The judges of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award today announced a stellar lineup in the Australian shortlist for the 2012 award…. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s going to be tough to choose just one winner amongst these entrepreneurs who span sectors ranging from fashion to food to industrial products.  The finalists are:

 
– Lorna-Jane Clarkson, Founder and Creative Director, Lorna Jane
– Elena Gosse, Director and Company Secretary, Australian Innovation Systems
– Ronni Kahn, Founder and CEO, OzHarvest
– Kris Lloyd, CEO and Head Cheesemaker, Woodside Cheese Wrights
– Maryanne Shearer, CEO, T2
 
I’ve long regarded the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award, now in its 40th year, as “the” award to win… and not only because the winners get a bottle of Grand Dame every year, for life!!  Apart from that, it is the first international award created specifically to recognise the contribution that women have made to business life, with finalists coming together each year in Reims, France, from 16 countries.  

In addition to the financial results and commercial success of the nominees, judges around the world take into consideration a number of other important factors such as each business’s commitment to the community, employees and the environment.  
 

The Australian winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award 2012 will be announced on International Women’s Day, Thursday 8 March, 2012, at a lunch attended by 100 of the country’s most influential businesswomen.

I’m sending my best wishes to all the finalists – with a line up like this, you’re clearly all winners already.  It’s just a pity you can’t all win the prize in this one!