40 inspiring NSW business women revealed for International Women’s Day
From rising up the ranks of the corporate world and running essential local services, we celebrate the #bossladies who mean business in NSW on International Women’s Day.
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From climbing the corporate ladder to funnelling a passion for creativity, NSW is home to an army of talented businesswomen.
In honour of International Women’s day, here we reveal the incredible women making a huge difference in our communities.
KIM McARTHUR: NOWRA
A poor experience when shopping for a bridal dress was the spark of inspiration a south coast mum needed to create a safe space for women.
Kim McArthur, 41, was managing her husband’s earthworks business when she decided to open a bridal shop.
“I had no experience in the industry but I had always been quite entrepreneurial and had worked in business and marketing,” she said.
“I had four kids, my two youngest babies at home, and my husband sold a truck and gave me $25,000 and literally 10 weeks later I was open.”
More than four years later, South Coast Brides is an award-winning business despite battling bushfires and the pandemic, and Ms McArthur’s focus is creating a safe space for women.
“Women can be so vulnerable when it comes to their bodies,” she said.
“I believe there is no prerequisite to be treated well … it does not matter what you look like or how much money you have.”
Ms McArthur said when her sister suffered strokes during a pregnancy, it was the businesswomen along the south coast who ensured her shop stayed open.
“It’s the local business women in the Shoalhaven who are out there doing this every day who inspire me,” she said.
Ms McArthur said she was also not ashamed to admit she was proud of the battles she had fought hard and won.
“At 41 years old I finally truly appreciate myself for who I am and what I’ve done,” she said.
“Despite the challenges of life and how hard it is balancing the mental load of being entrepreneurial, running businesses and managing four kids and a household, I am dead set proud of myself.”
SETA BERBARI: CAMPBELLTOWN
When Campbelltown’s Seta Berbari dreamt of opening a cafe, she wanted to create a place where people would come for a cuppa, a good meal and a chat.
It is a dream that has come true.
“I opened up Seta’s Cafe about nine years ago,” Ms Berbari said.
“My main goal was a place for people to come eat, talk and make friends. I didn’t want a place where they just grab a coffee and go and you don’t say anything to each other.”
Running a business has not been without its challenges such as Covid, staffing shortages, rising costs and interest rate spikes that have seen customers spend less money.
But Ms Berbari firmly believes there are few problems that a good coffee, a delicious meal and an encouraging smile cannot fix.
“My customers are my dearest friends,” she said.
“I always want to make sure that even if I am only speaking with someone for two minutes, they feel better and they leave with a smile.”
MAGGIE DEALL: WAGGA
Working as a cop for more than two decades, opening an art studio and chasing her passion full time seemed like a pipe dream for Maggie Deall.
But, just two weeks shy of her 50th birthday she reflects life is only just starting.
Ms Deall first opened the Little Yellow House Gallery and Studio in 2021 in the height of the Covid pandemic.
“I did with the assistance of Create NSW, as part of their RENEW project to get arts business into empty shop fronts,” she said.
“I built the business and took over the standard commercial lease and turned it into what it is today.”
From the start, Ms Deall wanted to create a community hub with a focus on supporting women and creators.
“We have a variety of different workshops from painting to drawing to Indigenous art and weaving and jewellery making because we have visiting artists as well as myself teaching,” she said.
Ms Deall’s official last day of service in the NSW Police Force was in August 2022, and she has never looked back.
“I left my art for so long to focus on being a cop and only got back into it when I moved to Wagga seven years ago,” she said.
“It felt like a pipe dream to ever leave the cops and have my own business but I am doing it.”
For any woman looking to start a new business or make a change, Ms Deall had two words of advice - back yourself.
“It’s never too late to find your passion,” she said.
“Be humble and find a strong female network because you need to find your people and let them support you as you support them.”
MEL TAYLOR: CAMDEN
Fitness can look different on everybody is the mantra of a southwest Sydney woman whose business has thrived as she helps women to love themselves.
Mel Taylor, 50, started her business in 2017 in Camden after coming from a background of working in gyms.
“I started thinking I would do fitness for everybody, so come one, come all, but over the years I have really found my niche of working with women,” she said.
“Particularly with women pre and post-natal, so I have completed extra training to be able to provide that.
