Brisbane Powerhouse – Wednesday 10th October 2018
It’s not often that you can say that standing in the foyer of the Brisbane Powerhouse looking confused will actually pay off and get you an opportunity. It did for me. I was attending the forum “The future is female and digital” and had forgotten to contact the organisers to get permission to bring my camera in, so was wondering who to ask. A woman came up to me and asked if I knew that the forum was downstairs. I did but needed to speak with someone about getting my camera into the forum. She looked really familiar.
So a chance meeting with the founding director of the Australian Women in Music Awards, Vicki Gordon had me a media pass for the forum and a phone number of her PR manager Belinda to see about getting another pass for the red carpet and the media room that evening during the awards. A big thank you to both of you for allowing me the chance to be involved.
The awards recognised not only women in the public view but many of the unsung heroes behind the scenes as well, some of whom had never received any recognition for their work until now. The awards also recognise up and coming artists, indigenous artists and teachers of music who begin many of these artists on their journey.
APRA AMCOS Songwriter Award – WINNER – Gordi (Sophie Payten)

SHEBAH Music Leadership Award – WINNER – Jen Cloher
Canon Australia Music Photographer Award – WINNER – Wendy McDougall

SSI Diversity in Music Award – WINNER – Mission Songs Project
AWMA Studio Production Award – WINNER – Anna Laverty
Spotify Creative Leadership Award – WINNER – Zoe Hauptmann

CICADA International Breakthrough Artist Award – TIED WINNERS – Camp Cope and Amy Shark
Twitter Australia Artistic Excellence Award – WINNER – Ngaiire

Canon Australia Film-maker Award – WINNER – Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore

AWMA Live Production Award – WINNER – Robyn Jelleff

The Calile Hotel Musical Excellence Award – TIED WINNERS – Lydia Davies and Nerida Tyson-Chew
QUT Creative Industries Faculty Educator Award – WINNER – Dr Anita Collins
CAAMA Auriel Andrew Memorial Award – WINNER – Deborah Cheetham AO
Industry Observer Lifetime Achievement Award – WINNERS – Renée Geyer, Patricia ‘Little Patty’ Amphlett, Margret RoadKnight

A big congratulations to all of those who won, who were nominated and who attended in support of someone else. There were performances by artists such as Kate Cebrano, Katie Noonan and Adalita during the night, wrapping with a reformed Do Re Mi.