Entries for the 2023 Women in Defence Awards are now underway as we look to celebrate talented, determined, successful women who make a positive impact in Defence and industry.
Now is the time to nominate yourself or your colleagues for well-deserved recognition of their personal achievements and their contribution to the wider mission of defence.
We've compiled a list of Top 10 Tips for Entry so you can be sure to craft a stand-out nomination.
- These are annual awards (rather than lifetime achievement awards). Make sure the entry concentrates on what the nominee achieved in 2022!
- The judges want to know what the nominee did above and beyond their base position: what made them shine above all others? Go beyond their position description!
- Emphasise how the nominee’s achievements were of benefit specifically to Defence and/or defence industry.
- Put a lot of thought into selecting the correct category for your nominee. Make sure that the nomination relates strongly to the category.
- Explain how the nominee overcame problems, both personal and professional in 2022. Anything that makes their achievements even more remarkable. For example: Was the candidate one of the first ever women to take on a role or gain a qualification or be appointed to a leadership position in 2022? How did they change or adapt the role?
- All the nominees are fantastic role models, but the judges are looking for details. How did they do it? What did they do? How was it above and beyond their job description? Where did they volunteer? How did their volunteering relate to representing Defence/defence industry? How does the volunteer work encourage younger women to consider a career in Defence/Industry?
- A successful project does not necessarily make the nominee outstanding. The judges need to know what did they personally contributed to the project. How did their contribution directly lead to the success of the project?
- How did they change the workplace culture or practices to help other women? How did they change work practices to make it easier for more women to work in the area? What are they doing to bring other women along with them?
- As well as supplying supporting documents/references from superiors or bosses, the judges want to hear from the other women in the workplace too. How has mentoring had an impact on them? What has the nominee done to help and support them? References from the community are welcome as supporting extra documents.
- The entries need to be definitive. Instead of saying, “She is amazing”, answer questions like: How is she amazing? What impressed you the most? Why did you pick this candidate above all the other women who work for/with you?
*Not all these tips will be relevant to the nominated category.
Entries close 4pm, Thursday 1 June 2023.