The guest list read like a roll call of Australian cultural power. TV icons Janice Petersen, Melissa Doyle, Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Armytage were joined by Olay ambassador Pia Whitesell. Also in attendance were advocates Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins and Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts. Natalie Bassingthwaighte delivered a standout performance, and sporting royalty Emma McKeon appeared alongside model and entrepreneur Elyse Knowles. Everywhere you looked, the room was filled with women who have defined the past decade – and those who are boldly shaping the next. As guests took their seats, marie claire editor Georgie McCourt opened the evening with a line that instantly set the tone: “Our nominees tonight are women whose work is changing the world in big, loud ways and in quiet, essential ways. Their stories will stay with you long after this event, and they’re guaranteed to shift your perspective.”
Then came the awards – eleven categories celebrating the women redefining Australian culture. The 2025 winners include: Emma Mason (Changemaker), Suzie Miller (Creative of the Year), Grace Toombs & Nicole Yade (Advocates of the Year), Anjali Sharma (Eco-Warrior), Molly Picklum (Champion), Kitty Flanagan (Entertainer), Camilla Freeman-Topper (Designer), Milly Rose Banister (Rising Star), Julie Inman Grant (Powerhouse), Noor Azizah (Voice of Now), and Rose Byrne (Icon).
But what lingered long after the final toast was the empowering atmosphere. The sense that progress, though slow and often invisible, is being carried forward by the women who gathered in that room – activists, creatives, athletes, designers, leaders, survivors.
Founder and creative director of ALLKND Milly Rose Bannister was awarded marie claire’s 2025 Rising Star Of The Year award. Milly wears jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
marie claire editor Georgie McCourt wears jewellery by Georg Jensen and dress by Rachel Gilbert. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood marie claire editor Georgie McCourt wears jewellery by Georg Jensen and dress by Rachel Gilbert. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood marie claire Voice of Now nominee Melissa Leong with journalist and presenter Melissa Doyle. Both wearing jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz. Brittany wears dress by Rebecca Vallance and jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
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Brittany Higgins wears dress by Rebecca Vallance and jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Elyse Knowles and Pip Edwards. Image: Mason MacKenzie WoodNat Bass wears Bianca Spender dress and Georg Jensen jewellery. Image: Mason MacKenzie WoodNoor Azizah, Co-Executive Director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network and winner of marie claire’s 2025 Voice of Now. Noor wears Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
Krew Boylan wears Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood The 2025 marie claire Women of the Year Awards was supported by Volvo. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood The 2025 marie claire Women of the Year Awards was supported by Constellation Brands. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood The 2025 marie claire Women of the Year awards. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
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Kirli Saunders shares a performance from her upcoming theatre show Yandha Djanbay.Emma Mason wins marie claire’s 2025 Changemaker of the Year award. On stage with marie claire editor Georgie McCourt and media icon Lisa Wilkinson. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Art curator Kirsha Kaechele presents marie claire’s 2025 Creative of the Year award. Kirsha wears Georg Jensen jewellery. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Playwright Suzie Miller wins marie claire’s 2025 Creative of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
Daisy Jeffrey accepts the marie claire 2025 Eco-Warrior of the Year award, on behalf of Anjali Sharma. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood The face of Olay Pia Whitesell presents marie claire’s Entertainer of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Actor and comedian Kitty Flanagan wins the marie claire 2025 Entertainer of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Vice-President of Fiskars Group, Anne Sullivan, presents marie claire’s Designer of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
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Camilla Freeman-Topper wins marie claire’s 2025 Designer of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts presents marie claire’s 2025 Advocate of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Grace Toombs and Nicole Yade win marie claire’s 2025 Advocate of the Year award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood The marie claire team celebrate 30 years of style and substance in Australia. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
Grace Tame presents marie claire’s 2025 Voice of Now award. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood marie claire’s 2025 Voice of Now winner Noor Azizah. Image: Mason MacKenzie WoodEditor Georgie McCourt with marie claire’s 2025 Champion of the Year Molly Picklum. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Journalist Melissa Doyle presents marie claire’s 2025 Icon of the Year award to Rose Byrne, accepted by friend Krew Boylan. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
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Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, wins marie claire’s 2025 Powerhouse of the Year award. GH Mumm champagne flowed throughout the event. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Grace Tame with marie claire’s 2025 Advocate of the Year Grace Toombs. Image: Mason MacKenzie Woodmarie claire’s 2025 Advocate of the Year Grace Toombs wears Georg Jensen jewellery. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
Founder and creative director of ALLKND Milly Rose Bannister was awarded marie claire’s 2025 Rising Star Of The Year award. Milly wears jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Molly Picklum with Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Molly Picklum wearing jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood The face of Olay Pia Whitesell. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
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Australian icon Natalie Bassingthwaighte performing. Nat wears Velani and Ralph Lauren. Jewellery by Georg Jensen. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Pip Edwards, Nat Bass and Krew Boylan. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Emma McKeon, Em Rusciano, Molly Picklum, Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Blusher performing. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
Lauren, Jade and Miranda from Blusher. Image: Mason MacKenzie WoodMelissa Leong, Jane Huxley, Lisa Wilkinson, Jules Robinson, Julie Inman Grant, Molly Picklum and Emma McKeon. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood marie claire’s Jordan Boorman, Alexandra English, Harriet Sim, Rebecca Rhodes and Benji Luis. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood Elyse Knowles. Image: Mason MacKenzie Wood
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