Australian Womens Award Finalist Awarded as one of MicrosoftÂ’s Most Valuable Pr

Yvonne Adele (aka Ms Megabyte) has been recognised as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the most recent October 2006 award cycle.

The Microsoft MVP Award Program recognizes and thanks outstanding members of technical communities for their community participation and willingness to help others. The MVP Award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who foster the free and objective exchange of knowledge by actively sharing their real world expertise with technology users. This award celebrates the most active community members from around the world who provide invaluable online and offline expertise that enriches the community experience and makes a difference in technical communities featuring Microsoft products.

"On behalf of Microsoft, I am pleased to recognize Yvonne Adele as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional," said Sean ODriscoll, General Manager, CSS Community and MVP at Microsoft Corp. "MVPs represent the best and brightest individuals active in technical communities, sharing a commitment to community and a willingness to help others. They possess an infectious enthusiasm that inspires others."

This news follows Yvonnes recent progression to the Victorian finals in the Westpac Business Owners Category of the 2006 Telstra Business Womens Awards.

To make the final six from so many entries is a thrilling personal and professional achievement. The entry process was quite daunting but was a great way to look back on what Ive created. And the Microsoft award fills me with pride. Ive been an advocate of Microsoft products for 18 years and its wonderful to have my contribution officially recognised!'

Yvonne and her alter-ego Ms Megabyte have used many years of on- and off-line efforts to: Take the hard out of hardware and the science out of software. Through talks, TV, radio, magazines and her No. 1 bestselling book Conquer Your Computer, thousands have come to know Ms Megabyte as the person who takes the frustration out of everyday computer use. She was also the adapting editor for the Australian PCs for Dummies and the creator of the free-for-all www.getmega.com/helpdesk .

Yvonne came to prominence in mid 1998, when Business Class Magazine listed her as one of the nations top entrepreneurs under 30. Today it is estimated that MS Megabyte is recognised by one in five Australians. With a family of four in tow, her journey has required discipline, tenacity and plenty thinking outside the square.

On leaving school, Yvonne used her love of computing and flair for training to teach software in corporations. When Microsofts help staff couldnt answer her questions, shed race to beat them to the answers; until the help desk ended up hiring her. Six months later, she went the US for training and returned as a Technical Lead. At 22, she moved to the UK for a similar role.

After the birth of her first daughter, Yvonne returned to Australia to start her own training business. I created MS Megabyte because I wanted to remove peoples fears and frustrations about these “scary” new computers; I wanted to make it fun!

On winning over publishing doyenne Nene King, Yvonne wrote the first IT column to appear in an Australian womens magazine, then went on to contribute regularly to The Australian Womens Weekly, Womans Day and Real Living.

She also appeared on TVs Today, The Panel, Good Morning Australia, The Midday Show and dot.com.tv and is now a regular on 9am with David & Kim.

During her time at radio 3AK (which galvanised her speaking career) Yvonne was Melbournes only female commercial talk-back presenter. I got to discuss the things that really matter to me: food, health, travel, wellbeing, Australian culture, child psychology and even modern etiquette, which I did with Ita Buttrose.

If she wins the top Telstra Business Womens Award, Yvonne wont let it go to her head. Id be absolutely elated, but nothing will upset the work/life balance Ive fought to create with my wonderful husband and beautiful children.