Female fashionistas among country's best

NATIONAL: Three Australian designers have been included in a list of the country's leading women.

The trio - wholesale womenswear designer Jacqui Alexander, jewellery designer Darani Lewers and fashion retailer Marnie Skillings - were among a list of 840 debutantes included in the 'Who's who of Australian women' 2008 edition.

The latest instalment of the series follows the theme "leadership and beyond" and features such high profile names as the Governor of New South Wales Professor Marie Bashir and Camp Quality organiser Nancy Strickland.

Who's who editor Suzannah Pearce said the publication illustrated the fact that Australians did not have to look far to find inspiration and role models in its society.

Inclusion in the book was by nomination and invitation only and all nominees were invited to submit their biographical details and life story, as well as include their philosophies and views about a range of topics, she said.