Woman of Stature selects 2017 Woman of the Year finalists

Finalists in categories

The annual Awards are not limited to any particular field of endeavour and for this reason rank among the most prestigious awards in South Africa for women.

1. Woman in Community

• Jolene Leewner Maritz - Roodepoort

• Pam Green - Johannesburg
• Penny Mpanza - Johannesburg
• Samantha Ncgolomba - Johannesburg

• Tamsyn de Jager – Johannesburg

2. Woman in Business:

• Woman in Finance
o Carol le Grange - Johannesburg

o Daleen Smal - Johannesburg

o Lesego Senelo - Johannesburg

• Woman in Media

o Bridget van Oerle - Johannesburg

o Madelain Roscher - Johannesburg
o Simone Bosman - Johannesburg

o Stacy Holland - Johannesburg

• Woman in Healthcare

o Prof Carol-Ann Benn - Johannesburg

o Kelly du Plessis - Johannesburg
o Prof Natalie Shellack - Johannesburg

o Shakira Choonara - Johannesburg

• Woman in Education

o Shafika Isaacs - Johannesburgo Prof Shirley Zinn – Cape Town

• Woman Entrepreneur

o Jaci Tibbit - Johannesburg

o Mickey Roothman - Johannesburg
o Ntsoaki Phali - Johannesburg
o Penny Fatsilides - Pretoria

o Sue Moodley – KwaZulu-Natal

3. Youth Ambassador

• Chenoa Ann Breckman – KwaZulu-Natal

• Mandisa Sithole - Johannesburg

• Shannon Roscher – Johannesburg

4. Director’s Special Award

• Itumeleng Sekhu - Johannesburg

• Riana Scheepers - Johannesburg
• Ronel Harris - Roodepoort

• Vino Govender – KwaZulu-Natal

Charlotte du Plessis

“All proceeds go towards our charitable causes which are CANSA and Hospice Wits, and our own 5 Pillars of Empowerment programme to train, develop and uplift women across South Africa,” says WOS founder, Charlotte du Plessis. Last year du Plessis received recognition as the founder of Woman of Stature, winning the Margaret Hirsch Women in Business Achievers Award in Strubens Valley.

Tickets to the formal event, which include a three-course dinner, cost R595 and are available through Quicket Online Tickets. Carlo McFarlan, a cast member of West Side Story, which is currently running at Jo’burg Theatre, is the MC and Dawn Nathan Jones of M-Net’s Shark Tank and former CEO of the Imperial Car Rental Division & Europcar will be the guest speaker at the Awards.

Sponsors of the 11th March Awards include Emperors Palace, Nedbank, Pluminco, Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa, Pennylane Productions and Julian Naidoo Photography.

Future expansion

Du Plessis says, “Woman of Stature’s mission is to empower, educate, upskill, connect and support women, and to offer a platform that helps raise funds for charity. As part of our mission, we host an annual gala dinner to honour those South African women who make a significant contribution to the economy and their respective communities.”

WOS is in the process of transformation. Previously known as ‘Woman of Substance’, this year it formed an alliance with AWCA (African Woman Chartered Accountants) and the two organisations have agreed jointly to support an awards competition for African women leaders, which will be known as Woman of Substance. To avoid confusion, this necessitated a name change by WOS to Woman of Stature, though it will continue to be known as WOS, as before.

“We look forward to a house packed with women and men alike to celebrate this iconic event – all for a good cause,” concludes Du Plessis.