Two well-known Wagga faces are among the finalists for the 2020 NSW Women of the Year Awards.
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Business woman Dianna Somerville and inclusion advocate Holly Conroy have both been named as finalists in the regional woman of the year category.
According to her nomination, Ms Somerville is a former Australian naval officer, who is passionate about nurturing businesses in rural and regional Australia.
She founded Regional Grants, Tenders and Corporate Services, Working Spaces HQ and three national events accelerating innovation in regional Australia; Regional Pitchfest, Agrihack and 8point8.
Having helped establish and facilitated the Charles Sturt University AgriTech Incubator program, Ms Somerville has most recently taken on the role of community manager with Bridge Hub, an agrifood tech innovation hub.
She said her proudest professional achievements have been designing and delivering more than 70 startup events for regional entrepreneurs across Australia through Regional Pitchfest.
"It's very overwhelming to be nominated. There are so many wonderful women named," she said.
Ms Somerville lives on a farm with her family near Wagga.
Ms Conroy, who is transgender, is well-known as a passionate athlete and as the driving force behind Wagga's first - and hugely successful - mardi gras.
She organised Australia's first ever trans pride awareness round in the local soccer league and is currently planning the 2020 mardi gras, after more than 10,000 people attended the 2019 inaugural event.
By starting conversations about sexuality and gender, Ms Conroy is working towards ensuring rural locations are safe for LGBTQI people to live, work and build their lives.
Ms Conroy said she was "completely honoured" by the nomination.
Winners will be announced at the 2020 NSW Women of the Year Awards at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on March 5.
The awards are part of NSW Women's Week, which runs from March 2 to 8.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor congratulated the 26 finalists nominated across seven categories.
"These incredible women come from all walks of life but the one thing they have in common is that they are inspiring achievers for their communities," she said.
