Dr Samantha Wade was one of four Illawarra women named among the 30 finalists in the annual awards presented by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday morning.

Dr Wade was recognised for her contributions to pancreatic cancer research which included her contribution to the invention of a device that can shrink pancreatic tumours.

She works with a team supervised and guided by renowned cancer biologists, oncologists and material scientists and has spent six years engineering the device aimed at improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.

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Although still in the pre-clinical stage of development, the device could change how medicine is delivered.

Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of just 10 per cent and the device has the potential to make more cases curable and help patients avoid major surgery.

"I could see that the current ways of treating pancreatic cancer were ineffective and the side effects outweighed the benefits," Dr Wade said.

"Over the past six years, I've worked as part of a team under Dr Kara Vine-Perrow to design, develop and patent a novel implantable drug delivery device that is designed to be implanted inside a tumour.

"This allows the chemotherapy to be delivered locally to the tumour, which allows for effective treatment of the tumour without the extreme side effects.

"While still a way off translation into humans, we have seen some promising results in pre-clinical animal studies."

Dr Wade regularly attends cancer fundraising events and gives public presentations to fundraising bodies and community groups.

She said the achievement will allow her research to reach a broader audience.

"It means our lab's research is getting exposure at high profile events, which is always beneficial," she said.

"It'll allow us to show that we are doing some really exciting work in Wollongong.

"It will expose me to a range of influential people that I otherwise would not have had to opportunity to meet."

Dr Wade encouraged other young women and girls looking for a career in science to stick to their passion.

"Winning this award is another confirmation that I am where I am supposed to be. I would tell other women in science to know your strengths," she said.

"Exam results are sometimes be a poor indicator of research ability.

"Align yourself with a supervisor that sees that there is more to a person than exam grades, a rarity I was lucky enough to find and work with."

"We owe it to women everywhere to lift, support and encourage one another wherever possible.

"Find or create a support network of other driven and passionate women who will push and encourage you to get outside your comfort zone and grow.

"It's extremely motivating to work with women in senior roles whose mentorship inspires you to achieve."

NSW Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor praised Dr Wade for her research and advocacy on behalf of people living with cancer in NSW.

And her work on pancreatic cancer which presently has a five-year survival rate of just 10 per cent."

"Samantha has dedicated her career to science in a bid to improve outcomes for people living with cancer," Mrs Taylor said.

"This award celebrates and elevates the voices of just some of inspirational young women who are helping us build a safer, stronger NSW."

The other three finalists at the NSW Premier's Women of the Year Awards on Wednesday morning were Good360 founder and managing director Alison Covington who was nominated for the Woman of Excellence Award.

Good360 match the right goods to the right people at the right time during times of disaster.

Not for Profits, schools and community groups tell its 30 strong team what goods they need and when businesses pledge brand new products Good360 connects them together to create a sustainable impact.

Ella Treanor, of Oak Flats Albion Park Gymnastics and Acrobatics Club, was a finalist in the One To Watch category.

And Shelby Lacey a coach at the same club was a finalist for the title of Young Woman of the Year along with Dr Wade.

Ms Lacey said when all the finalists were notified a month ago it was a very exciting and humbling feeling to be included.

"The people I was nominated against have done some amazing achievements," she said.

Ms Lacey said it was also very exciting to be nominated for the work she does in her sport.

"And it was even more exciting that one of the gymnasts I could, Ella Treanor, was a finalist in the young women to watch category," she said.

Ms Covington said it was fantastic to see Dr Wade recognised as the NSW Young Woman of the Year and the Illawarra have such a strong representation of finalists.

"It is so wonderful to know we have so many brilliant women in the Illawarra," she said.

"And personally to be named a finalist was such good recognition for Good360.

"People don't know that brand new goods are going to waste so this lifts our profile for people to understand we match the service need of businesses to Australians in need.

"Especially after a year when COVID and bushfires have just increased that need.

"We are currently matching 13 items a minute for people in need across Australia.

"People are very familiar with food waste but they just don't know that brand new goods are being matched on the scale."

Ms Covington said it was great to be from Wollongong and be able to establish such a nationally significant service.

"I was very proud to be part of the awards so I could represent our team.

"We started at the beginning of 2020 with 15 people and we have doubled in size during the last year.

"We love matching goods that help local communities."

2021 Women of the Year Award winners;

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