“It’s not just about fitness, it’s about lifestyle support and being there for the women who come to me.”
Ms Taylor said body positivity was an important message she would continue to share with her clients and followers.
“Social media can have such a negative role for women,” she said.
“We see so many images, and we think that we need to look, act or be a certain way and I was brought up in that era of that attitude.
“I didn’t look ‘the certain way’ and it put a lot of pressure on me and now I promote ‘you being you’ and learning to love and nurture yourself.”
TIARNE BOVA: SOUTH SYDNEY
A background in fashion combined with an entrepreneurial spirit are the key ingredients behind this multi-talented mum’s recipe for success.
Tiarne Bova, 32, is one half of the burgeoning gym franchise The Yard fitness, which since the launch of their first location in Caringbah in 2020, has exploded onto the health and wellness scene.
Working alongside her husband Dan, Ms Bova is the creative director and co-founder of the club, which is loved by post-natal mums and serious athletes alike for its dynamic blend of masculine and feminine energy.
Ms Bova says her experience working for big name glossies such as Cosmo and Dolly during their peak gave her a keen insight into marketing, allowing her to “create something completely unique the fitness industry has any seen before.”
Despite opening up just as the pandemic started, The Yard has gone from strength to strength, with locations now in Wollongong and Queensland, with a new location set to open in California.
As the mum of a two-year-old boy named Leo, Ms Bova recognises one of the biggest barriers for working mothers is being able to strike the correct work life balance.
“As a mum finding that work life balance has been difficult. I really love working but I struggle with mother’s guilt for wanting to go to work,” she said.
“But women shouldn’t feel guilty about working, working is good for everyone. We need to stand up for the mums.”
JENNIFER WESTACOTT: WOOLLOOMOOLOO
Serving as Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia since 2011, Jennifer Westacott AO is a leading figure in the public sector industry, serving as the Director General of the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and the Director of Housing in Victoria.
Growing up in Springfield on the Central Coast, Ms Westacott has become one of the most powerful business women in Australia, with an impressive career working as a senior partner at KPMG, serving as a Non-Executive Director at Wesfarmers Limited and the Chair of the Western Parkland City Authority.
Most recently, Ms Westacott took up the role as Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney in 2023, becoming the first woman to serve in the role.
In 2018, she was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her work in private and public sector administration and policy development, thriving to make society a more equitable and sustainable place.
MS Westacott is also a vocal advocate for mental health, serving as the Chair of the Mental Health Council of Australia and pushing to eliminate stigma around mental health, encouraging leaders to do more to create mentally safe workspaces.
YASMIN COE: MURRUMBATEMAN
A passion for all things chocolate was the inspiration behind a mother of two’s hobby which rapidly grew into a full time business.
Yasmin Coe, 38, has been running Sweet Pea and Poppy for six years and Murrumbateman Chocolate Company for one year.
Ms Coe started her first business, a boutique chocolatier and gifting studio, while on maternity leave after starting out making chocolate as a hobby.
“I was working an accounting career and in that maternity leave break, I had the time to formalise the hobby into a business,” she said.
“It started as a side hustle, and I then I jiggled it with my other business but it grew year on year and now I work full-time in my businesses.”
Ms Coe needed a bigger space so her family moved from Canberra across the border where they took over Robyn Rowe Chocolates and rebranded to Murrumbateman Chocolate Company.
When it comes to who inspires her daily, Ms Coe said her mum was her biggest hero.
“Growing up, I was fortunate that both of my parents ran small businesses so my mum really inspired me and she demonstrated what is possible when it comes to being a hands on and devoted mother and a successful business woman,” she said.
MICHELLE TAYLOR: SHELLHARBOUR
With a passion for sustainable fashion and recycling designer clothes, a savvy Illawarra woman’s business has thrived despite the challenges of recent years.
Michelle Taylor, 40, started her clothes hire business nine years ago out of the spare bedroom in her house while she was working full-time.
“My husband told me one day I had too many clothes and I thought ‘why not make a business out of this’,” she said.
“It has been a great path and the business has grown quite quickly and it is a really popular industry now.
“I moved into my shop five years ago, and we just grow year on year and coming out of Covid the demand has definitely been there in Illawarra and around the country, so we send out dresses all over.”
