A transgender military officer who has been named the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2016 says the award shows the huge shift in society's attitude to diversity.
RAAF Group Captain Catherine McGregor has become a transgender advocate since publicly announcing she was changing her gender from male in 2012.
Her candour in speaking out about her transition has been credited with boosting understanding and acceptance of the transgender community in Australia.
"The Queensland I was born into could not have accepted me as the trans woman I am," the 59-year-old told AAP.
"An awful lot has changed since then, and is still changing in an amazing way.
"To win this award would be an incredible milestone and shows the change in attitude to transgenderism."
Gp Capt McGregor was named the 2016 winner at a ceremony at the State Library of Queensland on Friday night.
She believes her transition resonates with people because of her position in the stereotypical masculine environment of the military.
"I have become the face of transgenderism in Australia, but there is a huge change in conversation globally because of people like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox."
The other finalists contesting the award were journalist Peter Greste, who served 400 days in a Cairo prison, human rights activist Deborah Kilroy and humanitarian Lucy Strickland.
Philanthropist Tim Fairfax was named Queensland Senior Australian of the Year and Michael Ross was awarded Queensland Local Hero for his work as a land rights activist.
Best friends Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, both 21, were named Queensland Young Australians of the Year for their work with the homeless.
All of the winners are now national finalists for the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards, to be announced in Canberra on January 25 next year.
