The Centre for Leadership for Women (CLW) is calling for nominations for the 2009 national Leadership Achievement Award for Women.

Women who have developed self-initiated projects for the community are eligible to enter, with the key selection criteria being the value of pursuing one’s vision, collaboration and commitment to achieving the best outcome for their community.

The annual award, established in 2006, is sponsored by ANZ, Australia Post and Avril Henry Pty Ltd. The winner will receive prize money of $1,200, with two finalists and eight short-listed candidates receiving $800 and $500 respectively.

Winners of the 2008 award were Sarah Elston and Caitlin Grigsby, the founders of the Blue Stockings Association to fund and encourage the education of women from varied backgrounds, focusing on the students in the Monash Gippsland and Latrobe Valley regions.

Among the panel judges for the 2009 award are filmmaker and writer Karen Buczynski Lee, founder and director of the Global Sisterhood Network Dr Lynette Dumble, Dr Sarah Maddison from the University of New South Wales and Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon.

Applications close on 22 December 2008, with winners to be announced on 8 March 2009, International Women’s Day.

Nominees should be 18 years and above.

For more information on the award and application process, see www.leadershipforwomen.com.au.