Ms Taylor said there had been a myriad of challenges in that time, but she loved running Get Dressed Hire.
“Covid was obviously hard, when there were no events we came to a standstill but thankfully I was able to keep the business afloat,” she said.
“Personally, I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years ago so that had a major impact on how I ran the business and my fatigue levels and I have trouble walking so that was a huge learning curve.”
Women such as designer Camilla Franks who has battled her own health issues inspires Ms Taylor to keep on pushing through.
BRIGID KENNEDY: SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
After a life in farming, one Southern Highlands businesswoman has learnt the important lesson of never putting all your eggs in one basket.
Brigid Kennedy, 58, used to run The Loch, a paddock to plate restaurant and accommodation, but post Covid she made the decision to sell.
“I have a number of businesses, as you often do when you are a farmer,” she said.
“After we sold The Loch, the property behind that we moved onto had 40 acres of dead trees which we had permission to use.
“Now we have spinned it and we do firewood and also fence posts and we have also upped the ante on horse breeding for thoroughbreds.”
On top of all this work, Ms Kennedy still runs her businesses the Irish Corner Collection and a farmstay The Shepherd’s Hut.
Ms Kennedy said the countless rural and regional women who work in the land and run businesses, some while raising a family at the same time, are her inspiration.
“They have faced so many difficulties, whether it flood, fires or drought,” she said.
“All women that are still surviving in business in these areas have learnt what the meaning of resilience truly is.”
ROXY LEHMANN: NORTH SYDNEY
Recognising a gap in the market after a horror shopping experience was what sparked Roxy Lehman, 36, to start up Dress for a Night, a luxury formal wear hire service.
The year was 2015 and Ms Lehman, who was then working in Human Resources for an insurance company, was desperately trying to find a ballgown for a corporate event with little luck.
“It was not an enjoyable shopping experience, I was thinking ‘I want to go shopping where there are super nice people, I wouldn’t wish such a stressful shopping experience on anyone,” she said.
“I started this business because I wish it existed, I had an event and nothing to wear.”
A year later, Dress for a Night Opened up their North Sydney store, renting out luxury and designer items to women, to date they currently have 5000 bespoke dresses on their shelves ranging from size 4-26.
Ms Lehmann says the environment Dress for a Night is a welcome change from the boys club she previously worked at, where she says it was “quite hard to climb the ladder”.
“I get to work with inspiring people and choose who I work with instead of sitting in a boardroom and being the only woman,” she said.
SARAH JOSEPH: TERRIGAL
Originally from South Wales, Sarah Joseph owns and operates her own wedding dress shop Sarah Joseph Couture in Terrigal, shipping dresses all over the globe to Europe, America, The Caribbean and Australia.
Ms Joseph, who is about to go on maternity leave after completing solo IVF, says she has been working 12-hour days, seven days a week since last April, but loves being able to make brides happy.
“You’re entrusted with something that is very important to them - their wedding dress,” she said.
“It’s very important for a bride to look good on their wedding day, it’s a great process to sit down with a girl and figure out what she wants and make it for her.”
“It’s a really lovely process … it’s very rewarding, especially when the mum’s cry when they see them in their final selection.”
Studying in London and working for brands like Tom Ford, Sarah decided she wanted to emigrate to Australia and started her business from scratch eight years ago, beginning her bridal wear business by manufacturing in China, before moving manufacturing to Australia just before 2020.
“I also released my brand in China about two years ago,” Ms Joseph said.
“When I launched it I had 50 shops in China … it was amazing. I’d go over to China and tour with the wedding dresses and put Australia on the map.”
Helping women find their perfect dress from Orange, Canberra and Melbourne to women all around the globe, Ms Joseph says she gets her strong work ethic from her mother.
MELANIE PERKINS: SYDNEY
At just 35 years old Melanie Perkins is one of the wealthiest women in Australia.
Canva, the Sydney based online design company she co-founded in 2013, has an estimated 55 million monthly users ranging from individuals to giant companies. She did it through a never-say-die style of determination.
She and her husband, co-founder Cliff Obrecht, more than quadrupled their wealth in an incredible year.
