Celebrating the 2026 SA Women of Impact Award winners
The Office for Women honoured four amazing women through the 2026 SA Women of Impact Awards. The awards celebrate women creating positive change in their communities across four categories.
The winners were selected by an independent judging panel from more than 130 nominations and announced during a ceremony at Government House on 8 September 2026.
Award winners
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Impact Award Winner, Susan Dixon
Susan Dixon is a Kaurna and Narungga woman with more than 40 years of advocacy experience extending across Aboriginal education, health, housing, child protection, women’s rights, justice, law, environmental protection, and local government. She was recognised for providing consultancy services, often on a voluntary basis, to ensure Aboriginal voices, lived experiences and cultural authority are recognised within community, government, and public decision-making processes.
Impact in the Community Award winner, Dr Marie-Claire Seeley
Dr Marie-Claire Seeley was recognised for her dedication to improving the lives of people living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Marie-Claire is the Founder of the Australian POTS Foundation, advocating and supporting patients and families living with POTS and other related autonomic disorders while raising vital funds for research and education.
Impact in Industry Award winner, Jane Pickering
Jane Pickering has spent her 48-year career advancing health and aged care in South Australia, contributing to culture and quality of the aged care sector and improving women’s equity and representation in leadership and business. She has held senior executive, board and governance positions for national and South Australian aged care organisations as well as the South Australian Leaders for Gender Equity (SALGE) network.
Impact on ending Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Award winner, Stacey Nelan
Stacey Nelan has advocated and amplified domestic, family and sexual violence survivor voices for more than 12 years. She has challenged stigma, raised awareness of coercive control and improved systems change across government, corporate and community sectors. Stacey is a respected survivor advocate known for her lived experience leadership advocating for safer, trauma-informed responses across workplaces, services and community systems.
Special mentions
Special mentions were awarded posthumously in the Impact in the Community category:
- Dr Ellen Fraser-Barbour was acknowledged for her work as a nationally recognised disability rights advocate, researcher and educator who devoted the past 16 years to improving the safety, equity and inclusion of people with disability across government, academia and community.
- Kathryn Jarrett was nominated by the Premier of South Australia for serving the South Australian community for over two decades. She left an enduring legacy across Whyalla, Marion and Palmerston. Her support was instrumental in delivering the Whyalla airport runway upgrade and empowering the Whyalla community to shape their future through the development of the “What’s the Future (WTF) Community Plan – 20230 and Beyond”.
A special mention was also awarded in the Impact on ending Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence category:
- Natasha Stott Despoja AO has made significant contributions to the prevention of violence against women and children throughout her career, as Royal Commissioner for the SA Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Chair of Our Watch and former Senator for South Australia. Natasha is committed to gender equity as an Expert Member of the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and serving as Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls.
About the awards
Held annually, the SA Women of Impact Awards recognise women who are leading the way in building a stronger, safer and more inclusive South Australia.
Learn more about the SA Women of Impact Awards.