The search is on for the leaders in gender empowerment

Known as one of the most prestigious events on the business and commerce calendar, the Top Women Awards, in association with Top Women in Business and Government (TWBG) and Topco Media, this year will be celebrating five years of acknowledging and applauding companies, institutions and individuals who have excelled in their chosen disciplines.

“Our awards' categories reflect the vision of Top Women in Business and Government by promoting gender empowerment at all levels of public and private support. What makes the Top Women Awards unique and a leader in its field is the fact that we are the only awards that publicly acknowledge and celebrate the contributions, achievements and successes of those extraordinary people, companies and government departments who have changed the South African economic and political landscape through their commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women,” comments Associate Publisher, Ilse Pienaar.

With the inclusion of five new awards, the categories for the 2008 event reflect the more significant stance South Africans have developed towards transformation and gender empowerment:

PRIVATE SECTOR:

Top Gender Empowered Company: Primary Sector
Top Gender Empowered Company: Secondary Sector
Top Gender Empowered Company: Tertiary Sector
- Financial sector *new
- ICT *new
- Transport and Development *new
Top Gender Empowered Company: Emerging and SMMEs
Top Corporate Social Investment Initiative
Top Company Investing in People *new

PUBLIC SECTOR:

Top Winning Empowerment Strategy (policy/framework) *new
Gender Empowering Government Department of the Year
Top Gender Empowering Parastatal

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:

Top Executive: Corporate South Africa
Top Executive of a Women-Owned Company
Top Entrepreneur
Top Leader in Government

OVER ALL WINNERS:

Top Gender Empowerment Company of the Year - chosen from the winners in the Private and Public Sectors
Top Women of The Year in Business - chosen from the Individual Awards

“Individual nominees for the Top Women's Awards are selected from all spheres of corporate South Africa, from entrepreneurs and leaders within SMMEs to CEOs of multi-billion Rand corporations, while we reward and celebrate companies and organizations across the public and private sector for their work in gender development and the empowerment of women into the mainstream of the economy,” explains Pienaar.

As a further indication of the commitment to maintaining high standards, the Top Women Awards have appointed Tumi Makgabo as Master of Ceremonies, and who is a passionate proponent of gender empowerment. Recently returned to SA after her work as an anchor for CNN International, Tumi is herself the recipient of many prestigious awards, and currently is a Director on the board of the African Women's Development Fund.

Nominations for individuals, companies and institutions are expected to be received by no later than 1st August, and submissions information can be accessed through the TWBG website: www.businesswomen.co.za/www.topco.co.za or contact Sue Gannon on 021 791 7100 or email