The 2011 Telstra Business Women's Awards have kicked off around the country, and three HR leaders are in the running to receive the prestigious title in front of business heavyweights.

The awards have become an integral part of the Australian business calendar, and aim to recognise the achievements of women who excel in business. This year, three talented HR professionals are in the running from Queensland and NSW.

Heather Price, CEO of Diversity Consulting is a finalist in the Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award category. Originally from South Africa, Price said her experience in race relations led her to notice many companies overlooking talent in minority sectors in Australia.

Price used her experiences to set up Diversity Consulting in her garage to help corporations develop more diversified and inclusive workplace cultures. She said that despite critics arguing there was no need for such a business in Australia, her Pyrmont based company now supports more than 40 corporate clients with end-to-end diversity strategies and solutions.

Leanne Scanes, co-founder of Corporate Bodies International is a finalist in the Marie Claire Young Business Women's Award category.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) degree, Scanes co-founded Corporate Bodies International (CBI) to deliver workplace health programs. She said she opted to focus on male-dominated industries after noticing a macho reluctance amongst workers to seek help.

Since 2001, Scanes said CBI has delivered health and well-being programs to some 500,000 employees across more than 500 organisations in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The sole owner of CBI, with over 45 employees throughout Australia, Scanes said her business is the only fully Australian-owned workplace health consultancy of its size.

Sue-Ellen Watts (pictured) has been named a finalist in two categories of the Telstra Queensland Business Women's Awards.

The founder, owner and managing director of Watts Next, Watts runs an external HR department which provides specialist HR support to Australia's small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

The annual awards are initially run state-by-state, culminating in a national title being awarded in November.

Winners will receive:

  • Permission to display the Telstra Business Women's Awards finalist or winner logo
  • A framed commemorative certificate
  • The state/territory category winner will receive cash and/or prizes to the value of $4,000
  • National winners will receive an additional $5,000 in cash and/or prizes
  • The 2011 overall Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year will receive cash and/or prizes to the value of $25,000.