Tamantha Stutchbury has been named 2026 Wollongong Local Woman of the Year. Photo: Mark Newsham.
Opening doors for women in STEM and entrepreneurship has led to Illawarra innovation leader Dr Tamantha Stutchbury being named the 2026 Wollongong Local Woman of the Year.
She was among five Illawarra women honoured at the NSW Local Women of the Year Awards in Sydney, alongside dementia advocate Val Fell OAM, Kiama volunteers Irene Birks and Suzanne Eggins, and Shellharbour community volunteer Corrine Boyle.
Coinciding with NSW Women’s Week, the awards celebrated visionary thinkers, everyday heroes, social advocates and trailblazing role models who make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Dr Stutchbury is the University of Wollongong iAccelerate director and, under her leadership, iAccelerate has supported more than 500 companies, created more than 1100 Illawarra jobs and secured more than $4 million in funding to deliver programs that expand opportunities for women, First Nations people and regional entrepreneurs.
About half of all iAccelerate-supported companies now have at least one female founder, with the heart of her impact being the internationally recognised LIFT Project, which has delivered industry internships for female PhD candidates, scholarships to women founders and upskilled STEM educators.
“We’re changing the narrative of what makes a ‘good’ entrepreneur – it’s not always the loudest or most visible person in the room,” Dr Stutchbury said.
“Only about two per cent of global venture capital goes to women-only-led startups.
“No matter how many women founders we support, too many great ideas still drop off because they look, sound or work differently to the people writing the cheques.
“The work of iAccelerate is trying to change that imbalance.”
She said her passion and belief was “good ideas shouldn’t stay trapped in universities – they belong out in the world, delivering real impact”.
Dr Stutchbury was also recognised as a dedicated mentor and passionate advocate for gender equity in research and innovation.
“As someone who was the first in my family to attend university, I know how overwhelming and isolating those early steps can feel,” she said.
“That experience shaped my commitment to lifting others up — especially people who might not see themselves represented in these spaces.”
While she believed the recognition belonged to her team as much as it did to her, she said the award wasn’t an end point but “motivation to widen the doorway for the next generation of innovators”.
“My hope is that more people from diverse backgrounds look at this moment and think, ‘There’s space for me here too,’” she said.
Nominated by Member for Wollongong Paul Scully, he said she was an inspiration and role model for entrepreneurs and young women.
“Her leadership has transformed our region’s innovation ecosystem and created real opportunities for women and entrepreneurs across our community,” Mr Scully said.
“Through her work at iAccelerate and The LIFT Project, Dr Stutchbury has helped build not just successful startups, but confidence, capability and pathways for women in STEM.
“Dr Stutchbury understands that when women succeed, our whole community benefits.”
While Dr Stutchbury’s work in innovation was recognised, other Illawarra women were honoured for decades of community service and advocacy.
Keira’s Local Woman of the Year Val Fell OAM, 97, was recognised for her tireless advocacy for people living with dementia and their carers.
Her work began after her husband Ian lived with Alzheimer’s for more than a decade, leading her to establish support groups and the annual Illawarra Shoalhaven Dementia Public Forum.
Kiama’s Irene Birks has served nearly 20 years with the Australian Red Cross, spent 10 years as a Lifeline counsellor and supported many other aged care organisations across Berry and the Shoalhaven regions.
She is also a committee member for Meals on Wheels, helping deliver essential nutrition services to seniors, and volunteers with Shoalhaven Palliative Care, providing comfort to families.
Another Kiama recipient, Suzanne Eggins, has transformed the way Kiama celebrates and preserves its cultural heritage.
Suzanne has led the Kiama Historical Society since the mid 1980s and oversees the Pilot’s Cottage Museum, which houses heritage artefacts accessible to the community.
Shellharbour’s Corrine Ann Boyle has been a dedicated volunteer with Warilla Barrack Point Surf Life Saving Club, supporting major surf carnivals and community events since 2011.
Corrine’s contributions include assisting at surf club barbecues and supporting events such as the Sydney Water Carnival and Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships. She also volunteers with her local Vinnies shop and church.
