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Photo Credit: Bill Hearne

Oil tanker captain and EMBA Business School student Suzannah Vaughan was saluted on International Women's Day as the Australian winner of The Veuve Clicquot Award. The award is presented in 16 countries annually to ground-breaking and visionary female business leaders.

Suzannah said winning the award was an absolute shock. "I had no idea, not even an inkling, so my heart nearly beat right out of my chest when the announcement was made!"

Suzannah calls Four Vanguard, 'home' for three months each year - a floating oil production facility, based off the north west coast of Australia.

Four Vanguard produces up to forty thousand barrels of oil a day, but the rarest commodity onboard is Captain Suzannah Vaughan - the first female and youngest person in Australia appointed to the senior oil industry positions of Offshore Installation Manager and Marine Superintendent.

Four Vanguard is operated by Australian FPSO Management and Suzannah holds a dual role with the company. As Offshore Installation Manager she is fully responsible for Four Vanguard's multi-million dollar off-shore facility and has absolute authority over her all male crew when on site. Onshore, she is Marine Superintendent, responsible for the safety of personnel and integrity of the offshore facilities.

As a leader in an industry which has a female presence of less than one percent in Australia, Suzannah has gained respect for her individual and humanitarian style as well as her initiatives, which cross all areas of the operation, and her negotiation skills which include a recent ground breaking union agreement.

Suzannah is a master at navigating her busy schedule which includes regular overseas travel with her job, studying for an Executive MBA, speaking to young people about the opportunities her industry offers and volunteering as a Captain and board member with the sail training ship Leeuwin.

Suzannah credits the EMBA as the ‘best choice' she has made towards strategically developing her career as a leader.

"As a cohort, our backgrounds in business have massive variety, perhaps this is why it works so well, we learn so many different things from each other."

"The EMBA has given me a new perspective on life. This special intensive two year course and the unique cohort experience is only available at UWA. The top lecturers' and contemporary topics combined with such an inspirational cohort have renewed my zest to achieve, not just for me, but for the difference I hope to make to others lives in the future."

"Armed with my EMBA qualification, the support of my family, friends and valued colleagues I hope to achieve my next dream of being a CEO or company director and to inspire others along the way. I wish to make a difference to the world and improve our lives beyond the length of my time on this earth."

Suzannah adds that she is constantly inspired by the cohort of people she studies with. "One of our cohort members had a baby in December and continues to work in her role in nursing management as well as completing her EMBA and looking after her other two children with her husband."

"We also have a Telstra Business Women award winner in our cohort as well as business leaders in private enterprise and not for profit groups. Put people like this in the same room together with world class lecturers and the result is truly amazing."

As Australian winner of The Veuve Clicquot Award 2007, Suzannah will join this year's winners from other countries at the Veuve Clicquot Businesswomen's Meeting in Champagne, France, in October.

Suzannah's prize includes return business class travel to attend the international winners' meeting where a vine will be christened in her name. Also, on every birthday she will receive a gift of La Grande Dame Champagne.

The Veuve Clicquot Award was launched in France in 1972 to commemorate Madame Clicquot, and to honour women who exemplify the qualities that earned her an international reputation as 'la grande dame de la champagne' - women of achievement who have excelled in business as innovators, visionaries, risk takers and leaders.