The Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence Awards

In her time at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Managing Director Sophie Galaise has steered the company from strength to strength, with positive growth both financially and in audience numbers. Ms Galaise says one of her aims has been working as a team to foster innovation and achieve good outcomes for all.

Finalists in this year’s The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Awards are champions of reinvention and possess broad skillsets they can adapt to different roles in their quest to influence change in business and society.

Making the list in the Arts, Culture and Sport category alongside Ms Galaise this year is
Sheila Nguyen, Peta Searle, Louise Evans, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Belinda Clark, Carol Fox,
Charlotte Wood, Catherine Clark, Rhonda Boyle and Vicki Gordon.

This year’s list of 100 Women of Influence, presented by Qantas, was selected with the help of executive search firm Korn Ferry and a highly respected panel of judges, including 2018 overall winner Professor Megan Davis, pro vice-chancellor (Indigenous) at the University of NSW, and 2017 overall winner Moya Dodd, partner at Gilbert & Tobin. The other judges were Charlotte Abbott, chief people and culture officer, Qantas Academy, Qantas, Barry Irvin AM, executive chairman of Bega Cheese, Financial Review Chanticleer columnist Tony Boyd, Financial Review managing editor Joanne Gray, and AFR BOSS magazine editor Sally Patten.

This year, 833 entries were received. Finalists were selected based on a number of criteria, including dedicating their time and energy to helping and encouraging other women in their industry, for confronting unfairness, and using their skills and ability to help change the status quo to a more equal, more diverse and vibrant society.