Congratulations! 2017 NT Australian of the Year

Tjanpi Desert Weavers have won second prize in the Moral Fairground Ethical Enterprise Award 2016, announced in Melbourne at the end of last week. The Ethical Enterprise Award 2016 recognises the most inspirational ethical enterprise in Australia – a business or organisation that has achieved the most positive social and economic impact in a local or overseas community through their innovative and ethical trade practices.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers were one of 9 finalists in the national award, with the winners being Pollinate Energy, an Australian Enterprise founded in 2012 with a mission to being solar light to people living in Indian slums.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is an Indigenous social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council. In 1995 NPYWC members created Tjanpi (meaning, ‘locally harvested grasses’) to enable women on the lands to earn a regular income from selling their fibre art. The enterprise provides a broad range of services including trips to remote Country for artists to collect grass and support cultural maintenance activities, skills develop workshops, selling artwork to retail outlets nationally, selling work locally through a gallery in Alice Springs and online in addition to exhibitions of artwork in national galleries and facilitating commissions for public institutions and collectors.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers have also just been shortlisted as a finalist in the Women’s Impact Award category for the Social Enterprise Awards 2016.

“I am honoured to receive the award on behalf of Tjanpi Desert Weavers,” said Michelle Young, manager of Tjanpi Desert Weavers. “Tjanpi has become firmly embedded in central and western desert culture. The social enterprise supports economic, artistic, cultural, social and wellbeing outcomes for desert women and demonstrates impact consistently and deeply.”

Individuals and organisations can support Tjanpi by purchasing artwork at the online gallery or by making a direct donation www.tjanpi.com.au

Media Comment: Michelle Young, Manager Tjanpi Desert Weavers 08 8958 2337

Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council directors and staff congratulate our Chief Executive Officer Andrea Mason on being awarded the 2016 National Telstra Business Woman of the Year for Special Purpose and Social Enterprise, and the 2016 Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year award!

The Telstra Business Women’s Awards are the longest running women’s awards program in Australia, championing women in diverse industries and creating opportunities for national connections and conversations.

Andrea, along with the other State and Territory finalists, gathered in Melbourne last night for a gala dinner and the announcement of the national award recipients.

NPY Women’s Council also congratulates the other winners of the evening: Jenny Paradiso from Suntrix in South Australia (Entrepreneur Award), Inspector Virginia Nelson from the Queensland Police Service (Public Sector and Academia Award), Jackie McArthur from Martin Brower in NSW (Corporate and Private Award), Rituparna Chakraborty from TeamLease in India (Business Woman in Asia Award) and Anna Ross from Kester Black in Victoria (Young Business Woman of the Year).

“I am excited at the opportunity these awards present for NPY Women’s Council” Said Ms Mason.

NPY Women’s Council is proud of the achievements of our CEO Andrea, and once again congratulates her and the other winners of the 2016 Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards.

Read our media release.