It was the best start to the week for Whanganui woman Carla Donson: receiving an email to tell her she was a finalist in the Women of Influence awards.
"It's pretty fantastic. It's exciting and humbling," said Ms Donson, who has been the manager of the Women's Network Whanganui for the past 13 years.
There are 10 categories in the awards: arts and culture, management, business enterprise, community/non-profit, diversity, global, innovation and science, public policy, rural and young leader.
Ms Donson is one of 14 finalists in the community/non-profit category.
At the awards ceremony in Auckland on October 12, a winner will be chosen from each category, as well as a supreme winner.