In brief

• Sunita Kotnala has been named the 2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year.
• Sunita is the driving force behind Women’s Shed Canberra.
• The social enterprise runs home repair and maintenance workshops that empower women.

Women’s Shed Canberra CEO Sunita Kotnala has been named the 2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year.

The award recognises her work empowering hundreds of women across the ACT.

Women’s Shed Canberra

Sunita is the CEO of Women's Shed Canberra, established in 2020.

It has since expanded, with a permanent home in Greenway.

Women’s Shed Canberra runs hands-on home repair and maintenance workshops for women.

These focus on skill-building and mental health for women of all backgrounds.

Participants can pick up skills in:

• carpentry
• woodworking
• using power tools
• DIY.

Workshop topics cover everything from building a picture frame to installing and replacing door locks.

In some cases, women are also inspired to consider a career in construction and building trades.

Creating a community

Through the Women’s Shed Canberra, Sunita has made a space for women of all backgrounds and abilities to:

• meet
• get inspired
• develop new skills
• create and build.

All women over the age of 18 can participate.

Some original members remain active. Others come and go once they’ve acquired the skills they need.

Increasing access

Women’s Shed Canberra introduced a mobile service in 2023.

This helped increase access to its services by reducing transport barriers for participants.

In 2024, Women’s Shed Canberra received an ACT Social Enterprise Grant.

The Shed’s permanent Greenway location will allow it to grow further and prosper into the future.

In Sunita’s words

Sunita was very proud to accept the award.

“It showcases the role the women's sheds can play as social enterprises in the circular economy by exposing women to valuable skills in building trades and home repairs," she said.

"I am delighted with the sense of joy and empowerment that women feel after learning to use power tools in a safe environment.

“The award is doubly special for me as it comes 25 years since my arrival in Australia as a skilled migrant and brings together my experience in social development with my love for restoring and refurbishing."

Having these skills helps women improve their day-to-day lives and find new interests and connections.

The award

The Canberra Citizen of the Year Award recognises people who have made a large contribution to the Canberra community.

The award promotes and fosters a sense of civic pride.

Find out more about the Canberra Citizen of the Year Award.

Read more like this

• ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program funding announced
• Meet the 2024 Canberra Citizen of the Year
• Meet the 2025 ACT Women's Awards winners

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