Canva is on the fast track to becoming the most successful and valuable Australian technology firm ever, after a fundraising round in September pegged its value at $55bn.
That means Canva, which was only formed in 2012, is now worth more than corporate giants Woolworths, Telstra, Rio Tinto and Coles, and is the most valuable privately held tech company in the world.
NICOLE FAHEY AND GABRIELA LOYOLA: PENRITH
A public relations powerhouse duo from Jamisontown in Sydney’s west run the show at Local Edge Marketing, an integrated marketing agency offering graphic design, website development and copywriting services.
Founded by Nicole Fahey in 2016, at the age of 24, who, after working with some of Australia’s biggest media agencies, decided to bring what she had learnt closer to home, turning her focus to growing local businesses in western Sydney.
“I saw a huge gap in the market for professional media planning and buying services in the Greater Sydney Region for small to medium businesses,” she said.
“Honest, genuine and personable professional services in media are hard to come by and I wanted to help Western Sydney, during its rapid growth, have a trusted media agency to service that growth for them. The rest is history,” Ms Fahey said.
Her business partner is Gabriela Loyola, 26, who recently came on board as part business owner, and the two keep their books busy representing both small businesses and household names.
For both women, a key takeaway from working in business is their genuine belief that female led businesses are the future.
“Work ethic, grit and determination are all one needs for success, and these aren’t bound by gender,” Ms Fahey said.
“Building relationships for female business owners is a powerful tool that can lead to amazing new business opportunities and partnerships,” Ms Loyola said.
ELISE HONEYBROOK: CAMPERDOWN
Feeling unfulfilled by both her career in the music industry and a lack of high quality doughnuts in Sydney was what inspired 31-year-old Elise Honeybrook to reinvent the wheel and start-up cult doughnut venture Grumpy Donuts alongside her partner Scott.
Launched in 2015 as an online only delivery service, Grumpy’s was born from humble beginnings of the pair baking in their kitchen, before opening up shop in Camperdown and then a factory in Marrickville for wholesale doughnut production.
“Our business idea has always come from a place of what we would like to eat and what’s not available for us to eat,” Ms Honeybrook said.
And it appears to be a winning strategy, with the pair then opening up Valentina’s, the hugely popular soul-food diner in Marrickville.
In explaining how the pair work as a team Ms Honeybrook says she tends to be a bit more “vocal and commanding”.
“So if we’re meeting with a new business we might work with, some of the time people might be almost horrified they’re shaking my hand first, so that was a bit of a shock at first, to think there was still those perceptions of women doing business,” she said.
The former music executive is quick to point out there are also key benefits from working as a woman.
“Being a woman you are able to approach things in a different way then the average male brain would,” she said.
“It’s about being emotionally intelligent, nurturing and caring and I think that‘s added a side to our business that our staff enjoy.”
GINA FIELD: PENRITH
Running a 24/7 business open 365 days a week for more than 25 years takes grit and determination, something Gina Field has in abundance.
The 54-year-old started Nepean Regional Security in 1998 as a business on her own, which has since grown to score contracts for both Government projects and Hollywood films, picking up 24 industry awards on the way.
Ms Field, who first started working in security in 1988, describes herself as a “millionaire misfit” who was never silver spooned and “failed school dismally”, but was driven to succeed in a male dominated industry.
“When I started it was unheard of for a woman to work in security, this was the driver behind why I needed and wanted it to work,” she said.
“There are very limited security companies in NSW being led by females, so for me that’s a fantastic sense of motivation and achievement.”
A key takeaway of Ms Field is to lead by example, and her staff can still find her at the coalface of any major event working as a security guard on the ground.
“My staff see how hard I work and respect it,” she said.
LISA NOVAK: DEE WHY
Co-principal of Novak Properties in Dee Why, Lisa Novak is one of Australia’s leading real estate agents, ranking in the top 100 agents and top 50 women agents in the country by REB two years in a row.
Known for selling properties directly off her social media, Ms Novak earned herself the most expensive sale under the hammer in Sydney last year for 2 Reddall St, Manly after selling at auction for $21.5m.
While Ms Novak describes her day-to-day life as “organised chaos”, she says the best part of her job is helping people.
