Dubbo’s Jillian Kilby was named the winner of the title and the $10,000 at the gala dinner at NSW Parliament House on Tuesday night.

Mrs Whan said that, regardless of the result, she had been “full steam ahead” for some time and was excited about the future.

See all the photos from the glamorous event here

The recovered high-functioning alcoholic, who is now on a mission to help people reassess their relationship with booze, plans to launch an online platform to support and connect people across the country.

“While I didn't get the gong on Tuesday night at the fancy dinner, I was still able to stand up and address a room full of VIPs and also then went on to be invited to a meeting with some key influencers in Parliament House this week in the health sector,” she said.

“I have met with some major national charity bodies this week also, and am in talks with them as to how I can assist as an ambassador or person on the ground with lived experience.”

Read also:

Mrs Whan said her goal, to be a national ambassador to “drive the change in our rural booze culture, is on target”.

“I’m basically working my butt off to collaborate with key influencers of social change and at a policy-making level, and it’s going great guns.

“It would be fair to say I’m taking the rural voice to the inner city so that we can impact those who need help.

“The ball continues to roll.”

Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries congratulated all the finalists, in particular those in his electorate, for their dedication and hard work.

Ms Kilby will now go on to contest the National AgriFutures Australian Rural Women’s Award later this year at Parliament House in Canberra.

He said her vision of helping regional start-ups succeed by boosting the capability, capacity and confidence of business owners – particularly women – was  “inspiring”.

Mr Humphries said Mrs Whan’s commitment to bring about positive change made her an outstanding candidate.

“Shanna’s passion is to bring an honest conversation about modern-day addiction out into the open to help to reduce the numbers of high-risk, high-functioning community members slipping through the cracks in rural and remote Australia,” Mr Humphries said.

The NSW Woman of the Year Award program recognises remarkable women across the state who are achieving remarkable things in their careers, in business or in their communities.