HUMAN RIGHTS



Anti-famiy violence advocate Rosie Batty

Rosie Batty, who lost her beloved son Luke at the hands of her partner has changed the national conversation on domestic violence through her brave and moving advocacy work and ability to connect with the wider community - even in the face of real ignorance - Remember this Studio 10 Interview?

Described as "the most influential Australian woman you've never heard of," in 2014 Dr Helen Durham was appointed the first female director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), based in Geneva. She is one of the world's foremost experts on the laws of war and played an instrumental role in having rape listed as a war crime.

Gillian Triggs proved to be a powerful and articulate force in the fight for refugee rights by challenging the government's stance on asylum seekers this year. Triggs has led a long overdue inquiry into children held in immigration detention, which presented damning allegations of the sexual abuse of minors held in custody in Australia's immigration detention centre at Nauru.

Tanya Hosch worked tirelessly this year for the rights and recognition of Australia's Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people. Her work as joint director of the Recognise campaign calls for constitutional change in support for Australia's indigenous peoples.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner and human rights activist Elizabeth Broderick was voted the overall winner of 2014 Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence awards. Broderick was also the driving force behind a four-part report on women inside the Australian Defence Force, capping a three-year inquiry into the ADF following allegations of sexual misconduct at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2011.

POLITICS



Greens Senator Larissa Waters

Greens Senator Larissa Waters has been a constant and passionate advocate for women's rights -- from her outspoken opposition to Wicked Camper Vans (which she tabled in the Senate), to her attacks on the government for their lack of female representation and her work in keeping the gender wage gap on the public agenda.

As a counterpoint to Julie Bishop's claim that she did not call herself a feminist, Labor's Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek penned a response manifesto which went viral, reaching well over 100,000 people.

In July, Penny Wong took a stand against homophobia in response to comments from Brian Taylor who referred to an AFL player as a 'poofter'. Wong's speech was an important reminder to recognise the challenges of LGBTI Australians and need for progress.

In August, Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls Natasha Stott Despoja was announced as the new chair of the 'Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and Their Children' -- a new national initiative to reduce family violence and raise awareness across Australia.

Australian Green senator Sarah Hanson-Young continued her support for women and refugees by calling for an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of women and children at the Nauru detention centre. In October, it was announced that an independent review of these claims will take place.



MEDIA





Writer and activist Ruby Hamad

In January, journalist Tracey Spicer stripped back her make-up on stage during a TedxSouthBankWomen speech about the 'time-wasting' beauty routine women are expected to follow every day. The clip has since attracted over 1 million views and became the starting point for a year-long project that saw Spicer weaning herself off "extreme grooming". The story that charted her journey has been shared over 36,000 times on social media to date.

Daily Life columnist and women's rights activist Clementine Ford has led dozens of headline-making discussions on feminism this year. In February, Ford delivered a now viral talk on rape culture at Ted x SouthbankWomen. She has since appeared on Q&A, Channel Nine's Mornings and spoken at numerous events on gender equality, reproductive rights, family violence and sexual assault. Her comment piece on why we shouldn't click on private nude images following the recent celebrity hacking incident became the most-shared story across Fairfax media network of all time.

Journalist and author Annabel Crabb released her highly anticipated book, The Wife Drought, in October -- shedding new light and sparking nation-wide discussions around the work-life debate.

In a highly publicised stance against sexism, sports journalist Erin Molan quit the Kyle and Jackie O show live on air after a series of sexist and personal comments.

Ruby Hamad is a Daily LIfe columnist whose writing on the Muslim experience and race relations in Australia has made an ever-increasing audience face some uncomfortable truths about racism in Australian this year.

Academic, activist and Destroy the Joint founding member Jenna Price has penned dozens of widely-shared articles on gender equality and women's rights this year. She has also launched change.org petitions calling out sexism in the media, including a recent campaign for Mark Latham to apologise over an attack on Fairfax columnist Lisa Pryor which trivialises mental health issues and motherhood.

Anne Summers' coverage of the NSW Government women's refuge closures has shed light on the issue of women's support in Australia. Summers helped establish the Elsie Refuge for Women and Children, which has since been handed over to St Vincent de Paul.



THE ARTS



Actress and indigenous activist Rosalie Kunoth-Monks

Author and UNICEF ambassador for child survival, Tara Moss, continued her work in raising awareness for violence against women. She joined the Our Watch campaign and launched her semi-autobiographical book The Fictional Woman, where she broke her silence about past sexual assault.

