In what is probably a first for the migration advice industry, the Convenor of the Migration Alliance, Ms Liana Allan, has been announced as a finalist for this year's Businesswoman of the Year Award.

In an industry controlled and stifled by authorities with little or no business sense, the Migration Alliance was formed in 2009 by Ms Liana Allan to provide the passionate and trusted leadership missing in the migration advice industry.

Since inception, the aim of Migration Alliance has been to properly represent Registered Migration Agents in Australia; to lobby the Australian Government against unfair migration legislation and policies; and to represent the Australian migration community on an international stage.

The Migration Alliance is today Australia’s peak body of the migration advisory industry. One of its most important recent achievements was to successfully lobby the government to reverse the decision to introduce the compulsory introduction of an English Language testing for all migration agents. If the change had been introduced, agents with long standing and successful businesses in Australia would have lost a hard earned livelihood.

Migration Alliance now has 'stakeholder' status with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and is included in DIBP’s stakeholder briefings and consultations. Migration Alliance also participates in Federal and State government liaison meetings, the Office of the MARA and Members of Parliament and their staff. Migration Alliance also makes submissions to estimates committees such as the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Senate Estimates on behalf of its members.

In recognition of Ms Allan’s leadership and the success Migration Alliance, she has been announced as a finalist for the Busineswoman of the Year Award by My Business Awards. Each year, the selection committee shortlists innovative and successful business owners to take to the stage to be awarded the prestigious title of 'My Business Award Winner'. It is an award that celebrates vision and passion.

Ms Allan says her selection would not have been possible if not for support of members of Migration Alliance and the committee over the years.

"I am a very ordinary woman, who through passion, courage, determination and a 'can do' attitude, am achieving very extraordinary things', said Ms Allan.

In 2015, the My Business Awards event will be held at the elite Doltone House Hyde Park, Sydney on Friday 13th November. The event promises an evening of fine dining, entertainment and celebration with the opportunity to mingle with the best in the business - 2015 finalists and winners, other SME owners, supporters and event partners.