Sunday Life’s Trailblazers issue: A note from the editor

As Sunday Life celebrates its 25th anniversary, we’re marking the milestone with our inaugural Trailblazers Issue, out tomorrow. At the core of Sunday Life’s philosophy is a celebration of women, so it makes sense to recognise those among us taking significant steps to reshape our society in a positive way.

In this special anniversary edition, we’ve selected 25 of Australia’s most influential change-makers and visionaries; the women who have inspired us in the past 25 years, and those leading the charge in the future. Whether champions in their chosen field or activists challenging the status quo, all are helping to elevate the voices of women.

“In my long career, I’ve done many anniversary editions but this one has made me feel particularly nostalgic.”

PAT INGRAM, SUNDAY LIFE EDITOR

Obviously, with so many women making bold moves and pushing for change, choosing just 25 was a challenge. So we drew on the vast experience of senior editors across the newsroom for their nominations, of which there were close to 100!

These were narrowed down and hotly debated until our judging panel reached its final conclusion.

Our cover features three from our final list: social activist and First Nations woman Tanya Hosch, athlete Ellyse Perry and fashion designer and ovarian cancer campaigner Camilla Freeman-Topper. But every one of our 25 is worthy of a cover, so we’ve given each of them their own. You can find them here from tomorrow.

In my long career, I’ve done many anniversary editions but this one has made me feel particularly nostalgic. When Sunday Life first launched in 1997, the Spice Girls ruled the charts, The Castle was a box office hit and Princess Diana met her tragic and untimely death. I was working in women’s glossy magazines at the time, liaising closely with the legendary US Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief, Helen Gurley Brown. It was Helen who gave me the best advice when she said, “Edit for your reader, not for your peers.”

To that end, I hope you enjoy the issue.

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