The Antarctic station leader is one of four nominees in the running for the annual Australia Day award.

Narelle's nomination recognises her outstanding leadership qualities shown on the icy continent.

As a station leader in the remote Australian Antarctic Territory, Narelle has led four 'over winter' teams in some of the world's most isolated and hostile conditions.

Living and working in temperatures reaching below minus 40 degrees, she was the station leader at Mawson Station in 2008, Casey in 2010, Macquarie Island in 2012 and Davis Station in 2014.

With no fly-in-fly-out luxuries, she has worked alongside biologists on the Emperor penguin project, faced blizzards, supported medical evacuations and aircraft recovery incidents, gazed at stunning auroras, boated alongside orcas and minke whales and contributed to the protection of a pristine and fragile wilderness.

With 23 years experience in print media, covering logistics, sales and marketing in senior management roles and degrees in social science and counselling, Narelle has honed her skills in communication, team building and tenacity to foster a positive and productive environment that contributes to Australian conservation and research efforts in the frozen continent.

When not working in Antarctica, she spends most of her time spreading news of the wonder of Antarctica to many community and school groups in the Manning Valley.

Years before trekking off to Antarctica, Narelle worked at the Manning River Times throughout most of the 1980s.

Being nominated for the 2015 NSW Australian of the Year stirred a number of emotions for the dedicated team leader.

"I have mixed feelings I'm very surprised, overwhelmed and definitely honoured," she said.

Narelle said her previous work experiences had helped in her capacity to lead her teams during the last four years in Antarctica.

"With my media background, you learn a lot from others through media, you get to know about people through stories written about them their successes and their challenges," she said.

"Working long hours and managing teams across the country, understanding how businesses operate, why they are operating and the need for them to succeed and survive, and the need to surround yourself with dedicated and passionate people who understand the organisation's goals.

"I also worked for Mission Australia for two years supporting people requiring a hand up, and as a volunteer for Missionbeat in Australia.

"I've brought to the role of team leader the ability to understand and feel what others feel, never to judge and always aim to support."

Narelle said there were a number of key factors to being a successful leader.

"Patience, tolerance, resilience and to be firm, fair and consistent," she said.

The team leader said working in Antarctica was an absolute blessing.

"For all of us working here it's an absolute privilege, to have this opportunity to work alongside some of the best scientists from Australia and around the world, it doesn't get much better," she said.

"And to play our part in protecting the Antarctic environment is a privilege."