But it’s her work commissioning and curating new music compositions to help calm young patients and their families in operating theatres and waiting rooms across the country that has won her a spot in The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards inaugural Culture category.

Crock, one of more than 500 entrants this year, is working to both make patient care the primary concern of the healthcare system and to reduce bullying among hospital professionals.

The music produced by the HUSH Music Foundation helps do both, and now is among the most regularly played on classical radio stations.

The shortlist of more than 100 names is published on Thursda in categories including board and management, social enterprise, business enterprise, public policy, innovation, diversity, young leader, global, local/regional and the new list – culture.

Another nominee in the culture category is publisher Louise Adler, chief executive of Melbourne University Press. Adler says the ability to exert influence in public life is not easy, whether someone is in a prominent position or not.

‘‘You do it first by turning up and insisting on being heard,’’ she says. ‘‘Rosie Batty transformed our thinking about domestic violence in one extraordinary press conference after her son’s tragic death.’’

Chief executive partner of Allens Linklaters and 2015 judge Michael Rose said common to all applicants is how they change the waywomen see opportunities.

‘‘Equally importantly, they are changing the perceptions of men about what the future might look like within their sectors.’’

But Melbourne University Business School professor and judge, Robert Wood, says he is dismayed that so few of the candidates occupy senior executive roles or are running companies.

‘‘Their breadth of experience, leadership and influence matches or exceeds that of most men who currently occupy those roles and are successful in them,’’ he said.

He wants a rethink of recruitment and promotion processes, and says executive search teams and managers need to do a better job of finding these women, rather than relying on networks and sources.

Pip Marlow, managing director of Microsoft says she looks forward to the day when awards such as the 100 Women of Influence are not needed to prove how capable Australia’s women are.

‘‘But right now, they are a fabulous way to change perception and shine a light on the fact there is amazing talent out there. At the moment I see a real need for them.’’

She says the IT industry still suffers from outdated stereotypes of geeks huddled over a computer screen, despite the fact there are different types of careers in technology – from artistic and creative through to research-based.

Regretfully, she says, the stereotypes mean girls are opting out of STEM and IT at a tertiary level because they don’t feel inspired by prospective careers down  that path.

‘‘You can track it back to primary school, where studies show there is an unconscious bias about girls and maths ... where teachers will mark girls down compared [with] marking for the same tests that don’t identify boys or girls names.’’

Captain Jennifer Roberts knows what it is like working in an atypical role: she is one of a handful of female pilots in the Australian Army, and currently works in southern Afghanistan as a gender adviser and deputy future operations planner.

She admits being in the minority can sometimes be isolating, and that the support of her female friends and family ‘‘on the outside’’ has been critical.

‘‘Many people are surprised when I tell them what I do ... some people haven’t even realised women were able to be pilots.’’

Westpac head of inclusion and diversity, and co-chair of the 2015 judging panel Ainslie van Onselen, said the applications this year ‘‘told many stories of women, leading full and busy lives, who are taking the time to mentor younger women’’.

It ensures there is a strong pipeline of confident future leaders who feel supported and empowered, she said.

Gen George, founder of online talent and job matching website OneShift, has been recognised in the Young Leaders category.

She says the expectation that you need to be 40 to be a managing director of a company is improving, and ideas about youth capability is evolving.

Despite that, very few tech start-ups are being run by young women, although there are now more initiatives to see that change, she says.

The most influential in each category, as well as the most influential overall, will be announced at The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards evening on October 15 at the Sydney Town Hall.