“When I go to sleep at night knowing I’ve been able to help people, as cliche as that may sound, is absolutely the most rewarding part of my day,” she said.
Ms Novak has featured on programs like Selling Houses Australia for her trailblazing work in real estate, telling NewsLocal she is inspired by her mother.
“It’s so funny because growing up I always saw my mum working hard, and there’s just so many similarities there that I’ve picked up along the way,” she said.
“This was a woman who really inspired me and really taught me that there’s no ceiling to what you can do - if someone tells you that something is not possible, find a way to make it possible.”
LIZ NABLE: MOSMAN
A former journalist turned entrepreneur, Liz Nable is the co-founder of media coaching company Nable My Business and was the first franchisee in Australia for Xtend Barre.
Running multiple sites for Xtend Barre and Nable My Business, Ms Nable says the best part of her job is the flexibility of working for herself and helping other women achieve their goals.
“Owning your own business is not easy, it’s really difficult to establish yourself and build up enough income,” she said.
“I love that I’ve created a life by my own design and get to help other people and leverage my skills to give back and help other women.
“It’s very rewarding work, a lot of women come to me and have that impostor syndrome … I see that potential and prove to themselves that they can do it.
“My mum inspires me because she came over here when she was really young … she didn’t have any family or friends. She’s built a life that she’s proud of after she faced a lot of adversity.”
BRITTNEY LEE SAUNDERS: NEWCASTLE
A YouTuber turned business owner, 29-year-old Brittney Lee Saunders began her career making fashion, beauty and comedy videos on her YouTube channel when she was just 14, before heading into the world of entrepreneurship which led her to found seven businesses.
With more than two million followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, Brittney decided to make content creation her full-time career when she turned 21, sharing makeup videos, vlogs and challenges to hundreds and thousands of fans.
In 2017, Brittney decided to launch her first fashion brand FAYT The Label, with a focus on size inclusivity by catering for sizes 6 to 24+ in all her products.
Since then, Brittney has opened two FAYT stores in Newcastle and Miranda as well as opening various other businesses including Flamingo Coffee, Outdo Espresso, Outdo Collective, Form Active and Staple Swim.
SAVANNAH PETERSON: HUNTER VALLEY
A third generation winemaker, Savannah Peterson is the owner of Savannah Estate winery in the Hunter Valley, following in the footsteps of her grandparents who have been making wine since 1982.
Her last name might be familiar to those who know the Petersons brand.
“I’ve been brought up doing everything from the ground up and I still implement this on a day-to-day basis,” said Ms Peterson said.
“Some days I am in the vineyard with my dad (Colin Peterson), in the winery with Chief winemaker Gary Reed looking at blends and bench trials, new label designs and creations, … having an afternoon wine - I mean meeting with staff to plan our goals for the year.
“I have recently stepped up in our business as ––a GMT, general manager in training, attempting to take some workload off Colin, so at the moment it's a lot of changes, and a lot of new ideas and developments coming into fruition.”
In the past five years, Ms Peterson has taken the tiny brand and grown it into a premium facility, attributing her success from her parents and their 50 years worth of knowledge.
“People know my stubbie-wearing father as a workhorse but I would say it‘s my mum Judy that I attribute my work ethic,” she said.
“Mum worked hard for many years while raising two children alone and successfully managing and owning fantastic hospitality projects in the Hunter and surrounds.
“My love of food and wine has been passed down from her and along with the greatest lesson of all - to treat every customer individually and make sure they leave having felt as though they have had the ultimate experience.”
RACHEL GOLDING: BAULKHAM HILLS
A former postdoctoral fellow turned entrepreneur, Rachel Golding is the owner of social enterprise Dinner on the Table - a food service providing nutritious, family-style meals and catering, with each order helping provide meals at no cost to women and families made vulnerable by disability.
With a focus on improving family wellbeing and providing delicious meals, Ms Golding says her favourite part of her job is seeing the impact that a simple meal can have on people.
“My favourite part of the job is seeing people come together around really good food,” she said.
After researching family and disability, one of Ms Golding’s goals with her business is to transform the way society cares for women made vulnerable by disability.
“I think we need to give a voice to women with a disability themselves or women who care for someone with a disability, particularly women with an intellectual disability who may not be able to debate in certain discussions,” she said.
