Kylee Dennis is not only nominated for a Women Changing The World Award, but will also be a speaker at the summit. Photos: Supplied.
What started as a personal mission to protect her mother from a romance scam has propelled former NSW Police detective Kylee Dennis onto the world stage.
Kylee was announced as a finalist in the prestigious Women Changing The World Awards for her business Two Face Investigations, which will see her take her fight against online scammers to London in April.
She is one of four Illawarra women who collectively scored nine nominations, alongside Banksia Support Services owner Amy Hall, author and medical writer Dr Danielle Camer and her daughter Sophie.
The four will now travel to London for the award ceremony and summit on 2-3 April, where Kylee will also be a guest speaker.
Women Changing The World Awards recognises the work of women making a positive difference in the world across multiple categories, with Kylee nominated in the Micro Business of the Year Award for her work in seeking and stamping out romance scammers.
“I was so very humbled to be nominated, and when I received the notification that I was a finalist, I was speechless,” she said.
“I’m a solo-operated business from the Illawarra, and to be recognised as a finalist at an international awards is something I never, in my wildest dreams, would have thought was possible.
“So, we can do anything if we put our hearts into it.”
Kylee said she was also grateful for the invitation to speak at the summit, a world-leading event for changemakers that was set to feature 32 speakers, including Oprah’s all-time favourite guest Dr Tererai Trent.
“I will discuss shame and scams and the reasons why society needs to change its attitude,” she said.
“I hope to enlighten everyone as to who is behind this crime and why we must collectively stop it.
“People have this perception that victims are stupid and shame them for that.
“My mission is to change that.”
Dr Danielle Camer (left) and Amy Hall (right) are both nominated for multiple awards.
The digital forensic investigator started Two Face Investigations two years ago when her mother was the target of a romance scam using dating apps.
“Romance scamming is a billion-dollar global operation,” she said.
“My own mother was a victim of a romance scam which gave me the idea to advocate for victims and cancel out scammers where I can find them.”
She spends her time online dating to trawl for scammers, and speaking about the need to change the perception society has of victims.
“People don’t give sympathy to victims of romance scams – they think they are stupid or gullible,” she said.
“Victims are up against organised crime syndicates who have advanced strategies to pull the wool over the victims’ eyes.
“They deserve sympathy, not judgement.”
Joining Kylee in the awards is Banksia Support Services owner and behaviour practitioner Amy Hall, who was nominated in four categories – Advocacy Impact Award, Micro Business of the Year Award, Disability Leadership Award and the Leader of the Year Award.
Author, medical writer and creative director Dr Danielle Camer was nominated in three categories – Rising Star of the Year and Women In Literature – Children’s Books and People’s Choice – Health & Wellbeing. Her daughter Sophie was nominated in the “Girl Changing the World” category.
Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, who is a patron of the awards, said the aim was to give voice to silent whispers.
“We want to lift women up all over the world and tell their stories,” Sarah said.
The women will travel to London’s Park Hyatt for the award ceremony and summit on 2-3 April.
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