Women's empowerment leader and multicultural community champion Tendayi Ganga has been named as the Canberra Citizen of the Year for 2026.
Tendayi Ganga founded the Born To Shine Organisation in Canberra in 2019. Since that time, Tendayi and her team have been supporting women through mentorship, skills development, financial empowerment and family focused events.
From keynote speeches to grassroots workshops, Ms Ganga supports women to overcome barriers and pursue their goals.
In 2025, Born To Shine hosted its first Mother–Daughter Event Against Domestic Violence, a community initiative designed to spark meaningful conversations and raise awareness about domestic violence.
Through her ability to facilitate open and supportive conversations on challenging topics, she creates safe spaces and fosters a purpose-driven community.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
"Ms Ganga is being recognised for her tireless efforts to establish community programs and initiatives to support Canberra women, especially those from marginalised communities, to break down cultural barriers, promote self-worth and self-confidence and realise their potential.
"Congratulations to Ms Ganga on this recognition. I look forward to seeing her continued leadership and impact in our community over the months ahead and beyond."
Quotes attributable to 2026 Canberra Citizen of the Year Tendayi Ganga:
"I am deeply honoured by this recognition. Through Born To Shine, my passion has always been to create safe spaces where women and families can discover their strength, embrace their purpose, and remember that we are all born to shine."
