(Telstra Media Release 26 Nov 2014)

A woman who has changed the face of frontline policing in Tasmania has been named a winner at the 20th Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards.

Assistant Commissioner Donna Adams, the highest-ranked woman in the 114-year history of Tasmania Police, tonight was a joint winner of the Business Innovation Award in recognition of her strategy to equip frontline Police with tablets to increase efficiencies and provide better Police services to Tasmanians.

Over her 26 year career Ms Adams has won a Commissioner’s Commendation for her work after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and an Australian Police Medal for Distinguished Service. She has also been acknowledged by the Australasian Council of Women in Policing as an outstanding investigator.

Promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2011, she found herself at the helm of adversity with severe budget constraints and low staff morale. Assistant Commissioner Adams saw the need to develop a new strategy to better support frontline Tasmania Police.

Uniting her team through consultation and providing them with tangible actions to support reduced numbers, she led the development of a new strategy which saw Tasmania Police as the first police organisation in Australia to roll out 3G tablets to the frontline.

The use of the tablets, which have been trialled in other jurisdictions, allows police to work from their vehicles in a ‘mobile office’ and have access to all police systems so reports can be produced instantly at a scene.

Assistant Commissioner Adams said that she had a personal vision for continual improvement in herself and others.

“The only way I can continue to influence and shape the future direction of my organisation is to continually challenge my thinking, broaden my knowledge and stay in touch with community so I understand their issues,” she said. “I want to inspire the great women in our organisation and hopefully through my success they will feel empowered to face the challenges so they can also achieve great things.”

Announced at a black-tie ceremony in Melbourne tonight, she joins other 2014 Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards winners including: Kate Weiss, the owner of Victorian food company Table of Plenty; Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, the CEO and Managing Director of ASX50 property company Mirvac; Andrea Galloway, CEO of the NSW not-for-profit organisation Evolve Housing; and Tina Tower, the young owner of franchise tutoring business Begin Bright.