The Zonta International District 23 Women Taking Climate Action Award celebrates women living in NT, SA, Tas, Vic or WA, whose climate action makes a significant contribution to addressing climate change while actively engaging and benefiting women.
The $1,000 award recognises an important principle at the heart of Zonta Says NOW: climate action and gender equality are connected. Women are not simply affected by climate change — they are also leaders, innovators, advocates, scientists, entrepreneurs and community builders who are creating solutions.
2026 AWARD
- Applications open on 1 September 2026 and close on 21 October 2026.
- Application forms will be available here soon!
- An A4 Flyer to promote the event can be downloaded here (pdf)
- A social media post can be downloaded here (png)
AWARDEES
Please be inspired by the previous awardees below!
2021 – MARGARET HENDER
The inaugural 2021 award recognised Margaret Hender, founder of Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA), Australia’s first solar revolving fund. CORENA helps not-for-profit organisations invest in solar energy and energy efficiency without requiring an upfront capital outlay.
2022 – EMMA CUTTING
The 2022 award recognised Emma Cutting for The Heart Gardening Project, which brings together community members and scientists to create gardens and the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor while combining environmental action with community support.
In 2023, thanks to a once-off donation, two exceptional women were recognised for demonstrating the importance of caring for Country, community education, advocacy, scientific knowledge, and women’s leadership.
2023 – ALANA MOUNTAIN
Alana Mountain was the Campaign Coordinator of the Forest Collective in Victoria. Her work contributed to legal action concerning the protection of the Greater Glider and, ultimately, to the Victorian Government’s decision to end logging of native forests.
2023 – PROFESSOR ANNE POELINA
Professor Anne Poelina is a Nyikina Warrwa woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia, a community leader and human and Earth rights advocate. Anne has worked nationally and internationally on climate and water justice and on creating opportunities for First Nations women to have a voice and exercise leadership.
2024 – JANE BAKER
The 2024 award recognised Jane Baker of Mrs Baker’s Still House in Victoria. Jane runs an all-female distillery producing gins, liqueurs and whiskies using sustainable, low-impact methods – demonstrating how a business can combine sustainability with economic activity. Jane was encouraged to apply by members of the Zonta Club of the Central Goldfields.
2025 – SALLY QUINN
The 2025 recipient, Sally Quinn, Co-Founder and CEO of Green Collect, leads a social enterprise that transforms commercial office and electronic waste through reuse, recycling and repurposing while creating employment pathways and promoting social inclusion. Sally was encouraged to apply by members of the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West.
HISTORY SUMMARY
The award grew from a collaboration between the Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra and the Zonta Says NOW to gender-equal climate action campaign. It was first piloted in 2021 and subsequently adopted as a District 23 Project in 2024, with clubs from around the district contributing to the award.
Seed funding for the initial award was raised through a webinar featuring Natalie Isaacs, the Founder and CEO of 1 Million Women. Natalie has continued to support Zonta’s climate justice initiatives and was a keynote speaker at the 2023 District 23 Conference.
Many thanks go to the Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra, which has administered the award since its inception.
You can read more about the awardees and the award’s history here.