Rural recognition and Royalty: UniSQ Professor in the running for Women Changing the World Awards

A University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Professor is preparing for a brush with Royalty and a shot at global recognition, having been nominated for a 2024 Women Changing the World Award.

UniSQ Professor Retha Wiesner, Research Program Leader of the Women in Rural, Regional and Remote Enterprises (WiRE) Program, has been nominated for the Women Changing the World in Rural and Regional Areas Impact Award.

The Women Changing the World Awards will be presented by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and international author and speaker Dr Tererai Trent at a lavish ceremony in London in May.

Professor Wiesner has founded and led the WiRE Program and 15 other national and international entrepreneurship acceleration and sustainability programs, which have received over $12 million in grants over the last decade.

Professor Wiesner said she felt deeply honoured and humbled to be nominated for the global award celebrating and recognising women’s success.

“I can see the difference that the WiRE Program has made, but to be nominated for this award is really validating in the sense that I can see I’m on the right path, and that what I’m doing is having an impact,” Professor Wiesner said.

“It’s been seven years now with the program and we’ve worked with around 5,000 women to help them start and grow their businesses across regional and rural Australia.

“This program is all about the power of women supporting women. Everyone in the program wants to pass on something positive to the other women in their communities; it really is a positive ripple effect.”

Sarah, Duchess of York, said the Women Changing the World Awards seek to inspire others to create change in ways both big and small.

“Our aim is to give voice to silent whispers. We want to lift women up all over the world and tell their stories,” she said.

The WiRE Program is supported by the Advance Queensland Initiative as part of the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.

For more information, visit the WiRE Program website.

Find out more about how the University of Southern Queensland Institute for Resilient Regions supports regional Queensland and Australia.