First assistant secretary at the Office of Health Protection, Felicity McNeill, has achieved this throughout her 17 years with the Australian public service.

The 42-year-old has been nominated for the 2015 Telstra ACT Business Women's Awards.

Her advice for success? Believe in yourself and the people around you, be resilient in moving an idea forward when things go wrong, back that up with sound judgment, and prepare to never stop learning.

"Above all, love what you do, because when you have to put in the longer hours or face challenges, that keeps you going ... and if someone says, 'You can do this,' have a go," she said.

Mrs McNeill started her Canberra career working in the Department of Finance after graduating with honours in politics and public policy from the University of Melbourne.

"Learning about derivatives was something I thought I'd never have to understand as well as I do," she said.

She then took her passion for public service reform to the Department of Infrastructure, before changing worlds again to the Department of Health, where she looked after the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

While admitting influencing the health of a nation's entire population is a huge responsibility, making it possible to fund medicine for rare diseases for a handful of people was just as important to her.

"It didn't save millions of people. Virtually nobody really noticed that there are 15 patients who wouldn't have access to these drugs. But they are alive and doing well and have a great future ahead because of that," she said.

"The opportunity to not only look at the 24 million people but occasionally look back and make sure that the system doesn't leave anyone behind – that to me is my proudest moment."

Balancing a busy career with family has been a challenge for Mrs McNeill, who has prioritised spending time with her husband and two daughters over travelling the world.

"My hope is for my daughters, when they go through the workplace and if they choose to have a family, that it's an equal sense in the partnership. So whether the mum stays home or the dad stays home, no one bats an eyelid" she said.

"We're getting close, but we've gotta keep pushing and keep making it possible for families – not just women – to make these choices."

She was humble about being nominated for the Telstra Business Awards, explaining she wouldn't be where she is without the many hard workers behind her.

"It's about recognising them and their potential as well."