Historian wins Ashurst Business Literature Prize
Dr Catherine Bishop of the Laureate Research Program in International History has won a rich business literature prize with her debut book, a 'refreshing rendering' of colonial-era women entrepreneurs.
Dr Bishop accepting her award at a ceremony hosted by Ashurst in Sydney. Image:聽Brickworks Imagery
An illuminating account of Sydney鈥檚 colonial-era businesswomen has earned its author a prestigious $30,000 literary prize.
Dr Catherine Bishop鈥檚 counters stubborn representations of women of the era as wives and mothers, to focus on female entrepreneurs鈥� small businesses and commercial acumen.
In awarding the prize, the judging panel described Dr Bishop鈥檚 book as a 鈥渓ively, fact-filled, [and] refreshing rendering鈥� of its subject matter.
鈥淚 was so surprised and utterly delighted to win this award, especially as the other shortlisted books were outstanding,鈥� said Dr Bishop, the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Junior Research Fellow in the Department of History.
鈥淚 started聽Minding Her Own Business with an aspiration to challenge preconceptions from our recent history and bring forgotten stories into view. It鈥檚 so exciting that the enterprising efforts of Sydney鈥檚 colonial businesswomen have been recognised by the judging committee in this way.聽
鈥淭his is the first book about women to win the since its inception in 2004 and I gather I am also the first historian to win it. I am particularly pleased because this award underscores both the relevance of history to contemporary concerns and the centrality of women in the business world,鈥� said Dr Bishop.
The Ashurst Business Literature Prize was established by law firm Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson) and the State Library of NSW. Image: Brickworks Imagery
, Dean of the , congratulated Dr Bishop for her award.
鈥淭his is a fantastic achievement. I鈥檓 delighted the Ashurst Business Literature Prize has rewarded Catherine鈥檚 important efforts to bring the stories of Sydney鈥檚 colonial era businesswomen to wider public attention. This accolade is a yet another example of the calibre of expertise in our thriving Department of History,鈥� said Professor Jagose.
Dr Bishop accepted the prize from guest speaker Catherine Livingstone AO, at a special award dinner hosted by Ashurst in Sydney on March 29.
鈥淐ongratulations to on her accomplishment of winning the 2016 prize,鈥� said Ashurst Global Vice Chairman Mary Padbury. 鈥淲e are delighted that the prize, now in its thirteenth year, has been awarded to such a deserving winner.鈥�
Dr Bishop has published extensively on gender and business in an Australasian context. Her other projects include a forthcoming book on New Zealand colonial businesswomen and a biography of female missionary Annie Lock. She is also researching the International Federation of Business and Professional Women and a history of Australian women in small business.
This accolade is a yet another example of the calibre of expertise in our thriving Department of History
The University of Sydney had two authors in contention for the prize, with 聽of the Department of History shortlisted for .
Rozzi Bazzani's聽Hector聽and Paul Cleary's聽Trillion Dollar Baby: How Norway Beat The Oil Giants and Won a Lasting Fortune聽completed the prize's shortlist, with the latter highly commended as 鈥榤ust-read鈥� for Australians interested in public debate on government policy relating to mineral wealth and resources.
The Ashurst Business Literature Prize was established by law firm Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson) and the State Library of NSW to encourage Australian literary commentary on business and financial affairs. The Chairman of Ashurst Business Literature Prize judging panel is the University鈥檚 General Counsel, Richard Fisher AM.