Associate Professor Barbara Junghans of the University of New South Wales Australia has been announced as a winner in The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards for 2015.
A/Prof. Junghans was recognised in the local/regional category for her contribution to optometric education as well as her endeavours in orienteering administration and launching bush care in her local area.
Now in its fourth year, the 100 Women of Influence Awards celebrate outstanding women from a wide variety of sectors across Australia. There are 10 categories: Board/Management, Public Policy, Diversity, Business Enterprise, Young Leader, Global, Local/Regional, Innovation, Culture and Social Enterprise.
A/Prof. Junghans said the process of writing out her life story had been very humbling. “The 100 Women of Influence campaign has opened my eyes to the fact that I have impacted thousands of others, mainly in Australia but also overseas, through my endeavours in my ‘accidental career’ as an optometric educator, through my sport of orienteering, and through the love of my local bushland suburb that is in need of a little bit of ‘tender loving care’.”
Ainslie van Onselen, Director of Women’s Markets, Diversity and Inclusion at Westpac said, “Women have countless opportunities to be a driving force for change in Australia and shape our nation’s future through their respective fields. Barbara Junghans is a shining example for how women can be truly influential in their career and have a profound impact on long-term outcomes. She joins an illustrious group of Australian women as part of the Women of Influence alumni, which continues to grow each year with diverse and exceptional talent.”
Joanne Gray, Australian Financial Review Boss Editor, said: “The Women of Influence Awards impress upon us yet again how vast is the pool of female talent in this country. The awards continue to bring to light extraordinary women, who despite their achievements and because of their humility, might otherwise have remained in the shadows.”
