Julie Bishop takes out top spot on The Australian Women’s Weekly Power List 2014

The Australian Women’s Weekly has released its Power List for 2014, ranking 50 of the most powerful women in the country.

The line-up of women deemed our most powerful are a diverse bunch, with Julie Bishop leading the pack.

The magazine said “she was voted the top spot by the Power List selection panel for her poise on the international stage.”

The Foreign Minister has been in the world’s spotlight recently, taking key roles in UN Security Council negotiations on responses to the MH17 crash and ISIL threat.

As the most powerful woman in Australian government, she has dealt with these issues with “poise and guts”, Triple M presenter Rachel Corbett said on the TODAY Show this morning.

Several women in politics ranked highly in the Women’s Weekly list.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard who will appear in an exclusive tell-all Channel 9 interview tonight after the 6pm News, came in 26th place.

The list also includes members of the female business elite, High Court judges, media, Hollywood stars and a transgender army officer.

Recognised as one of the sharpest and most respected interviewers in the Australian media, Channel 9’s Tracy Grimshaw is also featured 28th on the list.

The issues’ cover features Deborra-Lee Furness who is ranked tenth on the Power List for her involvement in National Adoption Awareness effort.

The full power list is set to be announced tomorrow at the AWW Women Of The Future lunch in Sydney where Dame Quentin Bryce will be presiding.

The magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Helen McCabe assured that the judging panel had come up with a list which is “both authoritative and surprising.”

“Our definition of power when compiling this list was not how impressive a woman’s title is or how large her corner office might be, but her ability to get things done,” she said.

The full list will feature in the October issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, which will be released on Thursday.