Ryan was a life-long feminist, labour movement activist, and mentor and role model for a whole generation of women.
[1] These awards were created to honour her life and work by a group of her friends, particularly Eva Cox and other members of the Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL).
[6] Nominees for the awards must be comfortable identifying as a feminist and must live or work in NSW or the ACT as Ryan did during her lifetime.
[7] Since their inception the awards have recognised many high-profile Australian women for their feminist activity, including Eva Cox, Meredith Burgmann, Susan Ryan, Anne Summers, Wendy McCarthy, Jane Caro and Sally McManus.
However, many of the recipients have been tireless advocates for women's rights who worked as community activists over a long period with very little other reward or recognition.