“I do hope by continuously raising the issue of women who are made vulnerable by disability that we can keep championing that cause and give them a place in the room.”
JULIE STEVANJA: SURRY HILLS
A knack for identifying trends and understanding target markets has seen Julie Stevanja go from strength to strength in her fashion career.
The mother of one was the brains behind the hugely successful website Style Runner, which since its 2012 launch became a go-to online shopping destination for activewear.
Ms Stevanja says she is inspired by “seeing things that can be done better,” with StyleRunner emerging from what was a gap in the market for stylish activewear.
“I loved working out but at the time there were no parallels between fashion and activewear,” she said.
“It was all uninspired, mass produced and just missing the mark.”
Following StyleRunner’s success, more recently Ms Stevanja has turned her focus on a new venture in the online fashion world, a shopping app called Her Black Book, which she runs with her sister.
Launched just over a year ago, Her Black Book aims to connect brands with an organic following while giving consumers incentive to buy from them.
Throughout her impressive career Ms Stevanja says she recognised many barriers to entry for women in the business space, including a lack of funding for solely female founded start-ups.
“Solely female led businesses receive less than three per cent of venture capital funding, that number is atrocious,” she said.
“There’s still enormous gaps and it’s crazy these things still haven’t changed.”
SUZANNE PIGDON: NORTH SYDNEY
A sense of justice and desire to facilitate empowerment and gender equality are the driving forces behind Suzanne Pigdon’s work in family law.
Ms Pigdon is the solicitor and founding director of Pigdon Norgate, a family law practise in established in 2010 which represents clients in the Federal Circuit, the Supreme Court and the Family Court of Australia.
In describing her work, Ms Pigdon says family law is a complex and at times challenging area which requires empathy and an awareness of the human process of grief and growth.
“My career in law has been a deeply fulfilling and rewarding experience,” she said.
“The law is a powerful platform for effecting change and protecting vulnerable individuals through my work, I endeavour to promote gender equality and other social justice issues such as the protection of victims of family violence.”
For women in business, Ms Pigdon says confidence and a robust sense of self worth are instrumental tools toward success, and one should not let self doubt undermine their achievements.
“Never undermine your individual worth; you do not need to feel compromised at work,” she said.
“You do not need to accept inappropriate behaviour from your peers nor do you need to engage with it.”
PAULA MARTIN: CENTRAL COAST
Working as the Senior Director Regions and Visitor Economy for Business NSW, Paula Martin, 54, is an expert with 30 years experience in business growth and consulting.
“I get up every day with an unwavering intent to boost regional success and promote industry excellence,” Ms Martin said.
“I have seen the incredible innovation, ingenuity and dedication regional businesses can offer the nation and I want to see them operate on a national and world stage and be showcased for the excellence that they offer.
“Working with business to uncover what is stopping them from reaching their full potential and then bringing together industry, government and regulators to create a positive business landscape that unleashes their opportunity to grow and create jobs is my favourite part of my role.”
Chosen as the Most Influential Business Woman in the Central Coast in 2021, Ms Martin has helped regional NSW tackle challenges including access to skills, labour and new supply chains.
“I have had the great privilege in developing significant projects that help business to scale, grow new markets and develop their brands while working with Business NSW,” Ms Martin said.
When asked about women who inspire her, Ms Martin mentioned her mother, stating she has taught her the ability to “stay focused and put one foot in front of the other despite what life throws at you.”
AMANDA ROSE: WESTERN SYDNEY
Founder and CEO of Small Business Women Australia, Western Sydney Women, Mentoring Women, The Future is Bright and Founder of Business Woman Media, Amanda Rose is a certified #BossLady and professional development trainer.
One of the most influential people on LinkedIn, Ms Rose has a weekly #BossLady Careers Column in The Daily Telegraph and has worked as a keynote speaker with the likes of Uber, ANZ and The Australian Defence Force, sharing her skills in confident leadership, relationship building and conflict resolution.
With a busy schedule running various businesses, Ms Rose’s work days are never the same.
“I am up at 5am (unless I have TV then it is 4am) to start my day. I walk each morning. Plan my day and it usually kicks off around 7.30am,” she said.
