The 2026 finalists include leading doctors, researchers and mental health champions reshaping care and policy.
Health professionals – from senior clinicians and researchers to mental health leaders and disease-specific advocates – feature prominently among the 31 finalists for the 2026 NSW Women of the Year Awards.
The representation from the health sector underscores its growing influence on health policy, service delivery and community wellbeing across NSW.
Announced by the NSW government ahead of NSW Women’s Week, the finalist cohort includes medical specialists, public health leaders, Aboriginal health executives and mental health innovators whose work spans hospitals, research institutes, community organisations and statewide systems.
Winners will be announced on 5 March 2026.
Among the high-profile health finalists is Professor Tracey O’Brien, a nationally respected cancer clinician-researcher whose career has bridged haematology, transplant medicine, precision oncology and health system leadership.
Now serving as NSW chief cancer officer, Professor O’Brien has played a central role in aligning research, policy and clinical services to improve access to high-quality cancer care across metropolitan, regional and culturally diverse communities.
Also shortlisted is Clare Pearson, whose work as CEO of Little Wings directly addresses one of healthcare’s most persistent access challenges – geography.
Under her leadership, the organisation provides free air and ground transport for children requiring specialist medical treatment, significantly reducing the physical, financial and emotional burden on families navigating complex care pathways.
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Both Professor O’Brien and Ms Pearson are in the running for the NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence – Clinical Leadership and System Impact.
Other award categories and health-related finalists include:
NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year – Health Advocacy and Workforce Development
- Adjunct Professor Nicole Turner, a Kamilaroi woman and CEO of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AHMRC), who has shaped Aboriginal health policy and service delivery for more than 30 years. Her roles also include Chairperson of Indigenous Allied Health Australia, where she works to strengthen allied health workforce capacity in Aboriginal communities and support culturally safe practice.
NSW Community Hero – Mental Health and Youth Wellbeing Innovation
- Ruby Riethmuller, founder and CEO of Womn-Kind, a youth mental health organisation dedicated to supporting adolescent girls and gender-diverse youth through evidence-informed programs. Womn-Kind has delivered scalable wellbeing education and low-barrier support, including digital tools and workshops, helping tens of thousands of young people build resilience and access early support. Ms Riethmuller also serves as Deputy Commissioner (Lived Experience) at the Mental Health Commission of NSW.
- The Gidget Foundation Australia Founders Group, a consortium of founders that has built a nationwide perinatal mental health support network, offering specialised appointments, community outreach and practitioner support frameworks that remain crucial to reducing the burden of perinatal mood disorders across NSW.
NSW Young Woman of the Year – Emerging Health and Clinical Influence
- Dr Mithila Zaheen, an advanced trainee in cardiology and active clinical researcher. Dr Zaheen focuses on women’s cardiovascular health, an area of ongoing health inequity due to historical research gaps. Her work in clinical care, research and community engagement emphasises prevention, equity and improved outcomes for women with heart disease, Australia’s leading cause of death.
- Milli Weaver, founder of the Australian Endometriosis Foundation, has worked to elevate endometriosis awareness, education and care pathways. Her impact includes partnerships with health providers and hospitals to improve diagnostic timelines and support for people with chronic gynaecological pain.
- Layne Paull, an inclusion lead with disability support and community programs aimed at participation, confidence and wellbeing.
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