The Local Women of the Year Awards celebrate visionary thinkers, everyday heroes, social advocates and trailblazing role models who make a meaningful difference in their communities.

Dr Stutchbury’s recognition coincides with NSW Women’s Week, a week-long celebration held in March that empowers women and advances gender equality across New South Wales.

Dr Stutchbury is the Director of iAccelerate at the University of Wollongong, helping to reshape the region’s innovation and entrepreneurial landscape. Under her leadership, iAccelerate has supported more than 500 companies, created over 1,100 local jobs and contributed over half a billion dollars to the economy.

Dr Stutchbury has also secured more than $4 million in funding to deliver programs that expand access to opportunity for women, First Nations people and regional entrepreneurs. Around half of all iAccelerate-supported companies now have at least one female founder, reflecting her strong focus on building a more inclusive startup ecosystem.

At the heart of her impact is The LIFT Project, an internationally recognised initiative she co-leads to advance women in STEM and entrepreneurship.

LIFT has delivered 31 industry internships for female PhD candidates, awarded 56 scholarships to women founders and upskilled more than 1,000 STEM educators. In 2025, iAccelerate was awarded the prestigious ACEEU (Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities) Global Triple E Award for Female Entrepreneurship Empowerment.

Beyond program delivery, Dr Stutchbury is a dedicated mentor to women across academia, industry and the broader community. She is a passionate advocate for gender equity in research and innovation and actively promotes Wollongong as a hub for inclusive entrepreneurship. Her authentic, people-centred leadership has driven systemic change, ensuring innovation in our region is accessible, equitable and impactful.

Dr Stutchbury was nominated in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the community and her enduring commitment to supporting the next generation of female innovators and leaders.

Quotes attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“Tamantha is an inspirational individual and fantastic role model for entrepreneurs and young women alike.

“She exemplifies visionary leadership, inclusivity and dedication to community, and is most deservingly named the 2026 Wollongong Local Woman of the Year.

“Her leadership has transformed our region’s innovation ecosystem and created real opportunities for women and entrepreneurs across our community.

“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. She is putting Wollongong’s approach at the heart of inclusive entrepreneurship.

“Dr Stutchbury understands that when women succeed, our whole community benefits. Her dedication to breaking down barriers and expanding access to opportunity is shaping a stronger, fairer local economy.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Tamantha Stutchbury:

“We’re changing the narrative of what makes a ‘good’ entrepreneur – it's not always the loudest or most visible person in the room. 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.

“My passion is simple: good ideas shouldn’t stay trapped in universities – they belong out in the world, delivering real impact. Innovation is for everyone; good ideas don’t come from, or benefit one type of person. Those pillars drive everything I do.

“As someone who was the first in my family to attend university, I know how overwhelming and isolating those early steps can feel. That experience shaped my commitment to lifting others up—especially people who might not see themselves represented in these spaces.

"This recognition is deeply humbling, it belongs to my team as much as it does to me. I have the privilege of leading a group of people who find joy not in their own success, but in enabling the success of others. Too often we spotlight a single leader, when in truth the impact comes from collective effort.”

“This award isn’t an end point - it’s 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.

“Wollongong proves that world changing innovation doesn’t only come from major cities. It comes from diverse communities that care, collaborate, and believe in the potential of their people.  I encourage everyone that reads this to encourage a girl or young women to consider a career in STEM, this region can only benefit from more women working in STEM roles.”