Women entrepreneurs in Australia believe that they can successfully weather the tough economic times a new research commissioned for the 2009 Telstra Business Women's Awards reveals.

According to the survey while 90 per cent of women who own or operate their own businesses are concerned about the state of the economy, 88 per cent are confident of their ability to lead the business successfully through the recession.

Holly Kramer, group managing director, Telstra Product Management and Telstra Business Women's Awards Ambassador, said the survey results showed that women in business were determined to succeed.

Kramer announced that nominations for the Telstra Business Women's Awards were open and the organisers were looking forward to recognising and rewarding some of Australia's leading business women who continue to excel in their respective fields in the economic downturn.

She added that the fact that women across the country are confident of breaking through the worst global financial crisis in living memory was testament to their courage and tenacity.

According to the survey 75 per cent of women who own and operate their own business are taking positive action to combat the downturn. The survey reveals that the most common actions women were taking in their business included cost cutting and improving efficiency and working harder.

The survey also revealed that 75 per cent of women who own and operate their own business are taking positive action to combat the downturn. The most common actions women are taking in their business are cutting costs and improving efficiency (23 per cent) and working harder (18 per cent).

Kramer said that during such challenging times, programmes like the Telstra Business Women's Awards offered successful business women the opportunity to raise their busines' profile and be recognised for their success.

Kramer added that from entrepreneurs to innovators, young business women to corporate leaders and those engaged in the non-for-profit sector, the Telstra Business Women's Awards programs had recognised upward of 400 exceptional business women since its inception in 1995.

She added that awards organisers were calling on all Australians to nominate deserving women, who had inspired others through their hard work dedication in their business journey.

Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year 2008, Leanne Wesche said that winning the award had been an incredibly rewarding experience that would always remain with her.

She added that women were often not good at highlighting their achievements and the awards provided the much-needed platform for recognition to all businesswomen all over Australia. She said that winning the prestigious award was a great honour that had opened many doors and also raised her profile.