Fairfield City Women's Day Award
2023-2024 Fairfield City Women's Day Award winner announced!
Kim Tran-Flores has been named winner of the 2023-2024 Fairfield City's Women's Day Award.
Kim is the founder of Kimlligraphy; a calligraphy, lettering and engraving service which also provides training in the art of modern calligraphy.
Last year Kim’s work was featured in Typism Book 8 which showcases some of the best lettering artists from around the world; as well as on Channel 7’s Kochie's Business Builders as part of her brand ambassadorship with Vistaprint Australia's Vista Collective.
Kim has worked with national and global brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Meta Inc. (Facebook), Tiffany & Co., Vittoria Coffee, Rolex and the Westfield Group, and also offers private training, group workshops, creative meetups and product personalisation services. She has been a guest speaker on the topics of women’s equality and mindfulness, with a mission to help busy women reduce stress, receive the gift of the present moment and boost their creativity.
Kimlligraphy is a finalist in this year’s Australian Small Business Champion Awards – an awards program celebrating the achievements and victories of our nation's premier small businesses; and was also a finalist in the 2022 Australian Women's Small Business Champion Awards and the 2022 and 2021 Fairfield City Local Business Awards.
About the award
The Fairfield City Women’s Day Award, is an award that recognises local inspirational women with accomplished careers in the private or public sectors. The award reminds us of the talent of local women who inspire and remind us that we can all play a part in our City's success.
If you know a colleague, friend or family member that fits the profile don't forget to nominate them for the 2025-2026 Fairfield City Women's Day Award. Nominations will open in October 2024.
Past winners
2022 Lorraine Salloum
Lorraine Salloum was named the winner of the 2022 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award.
The award recognises the professional innovation and talent of local women who inspire others and remind us that we can all play a part in our City’s success.
Lorraine is on the c-suite of one of Australia’s biggest disability service providers as the People, Performance and Culture Executive at Achieve Australia. She sits on a number of Not-For-Profit boards, facilitates programs for international universities in Asia, as well as being a recognised industry expert and conference speaker.
Lorraine is a mother of two daughters - one with severe autism and runs an autism awareness and support group for parents of children with autism ensuring they get the support they need. She regularly speaks on radio and community forums to build autism and disability inclusion.
“Lorraine supports, mentors and sponsors other women in particular young women along their career journey,” Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said.
“Lorraine is an inspiration to the community for her passion, career, charity work and mentorship. I commend her on her contribution to Fairfield City.”
Congratulations Lorraine.
2021 Nadia Vella-Taranto
Nadia Vella-Taranto was named winner of the 2021 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award.
Nadia is at the helm of the successful dance school ‘Nadia’s Performance Studio’ in Wetherill Park.
Since 2004, the school has grown to become one of the largest studios in south-west Sydney, attracting students and adults from far and wide to learn dance, singing, music, drama and acrobatics. Some of the dance school’s students have travelled to the USA, Europe and interstate on tours.
The fun, family environment created at the studio is one of its drawcards. There are classes for students of all abilities and interests.
Nadia has also been involved in charity work around the community, is the Dance Director of Cancer Council’s Stars of South-west Sydney and provides scholarships to talented performers in need of assistance.
Nadia has taught and mentored thousands of students over the years. She believes in nurturing confidence, boosting self-esteem and giving each person an equal opportunity to excel in what they are passionate about. Nadia is a true role model in the community and provides an outstanding outlook on life that she passes on to everyone she meets.
It is Nadia’s personal philosophy that anything can be achieved; with belief, hard work and support.
Nadia’s Performance Studio has become what it is today simply because of that; a dream for creating a family oriented performing arts studio, a belief that anything is possible, amazing support from the families of the studio and plenty of hard work along the way!
2020 Patricia Carnovale
Patricia Carnovale was named winner of the 2020 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award.
Patricia has demonstrated excellence in her career as a veterinary surgeon for close to two decades.
Since arriving in Australia as a child unable to speak English and with a passion for helping animals, Patricia diligently worked her way to attaining a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree and worked in several veterinary hospitals in south-west Sydney before establishing the Abbotsbury Veterinary Clinic in 2002.
From a start-up business, the practice has now grown to include four veterinarians and five veterinary nurses that work under Patricia’s guidance and leadership.
The clinic is committed to providing the best of care for our community’s pets, with Patricia’s level of commitment going over and beyond. She’s been known at times to work 14 hour days, and if a pet needs to be put to sleep, Patricia will find time in her long and exhausting day to perform the procedure at the client’s home at no extra cost, to ease the pain on the family. No matter how tired she may be, she puts the needs of animals and families first.
Patricia has also been instrumental with the de-sexing of stray cats and together with The Mini Kitty Commune and local councils she offers help, education and opportunities to reduce the number of abandoned kittens in the community.
Patricia set up the ‘Tani Scholarship Award’ at Cecil Hills High School for underprivileged students experiencing financial hardship. The scholarship of $1,000 is offered to two students to create opportunities to meaningful career pathways.
2019 Le Ho
Le Ho was named the inaugural winner of the 2019 Fairfield City Womens Day Award.
Internationally recognised as one of Australia's leading female entrepreneurs, Le Ho took over a struggling waste management company, Capital City Waste Services (CCWS) and within years had the company $10m in the green, a record turnover, testament to her unwavering commitment and hard work.
Today, Le sits on the Board of Directors of Western Sydney University - The College. She is working closely with the University to develop Australia's first industry endorsed Waste Management course to be delivered by a university.
Zero Waste Management was incorporated to take on these future students by giving them an opportunity to gain employment upon finishing. This company operates with the mission of not only creating opportunities, but to further encourage diversity and gender equality within the waste management industry in Australia.
Working with local community groups, Le strives to empower those from disadvantaged backgrounds to build their own successes. In particular, Le has worked closely with the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, an Australian organisation that aims to rescue Vietnam's poorest children from poverty.