Western Sydney Women Awards 2025

The Western Sydney Women Awards awards celebrate women across all stages of life, business, and career throughout the Greater Western Sydney region, recognising their achievements, leadership, and impact.

We are proud that our awards program is free to enter and attend, ensuring accessibility and inclusion for all women in Western Sydney.

Congratulations to our 2025 Winners and Finalists

Western Sydney Community Woman of the Year

Durga Owen

Durga Owen is a community lawyer and academic at Western Sydney University with over 20 years’ experience advocating for refugees, migrant youth, and women. A refugee herself, she initiated the Community Care Refugee Outreach Program in 2012, which now provides food, legal support, and advocacy for hundreds of families in Western Sydney. Working voluntarily for more than a decade, Durga has empowered refugee women to speak for themselves and thrive. She has contributed nationally through the Australian Civil Society Coalition on Women, Peace and Security and led the 2023 Walk for Fair Go from Sydney to Canberra.

Proudly sponsored by Walker Corporation

Finalists

Antoinette Sulfaro

Charlene Bordley

Kirsty Parkes

Lynne Dunn

Western Sydney Young Woman of the Year

DEFNE

DEFNE is a queer, neurodivergent Turkish-Australian multidisciplinary artist and Creative Director & Host of West Side Poetry, a hybrid monthly slam in Parramatta and online. Since running the slam at 18, she has built an accessible community platform that showcases emerging and established poets, with all event proceeds supporting performers. DEFNE has featured at Riverside Theatre, State Library NSW, Art Gallery NSW, and Adelaide Writers’ Week, and her Bankstown Grand Slam team won bronze at the Sydney Opera House. She has published work in UNSWeetened, facilitated poetry workshops, and has performed her poetry and song show, “DEFNE Opens Up”, at Flight Path Theatre, and her play, “Stomach It”, under OutLoud’s Levitate Mentorship.

Proudly sponsored by Hudson Hotel & Events Centre

Finalists

Kristy Brisbane

Matilda Webb

RIAH

Western Sydney Woman in STEM & Trades – STEM

Dr. Deama Amr

Dr. Deama Amr is a visionary leader in clinical research and MedTech, combining scientific excellence with strategic impact and social commitment. She holds a PhD, Executive MBA and BSc from the University of Sydney. As a Director of Clinical Research & Medical Science, she has led transformative cardiovascular research initiatives and clinical trials across Australia and New Zealand. A passionate advocate for education and gender equity, Dr. Amr mentors young women in STEM and supports programs empowering girls. She serves as a member of the Clinical Investigations Forum (CIF) with the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), a clinical advisor with AusBiotech, and a contributor to the Research and Development Task Force (RDTF).

Proudly sponsored by Bradfield Development Authority

Finalists

Dr. Sangeeta Aditya

Kyra Quinlivan

Nezrin Noushad

Western Sydney Woman in STEM & Trades – Trades

Lauren Fahey

Lauren is Executive Director of NexGen, where she leads programs reaching over 20,000 students and job seekers across Sydney and Western Sydney. Focused on challenging gender bias early, she has launched primary school initiatives, hands-on trade days for women and non-binary students, and partnered with industry to secure real employment pathways. Lauren’s work shifts perceptions among students, parents, and educators, helping young people see themselves in construction and other trades. Previously, as General Manager and Company Secretary at NAWIC, she grew membership from 2,000 to over 14,000 and launched the Male Allies Program to engage men in gender equity.

Proudly sponsored by Bradfield Development Authority

Finalists

Dr. Sangeeta Aditya

Kyra Quinlivan

Nezrin Noushad

Western Sydney Woman in Leadership

Malini Raj

Malini Raj, Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance, has spent her career amplifying the voices of migrant and culturally diverse women. Growing up in Western Sydney as a daughter of Malaysian migrants, she saw inequities firsthand and has since transformed systems in banking, healthcare, and government, delivering nationally recognised initiatives, including Australia’s first corporate hijab. In her current role at the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance she is advocating to influence outcomes for migrant and refugee women, and she’s also presented at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

Living with Cushing’s disease following a 20 year journey to diagnosis, she turned personal challenges into advocacy, chairing the Australian Pituitary Foundation, fighting for treatments to be listed on the PBS. She has mentored over 300 culturally diverse women into leadership, advocating for leadership that reflects Australia’s true diversity.

Proudly sponsored by Western Sydney Executive Women

Finalists

Belinda Leonard

Elfa Moraitakis

Lori Modde

Western Sydney Business Woman of the Year

Kate Rafton

Kate Rafton is the owner of Rafton Family Lawyers, a boutique firm with eight offices across Western Sydney. She holds dual qualifications in law and nursing and worked 15 years as a clinical manager in Nepean Hospital’s ICU before founding her firm in 2007. Over 18 years, while remaining the sole owner of the business, Kate has grown the firm to 23 locally employed staff, expanded specialist services and achieved consistent revenue growth. All staff live and work in Western Sydney, and over 80% of staff travel less than 20 minutes to work each day. Proudly calling Western Sydney her home her whole life, she supports local schools, sports teams, and university students through donations, sponsorships, and internships.