Lotus CEO Liz Jones has been named Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year and also Victorian Medium and Large Business Winner.

Lotus provides specialised walls and doors, creating ‘adaptable dynamic environments’ for commercial properties. Lotus prides itself on ‘Creating spaces where people thrive’ with their products; similarly, Jones is committed to making Lotus a place where employees and the business can flourish. 

In her acceptance speech, Jones said the award recognised her personal journey of leadership as well as the people of Lotus.

“We are a business that is going through considerable business and cultural transformation, and that has not been without its challenges, for all of us. My commitment is to bring my whole self to Lotus. I enter the building each day with a whole heart and focused presence, which allows me to live an integrated life and to lead others with authenticity.

“One of our values at Lotus is to Be Brave, as we are building a culture that is founded on care for each, excellence and courage. My Leadership team is diverse in both gender and experience, which allows for progressive thinking, novel decision making, and the ability to have a more diverse set of solutions to specific problems.

“As a woman that has worked in the building and construction industry most of my life, I have seen tremendous progress in how women are embraced in senior roles. This is a credit to not only women for persevering with resilience, but also to the men who are opening their hearts and minds to difference. We will never really get there without both.”

Jones is now on the shortlist for Telstra’s National Business Woman of the Year award, to be announced in May.