Twenty outstanding women have been inducted onto the 2016 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Among the hard-working, intelligent women elected was chief executive officer of the Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation, Patti Manolis.

Nominated by local women’s group Geelong Women In Local Democracy (WILD), the inductee told Neos Kosmos she was surprised to have been selected from more than 100 nominees.

“I was really happy, and a little bit overwhelmed,” Ms Manolis said of receiving the news.
“I feel really privileged to have been acknowledged in such a formal way by state government, particularly by the Minister for Women, and to be in the company of the other women who have been inducted this year.”

Since coming on board, in her 10 years as CEO, Ms Manolis has managed to double funding into Geelong Regional Libraries, resulting in a marked improvement in both library services and the physical structure of existing libraries.

Life-long learning programs have also been put in place for the community, along with the construction of new libraries and facilities.

“It’s quite a motivating award to get and wonderful that the public library dimension is being recognised as well,” she said.

Aside from her work with Geelong Regional Libraries, Ms Manolis is also president of Libraries for Timor-Leste, helping support the development of libraries in East Timor, and vice president of the Public Libraries Victoria Network Inc.

She joins the ranks of more than 500 other Victorian women who have been inducted since the Honour Roll first began in 2001.

An official ceremony took place on Tuesday 8 March at Federation Square, where Minister for Women Fiona Richardson presented the awards to a large gathering of the inductees friends, family and supporters.

“Every woman on this list has an amazing success story to tell. I’m incredibly proud that we have such inspirational leaders and mentors paving the way for our next generation of Victorian women,” said Ms Richardson.

An annual opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the extensive and lasting contributions of women across the state, the list includes women from all sectors including lifelong advocates for women’s rights, Aboriginal health, disadvantaged communities, prevention of family violence and leaders in education, media and law.