2026 Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award Recipients

Provided by the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence through the Office for Women.

 This Award was introduced by the Australia Day Council and the Office for Women to recognise the outstanding contributions by women to the community during the current year or over several years. The criteria also include achievement in their relevant field and their ability to act as a role model in the community.

2026 Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award Recipient – Dr Fariba Behnia-Willison

Dr Fariba Behnia-Willison is a trailblazer in women’s health whose innovative care has changed the lives of over 40,000 women across Australia. She is an internationally recognised endo-gynaecologist and reconstructive surgeon, whose pioneering surgeries reduce pain, scarring, and recovery time, setting new global standards in minimally invasive care.

In 2013, she founded a state-of-the-art women’s health centre in Adelaide that has since become a national model for patient-centred care, attracting patients from across the country, especially regional areas with limited access to women’s health services. Her organisation, Desert Flower Australia, has supported more than 500 women affected by female genital mutilation (FMG), offering specialised care, legal advocacy, and community education. Through multilingual engagement in Persian, Dari, and German, Dr Behnia-Willison ensures culturally safe healthcare access for refugee and migrant women, many of whom would otherwise go untreated. Dr Fariba Behnia-Willison is not only healing individuals — she is transforming systems. Her life’s work stands as a beacon of hope, empowerment, and progress in women’s health.

2026 Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award – Commendation -Associate Professor Jody Avery

Associate Professor Jodie Avery exemplifies excellence in research, leadership, and advocacy within the field of women’s health, particularly in endometriosis research. Her unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes and addressing gaps in care has had a profound impact on both academic research and real-world healthcare practices. Through her contributions, she has significantly advanced our understanding of endometriosis and its far-reaching effects on individual and family well-being.

Her research has played a pivotal role in identifying gaps in endometriosis diagnosis and treatment, particularly for adolescents. Her work focuses on improving diagnostic timelines, exploring non-invasive imaging techniques, and understanding the impact of endometriosis on quality of life, leading to less invasive, faster, and more accessible diagnostic pathways.

Associate Professor Avery’s findings have contributed to broader discussions on healthcare policy, patient advocacy, and systemic reform. In addition, Associate Professor Avery is dedicated to supporting the next generation of researchers in women’s health. She recognizes the importance of mentoring and empowering young researchers, ensuring they have the guidance and support they need to succeed. 

2026 Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award Emerging Leader – Joint Recipient – Amira Shahin

As Head of Strategy and Operations at Still Aware, she drives Australia’s only charity solely dedicated to stillbirth prevention. Her leadership has secured funding to expand culturally sensitive pregnancy resources, strengthen Indigenous advocacy, and deliver national clinical education programs.

Amira’s reach extends beyond health into mental wellbeing and resilience. Through her business, Mindful Pursuits, she leads workshops across Australia, empowering individuals and communities to navigate grief, build resilience, and advocate for change. She mentors culturally and linguistically diverse volunteers, fostering the next generation of community leaders. A best‑selling children’s author, Amira uses storytelling to champion children with special needs and those in conflict zones, donating all profits to humanitarian causes. Her advocacy has connected bereaved families, influenced policy discussions, and ensured marginalised voices are heard.

Amira’s impact is defined by action—securing tangible resources, creating inclusive programs, and inspiring collective change. Her work has directly improved health outcomes, strengthened communities, and brought hope to thousands, earning her respect as an emerging leader committed to a fairer, healthier, and more compassionate society.

2026 Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award Emerging Leader – Joint Recipient – Kedeisha Kartinyeri

Kedeisha’s contributions support Aboriginal owned businesses and organizations, providing them with the necessary tools and guidance to thrive. Her firm, KML Business Solutions, is a source of empowerment for the Aboriginal community in this state while nationally, her influence extends through her roles on the boards of Ngarrimili and the State Library of South Australia, where she advocates for structural changes in the accounting profession to be more inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She also serves on the Chartered Accountants ANZ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee, furthering her impact on a national level. Kedeisha’s work highlights the barriers faced by Aboriginal women in finance, bringing international attention to these issues.

Her story of resilience, leadership, and vision serves as an inspiration to many by showing what’s possible. As the first female Aboriginal accountant to own her own firm in South Australia, Kadeisha’s building ladders for others to climb. She empowers young Aboriginal women to see themselves in spaces from which they’ve historically been excluded – finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship.