Final Pam Keating award to recognise outstanding women in the environment

Nominations for the WMAA 2013 Pam Keating Award are now open, offering $1500 to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the environment industry in Victoria.

The award recognises the work of the late Pam Keating and was established for a five-year period upon her death in 2009. Thus, the 2013 award will be the last WMAA Pam Keating Award.

Last year’s winner was Sheridan Blunt, who is the Coordinator of Sustainable Environment Initiatives at Moonee Valley City Council. Blunt’s success was underpinned by her work in a range of sustainability and urban planning roles over the last 14 years.

Another notable winner was Trish McGee, of the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Packaging Stewardship Forum, in 2010. McGee said the award has opened up a range of opportunities for her, including attendance at the 2011 Climate Change Summit in Jakarta and two years on the executive of the WMAA Board.

The award is organised by the Victorian Branch of the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) and is sponsored by Veolia Environmental Services and Sustainability Victoria.

Andrew Race, President of the Victorian Branch of WMAA, said, “We are delighted to again offer this award to give recognition to a woman who has shown outstanding leadership and initiative in an environmental area. As this is the last year the WMAA Pam Keating Award will be offered, we are keen to maximise the opportunity for recognition to all women working in the Victorian sustainability sector. We therefore encourage applicants from previous years to renominate again this year.”

Application forms, terms of reference and guidance notes for applicants are available here. Applications close 31 August 2013.