She is one of 50 finalists from across the country to be named in the inaugural awards which aim to recognise women who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and used their influence to make a positive impact on New Zealand society.
The winners will be announced in Auckland on October 23.
Ms Staley (50), a lawyer, is a finalist in the board and management category, recognising her contribution on a variety of boards including Tower, Maritime New Zealand and PGG Wrightson, and as voluntary chairwoman of the iD Dunedin Fashion Week.
''I'm pretty pleased.''
Being selected as a finalist showed the rest of the country acknowledged and celebrated the work the many talented and clever women and men of the city did, she said.
''As a true-blue Dunedinite, I'm proud to help raise the profile of Dunedin further, showing that the sphere of women's influence extends down to the South too.''
She was in her mid-30s when she took up her first directorship and the lack of women in similar positions was an issue then.
''The statistics haven't changed.''
Ms Staley enjoyed the collegiality of being on boards, the company environment and helping drive returns for shareholders.
''You have to understand the business you are involved in but you do not make a fortune doing it - that is a misconception many people have.''
She was also fully involved in helping the 15th iD fashion week next March, an event which brought thousands of people, including international media, and millions of dollars to the city every year.
It was a contribution she took on about 12 years ago and continued to fight to make it happen each year.
Alongside Ms Staley, the other finalists in her category are: 2012 Dairy Woman of the Year, Barbara Kuriger; Federation of Maori Authorities chairwoman Traci Houpapa; New Zealand's 2015 Cricket World Cup operation head Therese Walsh; Gravida chairwoman Alison Paterson; Porter Novelli managing director Jane Sweeney; New Zealand Treasury deputy chief executive Vicky Robertson; ecelearn chief executive Selena Fox; Richardson Management's Jeanette Richardson, and Telecom and Auckland International Airport board director Justine Smyth.
The other categories in the Women of Influence awards were local/regional, innovation/science, community/social, and business/entrepreneur.
