The Businesswoman of the Year Award has been honouring South Africa's outstanding businesswomen since 1980. It has grown in stature over the last 28 years, to become the premier event of its kind in the country and a notable part of the South African business calendar. The trophy was designed by BWA member, Jenna Clifford. "I designed the trophy with the following in mind" she says. "It needed to be serious, yet feminine, with the female form breaking through the clouds, signalling the emergence of women in business and their achievements in this field."

Objectives of the Award

Since the award's inception in 1980, the objectives of the award have remained consistent:

• To recognise the success of women leaders in business, thereby creating a cadre of female role models whose achievements will inspire other women to raise their sights and reach their goals.
• To create a mechanism for applauding and celebrating women?s contribution to the economy.
• To use the event as a fund-raiser to offer bursaries for women for business studies.

Entries were always open to all racial and ethnic groups, even in the days when such openness was officially discouraged. Among early winners were the now deceased Marina Maponya (1982), director of the Maponya Group and Dawn Mokhobo (1993), senior HR manager at Eskom.

The Businesswoman of the Year Award is not a lifetime achievement award. This encourages entries by women from various age groups and at different career stages.

Nominee Criteria:

• conducts business in South Africa;
• controls a budget expenditure of R50 million or more;
• R 75 million or more for the Corporate Category and
• R 35 million or more for the Entrepreneurial Category;
• has been working for her current company for a minimum of three years, but not necessarily in the same position;
• has demonstrated her ability to achieve business success;
• and is a role model