The inaugural Australia Awards Alumni Women’s Leadership Award winner has been announced as Lorah Kwanairara, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025.

The new award celebrates women who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and dedication, breaking barriers and creating opportunities for others. 

It honours those who inspire positive change in their communities, workplaces, and industries, serving as role models for future generations. 

Kwanairara studied a Bachelor of Laws supported by an Australia Awards Pacific Scholarship, graduating in 2017. 

She was nominated for her outstanding leadership, advocacy, and contributions to supporting survivors of gender-based violence, including representing women and girl survivors in court.

Through her work with the Family Support Centre, SafeNet, and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Kwanairara has applied her legal knowledge and skills to ensure women understand their human rights, and have equitable access to judicial processes, including those in the provinces. 

“I am honoured to receive this award for my work as an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights,” Kwanairara said.

“I developed my passion for assisting women and girls while at law school, as I knew that a lot were experiencing violence and were not being treated fairly because of gender, cultural, and religious expectations.”

Kwanairara has inspired other women with legal backgrounds to assist vulnerable women and girls to know their rights under Solomon Islands laws. 

She will be supported by Australia with SBD25,000 in funding, as part of the alumni award, towards her ongoing leadership and professional development.

Are you a change maker who wants to study at a world class Australian university? Applications to study in Australia in 2026 are open and will close at 11.59pm on 31 March 2025. Late applications will not be considered. More information can be found here: https://solomonislands.embassy.gov.au/honi/study.html.