FREMANTLE prison director Paula Nelson’s advice for young girls is there is no magic secret to success-just work hard, support others and seek continuous improvement.
Ms Nelson was named the winner of the 2019 Telstra Western Australian Business Women’s Public Sector and Academia Award and said she was thrilled to have won.
“Just being a finalist in the WA awards was a great experience,” she said.
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“The other women I have met through this are amazing and I’m really looking forward connecting with all the national finalists.”
Fremantle markets chief executive Natasha Atkinson has also recently won the 40 Under 40 Award.
She said it was great to see her acknowledged for her career accomplishments including running the markets.
“The Markets and the Prison are key to the spirit and soul of Fremantle,” she said,
“It’s wonderful to have other women running local demand driving attractions, and it’s great if we can be role models to other women who may want to run attractions.
“My advice to any young girl who might want to run a business is to go ahead and do it.”
Ms Nelson said she is passionate about Western Australia especially its tourism and heritage.
“My ongoing goal at the Prison is the conservation and maintenance of our state’s only World Heritage building, while ensuring it has an active life in the community,” she said.
“This year we continue to focus on ways to keep our visitors safe while enhancing their experience, the recent installation of CCTV in front of the Prison in partnership with the City of Fremantle is one example of this.
“My dream is to develop a world class sound and light show set in the atmospheric parade ground with the cell block as the backdrop.”