Tendayi Ganga, women’s empowerment leader and multicultural community champion, has been named the Canberra Citizen of the Year for 2026.
Ms Ganga founded the Born To Shine Organisation in Canberra in 2019, an association that empowers women and girls by helping them break down barriers and achieve their dreams. It received the ACT Multicultural Community Champion Award in 2020 and the Community Organisation of the Year Award at the 2019 Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in Australia.
“I am deeply honoured by this recognition,” Ms Ganga said. “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.”
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.
The association has also supported women through mentorship, skills development, financial empowerment, and family-focused events.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said: “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.”
