Nominations now open for the 2009 Top Women Awards

This event is seen not only as a wonderful networking occasion, but also an opportunity to celebrate companies and individuals who contribute to the empowerment of women, who inspire transformation and who strive to affect change through their business practices and within communities.

Companies and individuals who participate in the nomination process will be able to celebrate their successes and mark their performance, while gaining PR and marketing value. It allows for reflection on achievements and gives the chance for the company or individual to demonstrate gender equity.

Past winners include KPMG, The Media Shop, ACSA, Professor Shirley Zinn of Nedbank Group Limited and Kate Shuttelworth of Marvellous Maids.

Nominations for the following awards categories are now open:

Organisation Awards

Top Gender Empowered Company: Mining, Engineering and Construction
Top Gender Empowered Company: Science, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Top Gender Empowered Company: Transport
Top Gender Empowered Company: Financial Services
Top Gender Empowered Company: ICT
Top Gender Empowered Company: Business Support Services
Top Gender Empowered Company: Emergent Companies and SMMEs
Top Gender Empowered National, Provincial or Local Government Department
Top Gender Empowered Government Agency or Parastatal

Individual Awards

Top Woman Entrepreneur
Top Young Woman Entrepreneur
Top Woman Executive
Top Woman in the Public Sector
Top Woman-owned Company

Overall Winners (to be announced on the night)

Top Woman of the Year in Business will be selected from the winners of the four individual awards.
Top Gender Empowered Company will be selected from the winners of the seven company awards.
Top Woman Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to a woman who has dedicated her life to the upliftment of women and gender empowerment.

Participate and share in honouring South Africa's corporate pioneers, government employees and entrepreneurial heroes at the forefront of gender equality. Nomination forms can be completed on the Topco Media website www.topco.co.za. For more information, contact Melody Strick on +27 21 791 7100 or email .

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, contact Laura Barker on +27 21 791 7100 or email .