Alison Jane Rice will be a nervous state Business for Peace finalist at Sydney Town Hall on November 18 when the NSW Business Chamber hands out its annual awards.

If she claims the honour Alison will travel to Norway as the area nominee for the prestigious ceremony that recognises the work of outstanding business people around the world who have been able to achieve success while acting in an ethically responsible way.

Along with successfully running Leura-based art business Botanical Theatre, the painter has continued her lifelong commitment to supporting the less fortunate in society through creative arts education.

“It’s a huge acknowledgement . . . It’s a big validation that I’m on the right track and that makes me really, really happy,” said Alison.

The 52-year-old has directed multiple initiatives over the years to help what she sees as an imbalance in society including the Earthbook Project for Peace which asked teenagers to outline their visions for world peace through poetry.

She continues to involve herself in education programs and is currently visiting schools with her latest book.

The success of Botanical Theatre is even more amazing considering Alison had not picked up a paint brush in 25 years when she started the business almost five years ago.

Growing up in a time when art was considered a hobby rather than a career, Alison remained in the arts through writing but moved away from painting.

Since resolving to return to her childhood passion, Botanical Theatre has prospered, winning the Blue Mountains Entertainment and the Arts business award recently.

While admitting to being a “blubbering mess” when first told of her nomination for the Business for Peace Award, Alison said she was excited about the opportunity.

“It’s like I’ve been working towards this my whole life,” she said. “The possibility to then be able to go on to a next level [in Oslo] and have a platform to then really be able to get this message out on a global scale, I thought it was daunting, it’s not, I think deep down I’m ready for it.”