Sharon Williams Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) at Investiture Ceremony at Government House Sydney

Taurus founder, Sharon Williams, received her OAM (The Medal of the Order of Australia) Award on Friday 30th May from the Governor of NSW, the Hon. Margaret Beazley AC KC at an investiture held at Government House in Sydney. The Award, announced in the Australia Day 2025 Honours list, recognises Sharon’s service to business and the community. She is the first woman in her industry to be awarded such an honour. 

The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent means by which Australia recognises the outstanding and meritorious service of its citizens. 

Sharon, who has been a single Mother for nearly 20 years and who has three grown-up children, started Taurus 30 years ago and said she was personally overwhelmed and honoured to receive the award. With her to receive the Award was her 24-year-old son, Oliver. Her two grown-up daughters, Charlotte and Georgie, are working in the United Kingdom.

“I build people, brands and businesses and I judge my life’s work by the lives I’ve changed. Working mothers and young people have been my passion and it has been so rewarding to have so many of my Taurus Alumni reach the success as leaders of industry in Australia. I love this country and its people”, Sharon said.

“There are so many Australians who are making outstanding contributions to our way of life and I hope they can be recognised too. Many are among my friends, clients and colleagues for whom I have a front row seat to their outstanding and selfless impact on our society each day.”

This year, Sharon had the distinction of reaching the target of 2000 young people who participated in either the Taurus Academy© Internship and Taurus FastTrack© Programs that includes graduates, junior professionals and working Mums to help shape their careers.  These programs started as far back as 1995, and while some participants have entered into roles at Taurus others have found full-time employment across a wide variety of fields and many are now captains of Australia’s industry- they work in both the communications sector as well as key roles in the business world.

For young people starting out in their careers and notably working mothers looking to re-enter the workforce, Sharon has provided such inspiration and drive.

Sharon stands out as an outstanding and altruistic person who over the years has provided a long list of pro-bono services, including being on the Board of the White Knight Foundation for seven years, supporting innocent victim, Liam Knight, who was injured through senseless alcohol violence when a pole went through his head; providing a countless number of university lectures pro-bono for UTS and as former Adjunct Professor for Macquarie University, has served on the PR advisory council of the University of Notre Dame.

The British Consul General hand-picked Sharon for her work with entrepreneurs here and overseas to be a ‘Cook’ and she is Co-Convenor of The Cook Society, 

which fosters strong relationships between Australia and Britain. She was an Ambassador of the children’s charity, Good Beginnings Australia, and through the merger with Save the Children. 

Sharon continues to support the work of The Violet Initiative – a not-for-profit organisation, that provides help through the last stage of life for people and their families; The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; Starlight Children’s Foundation; Saints Care; Clean Up Australia; Jesus All About Life Bible Society; and many more. Most recently, Sharon supported the FSHD Global Research Foundation, which is dedicated to finding treatments and ultimately a cure for FSHD, the most common form of Muscular Dystrophy.

A total of 320 Australians were awarded an OAM this year. At the investiture, 30 recipients from diverse backgrounds received Awards.

They included Madeleine Hill who received a bravery award for saving three people from drowning at Windsor while former NSW Health Minister and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (2007-2014), Jillian Skinner, received an Award for her contributions to the health sector. Other recipients excelled across areas such as serving in the military and the police force or high achievements in the field of law, community service, academia and the music industry.