SCOTLAND IS full of extraordinary women....and we're on a mission to discover one woman who stands out from all the rest.

That very special woman will be our Scotswoman of the Year 2008, and the 46th holder of the title.

The contest, sponsored by St. Enoch Centre, is one of the highlights of our year and culminates in a glamorous dinner and award ceremony in the stunning Banqueting Hall of Glasgow City Chambers in January.

But first we need your help.

Tell us about the women who inspire you with their courage and strength, their passion and commitment.

Liz Cameron, our 2007 winner, has devoted her life to Glasgow, and last year's runners-up Deputy First Minister, Health Secretary and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon; anti-war campaigner Rose Gentle, and Louise Martin, who worked hard to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, were all outstanding in their field.

We also need your nominations for our two new categories, which started last year.

The Scots Businesswoman of the Year will have achieved outstanding success, and have overcome significant hurdles in reaching her goals.

The Sportswoman of the Year will have earned, or helped others to earn, success in any sport, or overcome significant hurdles in achieving her goals.

We need your help to find the women of the year.

Nominate in one category or all three.

You can fill in the coupon on this page or send us your nomination online at www.eveningtimes.co.uk. Scotswoman of the Year 2007 Bailie Liz Cameron has always lived life in the fast lane. And during the past year, the former Lord Provost hasn't let up her breakneck pace.

As Glasgow's new head of culture and sport, responsible for everything from the city's museums and libraries to its sports and leisure facilities, and vice chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Liz still has the welfare of the city she loves at the heart of everything she does.

She won the title of 45th Scotswoman of the Year for her unstinting service to Glasgow.

Liz has represented Glasgow all over the world and was a major influence in the £35million refurbishment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the £15m renovation of the City Halls.

She fulfilled more than 1000 engagements as Lord Provost during her four year tenure and was known through-out the city as Mrs Glasgow.

As she was awarded the coveted accolade of Scotswoman of the Year and accepted the specially commissioned trophy at a glamorous dinner in the Banqueting Hall at Glasgow City Chambers, she told guests she would treasure the memory of that evening for ever.

"I can't tell you how wonderful this is. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life to represent what I believe is the greatest city in the world."

At 58, Liz has continued to be a tireless ambassador for Glasgow, intensely proud of her Scotswoman of the Year title.

"Because the Evening Times is a Glasgow institution, rooted in the city, this is such a prestigious accolade and means something special everywhere I go.

"The award takes pride of place in my front room. I will regret handing back, although I know I will get a replica."

She has recovered from a spell of exhaustion which floored her this time last year, brought on by overwork and anxiety about her husband Duncan's prostate cancer. Thankfully, the outlook is optimistic.

She insists Glasgow is well placed to survive the downturn and is relentless in her efforts to sell Glasgow both in the UK and abroad.

"We are heartened by the fact we have put a really good strategy in place. If people can't afford to go abroad for the weekend, there is an absolutely wonderful solution here in Scotland.

"I won't minimise the diff-iculties, but we sell ourselves on our culture and art and have a good story to tell"

Everyone, she says, has been working flat out towards the Common-wealth Games .

She is honorary visiting professor at Caledonian University and one of the highlights of the year has been delivering the Moffat lecture on tourism and culture.

Another highlight was the accolade of Glasgow being made City of Music.

She is also proud to chair the council's world heritage site steering group in a bid to have the Rennie Mackintosh building at Glasgow School of Art and Hill House in Helensburgh listed by Unesco.

Earlier this year, her portrait as Lord Provost was unveiled in the City Chambers. ScotsBusinesswoman of the Year 2007 DR LESLEY Sawers is the kind of woman for whom glass ceilings are made to be broken.

Her route to the top has been spectacular and she was a deserving winner of the Evening Times Scots Businesswoman of the Year trophy in 2007.

The former chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce moved earlier this year to a new post as head of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.

Brought up in Glasgow's East End and Cumbernauld and the first in her family to go to university, she is an inspirational role model for aspiring businesswomen.

Her mantra is: "Grasp all the opportunities that come your way.

"I am an example of the kid who went to state schools, got to university - and made the most of the opportunities presented to me."

At the awards ceremony, she paid a moving tribute to the support she received from husband Alan and parents May and John.

She said: "My mum brought up a family of three, held down a full-time job and instilled in us all those values of hard work.

"My mum has always been my inspiration."

Lesley won her award for her impressive work in turning round the Chamber of Commerce. It was virtually on its knees when she took it over four years ago, but is now a vibrant organisation.

Formerly a Royal Mail and ScottishPower executive, Lesley was the first female chief executive at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce since it began in 1783. ScotsSportswoman of the Year 2007 FOOTBALL star Julie Fleeting will never forget 2008. In January, the 27-year-old, from Kilwinning, won the inaugural Evening Times Scots Sportswoman of the Year title.

It was the start of an exceptional year when one success followed another.

Last month, the captain of the Scottish women's team swapped her football strip for a glamorous white dress and strappy sandals when she went to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE.

Julie received the award in the Queen's birthday honours list in recognition of her services to women's football.

"That was a big surprise, but the Evening Times award was also a massive honour," said Julie. "It was particularly good to win it in its first year and great recognition for women's football.

"It shows how far the women's game has come and in the last year, its profile has grown in leaps and bounds."

Scotland's top woman footballer should be used to the honours coming thick and fast - 2007 was also pretty spectacular when she won her 100th cap for Scotland after netting her 100th goal for Scotland against Slovakia.

She is also the striker for Arsenal Ladies in the Women's English Premier League and flies south to play at weekends.

She fits everything around her day job as a PE teacher.

This year, she moved from St Matthew's Academy in Kilwinning to Auchenharvie Secondary School in Stevenston, Ayrshire.

Julie, who won her first cap when she was 15, is widely recognised as Scotland's best female footballer.

"I've had a very enjoyable career so far," she said. "I've been on the Scotland team since I was 15 and been to so many wonderful countries and played with so many fantastic people."

This year alone, football has taken her to Cyprus, Sweden, France, Russia, Portugal and Slovakia.

Julie is married to goalkeeper Colin Stewart, who moved from Livingston to Morton this year and her father, Jim, was a defender with Kilmarnock and is now the SFA's director of football development.

And Julie sounds exhilarated when talking football. "Arsenal Ladies won the FA Women's Premier League and FA Women's Cup and Scotland has probably reached its peak and came very close to winning Scot land Women's European Championship, the closest we've ever come."