The winners of the 2010 Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards were announced today at the Sofitel Hotel.

Among the guests were two year eleven students… who were treated to a special experience.

Nicholas Bolton reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

They don’t have the profile of their experienced counterparts but Charlotte Sutcliffe and Jasmine Wayth arrived at the gala awards ceremony in fine style.

The teenagers, from Noosa’s Good Shepherd Lutheran College, are the winners of this year’s ‘Tomorrow’s Entrepreneur Award’.

The girls were successful after completing a written application and interview.

Charlotte says it’s a honour to win the award.

Charlotte Sutcliffe, Award Winner: “It’s inspirational and motivational that’s why I’m here.”

For Jasmine, she says there’s a lot to be learnt.

Jasmine Wayth, Award Winner: “Just being able to talk to the business women, like their stories and how they started and how they got to where they are now.”

Karen Woolley masterminded the student category after winning a business award herself back in 2006.

She says its vital women achieve recognition for their endeavours.

Assoc Prof Karen Woolley, UQ: “But at this point in time we know from the statistics in Australian business that women are still vastly underrepresented in senior management and board director roles.”

With sixteen finalists across five categories the awards brings together some of Queensland’s finest female entrepreneurs, culminating in the crowning of the state’s premier business woman.”

It was CitySmart’s CEO Megan Houghton who won the prestigious award, after earlier winning the Hudson Private and Corporate Sector award.

Nicholas Bolton, QUT News.