Actress and indigenous activist Rosalie Kunoth-Monks moved thousands with her speech on ABC's Q&A in June, during which she rejected suggestions that Indigenous people were not cooperating with non-Indigenous people to try to improve a variety of problems. ""Don't try and suppress me, and don't call me a problem, I am not the problem," said Kunoth-Monks. The outspoken advocate has recently been named the Northern Territory Australian of the Year.

In a year that saw Hollywood produce movies like The Inbetweeners 2 (dubbed the most misogynistic movie of the year) Cate Blanchett's speech when she won her Oscar addressed sexism in the film industry and Hollywood's reluctance to showcase stories that centre around a female character.

2014 Stella Prize winner, author and historian Clare Wright made headlines by speaking out against sexism in book retailing. Commenting on the phenomenon of the 'dick table' in bookshops -- the prominent display of books often exclusively written by male authors -- Wright reveals she has at times moved her own book from the obscure 'Australian History' shelves to sit with the all boys club titles.



BUSINESS



Former Westpac CEO Gail Kelly



In September, Samantha Freebairn of the Royal Australian Air Force won the Queensland Business Innovation Award. Freebairn developed a scheme that promotes careers in the air force to women, as well as provides support for Australia's female military pilots.

In the same night, Anne Cross, CEO of UnitingCare Queensland was named Queensland's Business Women of the Year. By merging UnitingCare's services into a not-for-profit organisation, Cross now manages a team of 16 000 employees and 9000 volunteers.

Before she retired in November, Westpac CEO Gail Kelly announced a $100 million education scholarship program. The program will offer the opportunity for undergraduate study in Asia, promote community leaders and address the low numbers of females employment in the IT industry.



ACTIVISM







Freya Newman was the brave young whistleblower who leaked information about a fashion school scholarship controversially awarded to the Prime Minister's daughter.

Jennifer Li started the Change.Org petition that prompted pick-up artist Julien Blanc to have his performances cancelled, followed by the revocation of his visa in Australia and abroad.

Laura John is the 2014 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. At just 24, John has proven herself to be an accomplished activist, having completed an internship with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and undertaken a three month placement with human rights organisation, Human Rights First. In her role as a UN youth representative, she has travelled around the country consulting with young Australians and addressed the UN General Assembly in New York.



SCIENCE



Scientist and geologist Abigail Allwood



Lesley Hughes, winner of this year's Australian Government Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research, has worked extensively to encourage an understanding of climate change in the wider community. Her free online course explains climate change in a non-politicised and straightforward manner. (Link: ).

Dr Catherine Foley is the Chief of the CSIRO's Materials Science and Engineering Division, and founder of the AIP Women in Physics Group. In 2014 Dr Foley continued her efforts with her ANSTO speech on the role and importance of women in science.

Geologist Abigail Allwood was announced as one of seven principal science investigators in NASA's next mission to mars, scheduled for 2020. Dr Allwood will be the first woman and the first Australian to lead a NASA team. " I'd like to pave the way for other women to do the same thing.It's no longer an old boys club."

Professor Elanor Huntington was appointed the first female Dean of Engineering and Computer Science at The Australian National University. Huntington is a quantum optics specialist who previously headed up the School of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of NSW. In an interview with SMH, Huntington said, "I inherit the good work of generations of women who have gone before me and I hope to pay it forward to new generations."



SPORT





This year women continued to break down barriers and set new records in the sporting arena. Belinda Sleeman made history in September as the very first woman to referee in the NRL, paving the way for other dedicated and hardworking women in the male dominated sport.

Peta Searle made history after her appointment by St Kilda as a development coach, officially becoming the highest a female professional has ever climbed in AFL coaching ranks.

In October, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kim Mickle was voted Australia's female athlete of the year. Mickle was honoured for her national title, breaking the national record, winning the javelin gold in Glasgow and finishing on the podium at every Diamond League meet.

Snowboarder Torah Bright won Australia's first medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, making her Australia's most successful female winter Olympian.

Melissa Breen also broke records earlier this year. In February, the sprinter became the fastest woman in Australian history with a run of 11.11 seconds in the 100 metre heats at the ACT Championships.

Nominate someone for Woman of the Year and go in the running to win an iPad Air: