West Australian of the Year Awards: Dr Mara West, Lucy Durack, Nina Kennedy, Nigel Satterley among finalists

Their stories are as varied as the spectacular landscape of the State they call home. But these West Australians all have two things in common; a lifelong commitment to bringing joy to and improving the lives of others, and great pride in representing their State. From sporting champions to internationally recognised scientists and quiet achievers volunteering their time to help those less fortunate, 21 finalists have been named across seven categories in the Western Australian of the Year Awards. WESFARMERS ABORIGINAL AWARD Three respected, inspirational role models in the Aboriginal community have been recognised for their tireless commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people. Proud Mulgyin Jaru/Kitja and Gooniyandi woman Corina Martin has channelled her lived experience as a survivor of family violence into lifelong advocacy for justice, safety and systemic reform. Ms Martin, a nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal legal services and family violence prevention, has spent more than two decades working across healthcare, policing, media and law. As chief executive of Aboriginal Family Legal Services she has overseen an expansion of the organisation which provides legal advice, support and education. Yamatji Elder Dr Mara West was recognised for her lifelong, pioneering contribution to improving Aboriginal outcomes across education, health, climate and policy. Among her senior leadership roles are cultural governance adviser at The Kids Research Institute Australia, where she leads projects which centre Aboriginal voices. Noongar woman Jeanice Krakouer is a passionate advocate for improved housing and education who has shaped lives across the Great Southern as a founder, foster carer, mentor, author and chairwoman. CROWN ARTS & CULTURE AWARD Distinguished jeweller, author and arts advocate Dorothy Erickson is one of three finalists recognised for their contribution to WA’s arts and culture scene. Since becoming the first jeweller to graduate from WAIT (now Curtin University) Ms Erickson’s five decade career has seen her exhibit her kinetic, nature-inspired jewellery internationally, author more than 300 articles and mentor generations of younger creatives. In 2024 she was named a State Cultural Treasure by the Art Gallery of WA. Visionary arts leader Ian Booth’s influence spans generations and helped transform WA’s screen and performing arts landscape. During his decade-long tenure as Screenwest chief executive he oversaw significant productions such as Red Dog, and over the past three years he has helped Black Swan State Theatre Company enjoy a 30 per cent increase in audience attendance. Beloved performer Lucy Durack’s joy-infused passion for arts and storytelling extends to the wider community, where she advocates for numerous causes including domestic violence awareness and children with cancer. The Helpmann Award winner, known for star turns in theatre productions Wicked, Legally Blonde and The Wizard of Oz, runs a musical “glee club” for school students, co-founded a wellness app now in use in schools across the country and regularly returns to WA from her Melbourne home to support local events and charities. Ms Durack told The West Australian she was honoured to be named among so many incredible finalists. “It means the world to me. Perth gave me my start and I am so proud to be from WA. This is an incredible honour,” she said. CHAMBER OF MINERALS & ENERGY OF WA BUSINESS AWARD Ertech founder James Giumelli has grown his civil construction company from a small firm to a $150 million employee-owned enterprise with 500 staff. But it is the opportunities he has created for others — through his vocational training academy which helps disadvantaged young people into careers and his mentorship of emerging business leaders — that is his proudest legacy. Respected healthcare leader Neale Fong’s decades-long influence spans governance, sport and education. Across his roles as director general of WA Health, chief executive of St John of God Subiaco, chair of the WA Country Health Service and CEO of Bethesda Health Care, he has championed a more inclusive and responsive healthcare system for all West Australians. Through his enduring philosophy “do well and give back”, property developer and philanthropist Nigel Satterley’s legacy is seen in both the 200-plus master-planned communities his company has created and the medical research, youth, sport and community programs he and wife Denise have supported. Satterley Property Group injects more than $650 million annually into local economies and has helped thousands of Australians into homes. ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA COMMUNITY AWARD For almost 30 years Lorraine Lekias has offered unconditional love, stability and a chance for children to thrive through Fostering Hope WA, the charity she started from her living room to support foster children and those who care for them. Now supported by Telethon and operating from a purpose-built premises, the charity delivers essentials such as clothing, supplies and gifts to communities all over WA. She has also been a foster carer for dozens of WA’s most vulnerable children, helping them to overcome trauma and develop hope. Brother Thomas (Olly) Pickett, the 2025 Senior Australian of the Year, has transformed thousands of young lives all over the world through Wheelchairs for Kids Australia. Brother Olly founded the volunteer-based organisation in 1996 to provide free adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries. Since then, more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been given to children in more than 80 countries. M’Liss Henry has also transformed thousands of lives through providing patient, unwavering support for people with disabilities through therapeutic horse riding. Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre, which Ms Henry founded more than 50 years ago, serves more than 165 riders every week — and over the years thousands have found healing, confidence, taken first steps or represented Australia on the international stage. WOODSIDE ENERGY PROFESSIONS AWARD As a survivor of domestic and family violence (DFV), Jolene Ellat now dedicates her life to reshaping the way DFV is recognised and addressed, through empathy, education and prevention. The DART (Domestic Abuse Resource and Training) Institute, founded by Ms Ellat to address the systemic failures she witnessed on the front line, now delivers prevention and response training to more than 200 organisations, from police and social workers to the corporate sector. Leading paediatric oncologist Dr Nick Gottardo’s compassion and commitment to his young patients and their families drives his world-leading work, which is transforming childhood brain cancer treatment. As head of oncology and haematology at Perth Children’s Hospital, he is helping to deliver innovative treatments using targeted, precision medicine. Internationally recognised biomedical researcher Sue Fletcher has had a life-changing impact through her groundbreaking work on the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD.) She co-developed the world’s first “exon-skipping” therapies for DND, which enabled some patients to maintain muscle function. Her achievements, which span decades, have earned her recognition including Officer of the Order of Australia, WA Innovator of the Year, and the Eureka Prize for Medical Research Translation. CHANNEL 7 SPORT AWARD Three young West Australians who have dominated on the global stage over the past 12 months have been named finalists in the sports category. Josh Inglis has cemented his reputation as an exciting and versatile cricketer in recent months, joining an elite group as the fourth Australian to score international centuries across test, one day international and T20 international cricket. His breathtaking century was pivotal to Australia’s victory over England in the Champions Trophy and he continues to win fans at a domestic level as a thoughtful ambassador and mentor in addition to being an excellent sportsman. At the Paris 2024 Olympics Matthew Wearn made history as the first athlete to win back-to-back gold medals in men’s dinghy sailing. Out of the water, Wearn’s dedication is just as evident through his mentoring of junior sailors and advocacy for athlete funding and environmental responsibility. Busselton-born pole vaulter Nina Kennedy launched herself into rare air with an incredible 12-month run, including becoming Australia’s first female field athletics gold medallist at the Paris Olympics. She is now back home in WA helping to inspire the next generation of sports stars with the humility and hard work that has won her a legion of fans. BHP YOUTH AWARD They are not yet 30, but the passionate, innovative and inspiring West Australians nominated for the youth award have each become leaders in their chosen fields. Elucidate Education co-founder Jack Anderson, 24, is reshaping the education system by providing access to textbooks and online learning tools for thousands of marginalised children. Kate Raston has become an empathetic, powerful voice in gender-based violence prevention, consent education and survivor advocacy. The 29-year-old survivor founded We Are W/M to deliver peer-led, trauma-informed workshops to more than 20,000 young people across WA. She is also reshaping education and policies with her research, including a landmark study into single-sex boys’ schools. As a commercial pilot and physiotherapist, Kennedy Lay was uniquely positioned to make a difference to regional Australians suffering from healthcare inequity. Kennedy Lay’s pioneering organisation Fly2Health delivers more than 30,000 appointments across Australia every year, by a team of more than 145 staff providing physiotherapy, speech therapy and medicine to rural and remote areas. He has since launched Fly2Foundation, a not for profit providing free flights to Perth for those in need. The winners will be announced on Thursday, May 29, with the winner of each category to be placed on a short-list to win the overall Western Australian of the Year award.

West Australian of the Year Awards: Dr Mara West, Lucy Durack, Nina Kennedy, Nigel Satterley among finalists

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