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Australia’s top female banker, and our PM, make the cut in Forbes list of 100 most Powerful Women for 2010

Forbes has today published its annual list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women and again Gail Kelly, CEO of Australia’s second-largest bank Westpac, made it into the Top 10 – ranking 8th out of a cohort that certainly pack some punch.  Top of the list is Michelle Obama, America’s First Lady, who is credited as The Whitehouse’s secret weapon in marginal constituencies, and there are other familiar faces at the top including celebrity entertainers and business people.  Our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was the only other Australian on the list, ranking 58th.

While Gillard’s profile skips over the unpopular nature of her appointment, having knifed Kevin Rudd to get the top job, Kelly’s profile is less constrained, noting she has wielded her power “by drastically raising interest rates on loans”.  I’m not sure how happy Kelly would be with that descriptor – but I guess it’s power nonetheless.

In case you’re interested, the top 10 Most Powerful Women for 2010 include:

  1. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the USA
  2. Irene Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Kraft Foods
  3. Oprah Winfrey – say no more!
  4. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
  5. Hillary Clinton, USA Secrtary of State
  6. Indra Nooyi, Chief Executive PepsiCo
  7. Lady GaGa (goodness help us!)
  8. Gail Kelly, Chief Executive Westpac Bank
  9. Beyonce Knowles (I wonder if Gail feels any pressure being sandwiched between two starlets!)
  10. Ellen DeGeneres – comedian and talk show host

View the full list here… and what’s your thoughts?  Do you agree… or would you nominate a more powerful woman in your world?

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