Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Educacion Diversa CEO and Founder Lauren Cannell has been named 2025 ACT Woman of the Year
In brief:
- Three Canberra women have been recognised at the 2025 ACT Women’s Awards.
- The Awards recognise women and gender diverse people who have contributed to the lives of women and girls in the ACT.
- This article introduces the three winners.
Three impressive Canberrans have been recognised at the annual ACT Women’s Awards.
The Awards recognise women and gender diverse people who have made an outstanding contribution to the lives of women and girls in the ACT.
2025 ACT Woman of the Year
Lauren Cannell – CEO and Founder, Educacion Diversa
Lauren Cannell leads international not-for-profit Educacion Diversa.
Educacion Diversa provides free inclusive art-based education in:
- human rights
- sexual and reproductive health
- the elimination of violence.
It has had significant impact on advancing the status of women and girls in the ACT.
This is through educational programs, campaigns and projects, including:
- petitioning to mandate teaching gender equality in schools
- a Sports Puberty Program and Period Dignity project. This contributed to the early thinking about the ACT Government’s commitment to free period products.
“[This award] is so important because it will help me to expand the program,” Lauren said.
2025 ACT Senior of the Year
Jayanti Gupta – Founder/Presenter, Gender Equity Matters
Jayanti Gupta is the founder and presenter of Gender Equity Matters, a weekly 2XX radio program.
Jayanti provides women with training in radio presentation and leadership skills. She has broadcast about issues relating to gender, women and girls in the ACT.
Jayanti is the Founder and Chair of the Integrated Women’s Network (IWN). She is also one of the founders of Integrated Cultures ACT Inc.
“I always like to fight for the underdog, and I realised that women are not getting the same rights as men,” Jayanti said.
2025 ACT Young Woman of the Year Award
Anjali Sharma – climate change activist
Anjali Sharma co-introduced the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Equity) Bill.
She also coordinated the Melbourne School Strike and was lead litigant in a court case that found the Federal Government had a duty of care towards future generations (later overturned).
She works to develop the capacity of young women as climate activists in the ACT. Anjali is currently leading a team of young women in Canberra to advocate for and champion the Duty of Care Bill.
“… the need to tackle [climate change] is focused on people, including women and young people, and the rights of all these communities to thrive and prosper the way generations before us have been able to,” Anjali said.
See past winners of the ACT Women’s Awards on the ACT Women’s Honour Roll.
Read more about the ACT Woman of the Year and Honour Roll.
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