Oktoberfest honours women for their work, service

Rogers Women of the Year awards are given to women and organizations in a variety of fields

WATERLOO REGION — Ten local women have been honoured with the 2018 Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year awards.

The awards were presented Monday night at the Lot 42 Global Flex Campus in Kitchener.

• The arts and culture award was presented to professional photographer Hilary Gauld-Camilleri.

• The community service award went to Nancy Koebel, who has specialized in financial services. She’s also volunteered with Oktoberfest for 28 years.

• The entrepreneur award was presented to Diane Matyas, founder of Waterloo-based wearable technology startup SportFitz, which measures brain impacts and biometrics.

• The health and wellness award went to Tara Hebblethwaite. She witnessed a young man die by suicide in 2014 and the life-changing event moved her to share her own struggles with mental illness.

• The lifetime achievement award was presented to former Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran. She coaches and mentors women and advocates for victims of human trafficking.

• The professional award went to occupational therapist Margaret Brockett.

• Carol Leaman, CEO of Waterloo tech company Axonify, received the science, technology, engineering, arts and math award. In addition to being a technology entrepreneur, she is a mentor to those starting out in the field.

• The sports and recreation award went to Alyssa Lagonia, a Wilfrid Laurier grad who played international pro soccer.

• The young adult award went to Chloe Jang, a University of Waterloo pre-med student. She works with vulnerable people and started a not-for-profit camp geared to kids learning English.

• The group achievement award went to the Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo, a service club that empowers women through service advocacy.