The 2017 Woman of Stature (WOS) Woman of the Year Awards were announced on 11 March at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, where 28 of South Africa's prominent women competed for one of nine awards.
Shafika Isaacs, WOS 2017 Woman of the Year.
This year's winners are:
- Woman in Finance: Lesego Sennelo – African Woman Chartered Accountants
- Woman in Media: Madelain Roscher – PR Worx
- Woman in Community: Pam Green – #SecondChances
- Woman in Education: Shafika Isaacs (overall winner)
- Woman Entrepreneur: Ntsoaki Phali – Beyond Talent Solutions
- Woman in Healthcare: Shakira Choonara
- Director’s Special Award: Ronel Harris
- Youth Ambassador: Shannon Roscher – DeskBags
The annual awards are not limited to any particular field of endeavour and rank among the most prestigious awards in South Africa for women.
“These nominees are prominent within their respective communities and have reached considerable heights within their careers. They each reflect our values and focus at WOS, which is empowering of women from all walks of life,” says WOS director, Charlotte du Plessis. “We also honour those South African women who have made a considerable impact on the economy and within their respective communities in support of our objectives.
“All proceeds of the evening went towards our charitable causes – CANSA and Hospice Wits – as well as to our own 5 Pillars of Empowerment. This initiative aims to train, develop and uplift women across South Africa,” concludes du Plessis.
The Awards were emceed by Carlo McFarlane (a cast member of West Side Story which has just ended at Joburg Theatre) with guest speaker Dawn Nathan Jones of M-Net’s Shark Tank and former CEO of the Imperial Car Rental Division & Europcar. Sponsors of the Awards included Emperors Palace, Nedbank, Pluminco, Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa, Pennylane Productions and Julian Naidoo Photography.