“I have two companies so it is a juggle of my time between them both including team meetings, client work, building online programs, producing content and prospecting for contracts, plus I usually have around two media activities per day on top of that.”
Working through Covid-19, Ms Rose notes one of her biggest achievements was building Small Business Women Australia during lockdowns which now has 9600 members.
NAGI MAEHASHI: MONA VALE
Hailing from Sydney’s northern beaches, Nagi Maehashi is a chef and videographer best known for her food blog business RecipeTin Eats, focusing on sharing recipes and meal ideas that are fast, creative, clever and fresh.
After working in corporate finance, Ms Maehashi realised she wanted to pursue a career involving her passion for food and began her online cooking website in 2014.
Nine years later, Ms Maehashi has skyrocketed in popularity with over one million followers on Instagram for her fun, cost-efficient and homely recipes including one pot wonders, party food and quick dinners.
In 2021, Ms Maehashi launched her own not-for-profit division called RecipeTin Meals which focuses on addressing issues of hunger and food insecurity for vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community, partnering with One Meal to produce and distribute prepared reheatable meals five days a week.
Releasing her debut cookbook in 2022, Ms Maehashi has become one of the country’s favourite cooks for her easy and tasty recipes, her bubbly recipe and her adorable right hand man, her golden retriever Dozer.
LEANNE FAULKNER: GOSFORD
After growing a successful small business from humble beginnings to being sold in more than 2000 retail outlets, a 56-year-old then turned her focus to becoming a mental health advocate for small businesses, offering consulting services based on entrepreneurship and wellbeing.
Leanne Faulkner was the driving force behind Billie Goat Soap, which she started in 2004 after being concerned about her son’s eczema and the lack of non-steroid treatments available.
After rapid success and experiencing the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur Ms Faulkner sold Billie Goat Soap in 2012, the same year she launched Fortitude at Work, advocating for sole traders and microbusiness owners.
When describing what motivates her line of work, Ms Faulkner says she has a desire to see other small businesses succeed.
“I believe that every person in Australia deserves the opportunity to thrive at work,” she said.
“I’m passionate about advocating for mental health policy, resources and support for sole traders and micro businesses.”
Ms Faulkner is emphatic that small business owners should embrace their line of work and understand the benefits of being a sole operator, because starting out is “something which takes courage.”
“We need more recognition of the women in business, especially those who may be working from home on a side-hustle or transitioning out of corporate life,” she added. It takes courage.”
JADA PERFECT: PENRITH
A maven of business and networking, Jada Perfect started off running a cafe at the tender age of 19, since then she has focused her skills and knowledge on running networking events aimed at empowering women in
The 33-year-old, who is based in Sydney’s west, founded The Boss Lady to connect like minded women to each other in business and instil confidence in them through forging valuable connections.
“I was inspired to start boss lady events and networking events to surround myself with other women that I could have conversations with that were more than surface level,” she said.
“My aim is to help women gain financial freedom doing something they love while juggling all the responsibilities of life.”
A key takeaway from Ms Perfect’s experience in the business world is one must “build their own leadership style” which is a reflection of their personal values.
“It’s important to step in to your true self daily and stand up and speak for what you believe in even if it’s not the normal or traditional way within the industry,” Ms Perfect says.
KAREN WEBB: SYDNEY
It only took 232 years but NSW finally has a female police commissioner in Karen Webb. She has always been far from a “token woman”, working her way up from frontline general duties policing as a career cop.
Commissioner Webb was formally sworn in at a ceremony in her hometown of Boorowa in February 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the history of the state.
The proud working parent of two sons, Commissioner Webb was head of the police traffic and highway patrol and as assistant commissioner, had control of frontline commands including Police Transport Command, Aviation Command, Dog Unit, Major Events & Emergency Management Command, Marine Area Command, Mounted Unit and State Planning Unit.
Upon her appointment, Commissioner Webb pledged to prioritise victims of crime and community safety.
SIMONE ELLIS: BYRON BAY
Fashion designer Simone Ellis, 45, is the business owner of La Studio in the Byron Bay Industrial Estate and a bridal and couture store.
As a fashion designer, Ms Ellis said she had a responsibility to honour the people that would wear the garments that were produced.
