Submissions open for 10th annual Women in Finance Awards

The Women in Finance Awards 2026 is now open for submissions and nominations, celebrating the outstanding women making an impact across banking, financial services, and fintech.

Whether leading an organisation, driving innovation, developing high-performing teams, or influencing the future of the finance sector, there's a category that recognises the contributions of women across the entire finance sector.

For a decade, the prestigious awards program, hosted by Momentum Media, has recognised the outstanding contributions made by women across finance, while also celebrating the companies leading the charge in diversity and inclusion.

The national awards cover the full spectrum of the sector – including banking, broking, accounting, financial planning, and fintech – recognising the achievements of senior leaders, entrepreneurs, and companies.

What categories are available?

This year, the program covers 22 individual categories and 5 group categories, ensuring that excellence is celebrated in every corner of the market.

Individual categories recognise accountants, auditors, and bookkeepers who manage compliance and corporate reporting, as well as mortgage and commercial finance brokers who help clients navigate a changing lending market. Additionally, financial planners and SMSF advisers who help build their clients' wealth are recognised, alongside technology leaders driving innovation in the fintech sector and legal professionals navigating financial law and regulatory frameworks.

The group categories include Employer of the Year, Training and Development Program of the Year, Women's Community Program of the Year, and more.

Submissions and nominations for the Women in Finance Awards 2026 will close on Friday, 21 August 2026.

The winners of the awards will be announced in a black-tie ceremony on the evening of Friday, 13 November 2026, at Hyatt Regency Sydney.

The highest-scoring individual winner will walk away with the coveted Excellence Award.

Why submit?

The Women in Finance Awards program was created a decade ago to identify and celebrate talented women in the traditionally male-dominated finance sector.

By highlighting successful women, the awards help provide visibility to the women leading the way in senior finance roles and inspire more women to join and succeed in finance.

The awards also amplify the finance companies promoting broader diversity and inclusion.

Since its inception in 2016, many innovative professionals and businesses have capitalised on the Women in Finance Awards to distinguish themselves ahead of the competition.

For organisations, winning one of the coveted awards can help attract and retain top talent, while the recognition can also help cement an individual’s position as a leader in finance and underpin career advancement.

Click here to read about how to write an awards submission.

How are awards judged?

The Women in Finance Awards program has developed a robust methodology to underpin the assessment, analysis, and benchmarking of Australia’s leading finance professionals.

The judging criteria for award categories are both quantitative and qualitative, acknowledging growth, business development, diversity, leadership, innovation, business excellence, and contribution to Australia’s finance sector.

All businesses and professionals that meet eligibility criteria from across Australia’s finance sector are encouraged to participate in the awards program.

Click here to view the methodology.

The judging process

To determine the finalists, all initial submissions undergo a comprehensive audit process to verify demographic information and ensure all category-specific eligibility criteria are met.

From there, the shortlisted finalist submissions are delivered to an independent panel of judges. This expert panel reviews each submission against the qualitative and quantitative criteria of the specific category to decide the ultimate winners.

To nominate a peer, view detailed category requirements, or lodge your own submission, visit the Women in Finance Awards 2026 website.