Sunita Kotnala named 2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year for Empowering Women

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 26 March 2025

• Sunita Kotnala the new Canberra Citizen of the Year for 2025 
• Founder and driving force behind Women's Shed Canberra 
• Praised by ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, on leadership high ground 

Women's Shed Canberra founder Sunita Kotnala has been awarded 2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year for her work empowering hundreds of women with life-changing trade skills. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr praised her commitment, stating, "Under Ms. Kotnala's leadership, Women's Shed Canberra has become a place where women from all backgrounds can connect, be inspired, learn new things, and build things together."

It was in 2020 that Sunita Kotnala and Robby McGarvey founded Women’s Shed Canberra hands-on workshops about home repair and maintenance for women, enabling vital new skills and inspiring many to pursue (or encourage) careers in construction and trades.

This award has special meaning for Sunita, who has spent nearly 25 years in Australia since her entry as a skilled Indian worker. She has the expertise of a master's degree in social work, and experience in community development, along with her passion for restoration. She has worked on domestic violence and women empowerment issues and moved from Sydney to Canberra during the pandemic, leading a vibrant, inclusive community on skill development and mental well-being.

Reflecting on her journey, Sunita shared her pride in receiving the award "It highlights the role that Women's Sheds can have as social enterprises within the circular economy, by introducing women to great skills in building trades and home repair." Women aged over 18 can now attend workshops that introduce a wide range of practical skills building picture frames and installing door locks, for example. Even some of the original members still come, although many move on once they've gained the confidence and know-how to do it.

Women's Shed Canberra also recognized the need to reach more women in 2023, launching a mobile service that broke down transport barriers, making workshops more accessible. This also meant that the organization's projects received an ACT Social Enterprise grant in order to pursue its mission of providing life-enhancing practical skills for women.

And now in a permanent Greenway location, Women’s Shed Canberra is once again at a stage from which it can expand even more. The success of the initiative greatly owes itself to the overwhelming support from the community as much as the indeed growing interest from individuals and organizations to contribute to the cause.

The Canberra Citizen of the Year Award recognizes citizens who have made significant impacts towards making the community a better place. In equal measure, this award goes a long way towards raising civic pride and facilitating a drive towards possible improvement. Sunita, who advises women to be empowered through trade skills, is no doubt a deserving recipient of such an honor.