District 23 Women Taking Climate Action Award celebrates women’s impact on sustainability

The Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra Inc, Australia, in collaboration with Zonta Says Now, has launched the 2024 District 23 Women Taking Climate Action Award, which recognizes women making significant contributions to climate innovation. The award, established at the 2023 District 23 conference as an official district initiative, aims to celebrate women-led climate action and build valuable networks for sustainable development.

With a prize of AUD $1,000, supported by District 23 clubs, the award promotes Zonta’s commitment to environmental issues, acknowledging the growing importance of climate action within the organization. This year’s recipient, Jane Baker of Mrs Baker’s Still House in Elmhurst, Victoria, exemplifies this mission. Encouraged to apply by the Zonta Club of Central Goldfields, Jane runs an all-female distillery that produces gins, liqueurs, and whiskies using sustainable, low-impact methods. Her business sources botanicals locally, operates on 100% solar power, and reflects the alignment between sustainability and economic viability.

Jane joins a distinguished group of past honorees, including Margaret Hender (2021) for establishing Australia’s first revolving solar fund, Emma Cutting (2022) for her efforts to create a Melbourne pollinator corridor and the 2023 co-winners: Alana Mountain, who helped influence policy to end native forest logging, and Professor Anne Poelina, a Nyikina Warrwa woman recognized for her extensive climate action work.

The Women Taking Climate Action Award not only raises the profile of Zonta Says Now but also creates meaningful connections within the climate action sphere, underscoring the role of women-led initiatives in advancing environmental sustainability.