As the Australian Women in Music Awards celebrated its 2025 ceremony in Brisbane on October 9, a remarkable showcase of female and gender-diverse talent took center stage with twenty-one prestigious awards presented throughout the evening.
The ceremony, which expanded its categories by one compared to the previous year, honored women across various roles in the music industry, including musicians, executives, engineers, photographers, and journalists.
Dr. Shellie Morris AO emerged as the night’s standout winner, claiming three awards including the coveted Universal Music Australia Lifetime Achievement Award.
The legendary Dr. Shellie Morris AO dominated the 2025 AWMAs with an impressive three-award sweep, highlighted by the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honor.
Other notable recipients included Nicole Car, who received the Opera Impact Award recognizing her distinguished international soprano career, and Cathy Milliken, who was honored with the Excellence in Classical Music award for her globally commissioned compositions.
The 2025 AWMA placed particular emphasis on celebrating First Nations women artists and practitioners, addressing historic underrepresentation and creating new industry opportunities.
This focus represents what AWMA leadership describes as a significant culture shift, offering unprecedented chances for Indigenous women in music to gain recognition and advancement.
Award categories spanned the entire music ecosystem, from classical to contemporary genres, with recognition for both creative and business excellence through honors like the ARIA Executive Leader and Ethical Engagement awards. Emerging talent Katia Geha received the City of Gold Coast Emerging Artist Award, highlighting her accomplishments as a first prize winner in prestigious international competitions.
This thorough approach has positioned the AWMA as a recognized change maker reshaping the industry’s approach toward gender equity.
The event also sought to combat feelings of isolation experienced by women in male-dominated fields through collective celebration and recognition of their achievements in the Australian music landscape.
Running alongside the awards, the AWMA Conference featured forums and discussions on pressing industry issues, including those affecting remote First Nations communities.
The program provided valuable networking and learning opportunities specifically tailored for women and gender-diverse participants, covering topics such as leadership, ethical engagement, and industry innovation.
Several workshops focused on helping artists develop diverse income streams to achieve financial sustainability in an evolving music business environment.
The conference also emphasized the importance of personal branding for emerging artists, showing how a distinctive identity can help women musicians stand out in competitive markets.
