This year's Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) Business Achievement Award winners are knocking down barriers facing women wishing to excel and replacing them with ladders to success, according to EOWA Director, Helen Conway.

"This year's finalists from diverse industries around Australia are leading the way in promoting gender equality in workplaces. They have demonstrated a range of interesting and innovative initiatives and importantly, we are seeing an improved focus on creating a culture of sustainable change and improved accountability," Ms Conway said today.

The EOWA Business Achievement Awards were attended by more than 400 people representing businesses from around Australia.  The winners and finalists were honoured at a ceremony attended by the Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Kate Ellis MP. The keynote speaker was John Dashwood, Chairman of ExxonMobil Australia and the event was moderated by Catherine Fox, Deputy Editor of AFR Boss Magazine.

The winners of the EOWA Business Achievement Awards are:

The Minister's Award for Outstanding EEO Initiative/Result for the Advancement of Women
CSL Limited 

Outstanding EEO Practice for the Advancement of Women in a Non-Traditional Area or Role
National Australia Bank Limited 

Leading CEO for the Advancement of Women
Alan Robson (University of Western Australia) 

Diversity Leader for the Advancement of Women
Sally Macindoe (Norton Rose Australia) 

Leading Organisation for the Advancement of Women (<800 employees)
Catholic Education Office Adelaide 

Leading Organisation for the Advancement of Women (>800 employees)
Australian Catholic University Limited 

EOWA Director's Award (for an individual)
Deborah Waterhouse, Vice-President and General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, GlaxoSmithKline. 

EOWA Director's Award (for an organisation)
St Barbara Limited.   

EOWA Contacts:
Vanessa Crago, Senior Communications Advisor
Jude McGee Communications Advisor
Kate Courtenay, EOWA Events & Partnerships Officer