Entertainment
4 May, 2026
Global award for journalist
CAIRNS business owner and author Kirsty Nancarrow has earned silver in the 2026 Women Changing the World Award for Woman in Media, recognising decades of advocating for and empowering women and regional communities.
The accolade was announced at the Women Changing the World Global Awards in Paris on 22 April, which attracted more than 1500 nominations from almost 100 countries across a broad range of categories.
Ms Nancarrow had a 15-year career with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and founded Women in Media Far North Queensland in 2014 to support and connect regional journalists and communications professionals. She spent years representing journalists in Far North Queensland and Central Australia as an elected member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
“I received great mentorship when I was a young journalist and I have always had a ‘pay it forward’ approach, supporting other media professionals to grow and thrive in their careers,” Ms Nancarrow said.
“I am proud to see many of them go on to be political and foreign correspondents,” she said.
The Woman in Media Award also recognises her awareness and advocacy work since launching her debut book, ‘Himalayan Dreams’ about Cairns local Som Tamang’s campaign to improve gender equality and protect young women in Nepal from child marriage and trafficking.
“For me, the best part about being a journalist and more recently an author and media trainer, is the opportunity to amplify voices that may not otherwise be heard,” she said.
Ms Nancarrow is a member of the Rotary eClub of Empowering Women and Girls and will deliver a free online talk on 14 July.
The Women Changing the World Global Awards, founded by Far North Queensland entrepreneurs Katy Garner and Peace Mitchell in conjunction with humanitarian Dr Tererai Trent, are in their fourth year.
The Gold for Woman in Media went to Martha Asumata Agas from the News Agency of Nigeria, while Jessica Hansen from Alliance for Smiles in the United States is the 2026 Woman of the Year.
Ms Nancarrow, who has been in the media industry for more than 30 years, began her journalism career at The Blacktown Guardian in Sydney before moving to Alice Springs to join the ABC in 1999.