“This responsibility is the responsibility of energy, matter and intention and it is with this responsibility that I design and make my garments for all,” she said.
Ms Ellis’ fashion inspiration is Alexander McQueen because of “the purpose and meaning he brought to the fashion industry”.
“I enjoy making clothes with integrity and understanding the energy because of it,” Ms Ellis said.
Ms Ellis’ other fashion inspiration is her best friend Hannah Flanagan because she is hardworking while maintaining self-care.
“I’m learning how important self-care is, you can’t be a successful business owner if you are run down or stressed,” she said.
In day-to-day duties Ms Ellis alters clothing, teaches alteration classes and designs dresses.
Ms Ellis believes in sustainable fashion and is against mass clothing production.
She has been designing and making clothing for 15 years ranging from simple ready wear to high-end couture.
SHARON CADWALLADER: BALLINA
Ballina Shire mayor, Sharon Cadwallader, was elected in December 2021 and has an interest in affordable and accessible housing along with creating jobs through economical and sustainable development.
Cr Cadwallader’s biggest inspiration is her father as he encouraged her to go out of her comfort zone and for his “community-mindedness”.
She encouraged people to never take anything for granted.
“Work hard, nothing comes easy. Time management is everything,” she said.
“Find your passion because then it doesn’t feel like work. Find out what you like and go for it.”
“There’s no such thing as a silly question. Questions are how you learn.”
SHELLEY EACOTT: BYRON BAY
Seamstress Shelley Eacott, 63, owns a Byron Bay boutique called Mode Boheme and takes her inspiration from women coming into her shop and helping them feel beautiful in the clothing she designs.
Mrs Eacott is passionate about women expressing themselves and encourages them to do it in a unique way through fashion.
“Dress with spirit rather than wear what other people are wearing,” she said.
“When we are told what to wear we lose that elegance and femininity.”
For those interested in pursuing a career in the fashion industry, Ms Eacott said to learn as much information about the field as you can.
“This is my passion, it comes from the heart. It’s the way I’ve helped dress women and how they admire their new look in the mirror and feel beautiful,” she said.
“It makes me want to get on the sewing machine and make another thing for another woman, I can’t describe that feeling of happiness.”
JENNY ELLIS: MID NORTH COAST
Jenny Ellis, is the co-owner of long-running Nambucca Heads surf shop Coastal Curves. But, the passionate youth advocate has also served as an executive of Nambucca Heads and Valla Chamber of Commerce.
Ms Ellis said the most important thing about owning a tourist business is simply being always available.
“It’s being there and people knowing you are going to be consistently open,” she said.
Ms Ellis said during Covid, she was pleased to see the amount of female surfers began to increase.
“The Covid-19 lockdown has been amazing for women surfing, there’s more female surfers than ever before,” Ms Ellis said.
“The young crew weren’t in school, so a lot of girls learned how to surf. It changes the vibe, it’s a lot mellower.”
“In the water everyone is supportive, the young girls go in a group and have fun.”
JESSICA JOHANSEN: BYRON BAY
Fashion designer Jessica Johansen, 27, is the creative mind behind Australian swimwear clothing label called Johansen and a well-known face from television show Byron Baes.
Ms Johansen thought she wanted to be an architect before realising her love for fashion at 18 years old when she began styling clothes.
“I think my inspiration came from when I used to cut up my old clothes and find one-off pieces and resell them, this is actually how I bought my first car when I was 16,” she said.
She recalls the moment she wanted to start a swimwear label - she was sketching designs in a cabin while living off the grid for about five years.
“I designed this collection of pieces I wanted and while I was sitting there looking at these styles, I thought I really need to just start this, so that week I did,” Ms Johansen said.
Her advice for women in creating a successful business is to never give up on their dreams, the importance of educating themselves and learning from past mistakes.
“Never give up, failure is just the stepping stones to success and consistency is key,” Ms Johansen said.
ALYCE BENSON: LISMORE
Alyce Benson, 36, has been a gun in the fitness industry for 17 years and owns Stepz Fitness gym in Lismore.
“I love helping people on their fitness journey, I find it rewarding,” Ms Benson said.
“When people first walk in the doors they are timid and it’s great to see them come out of their shell and become confident and comfortable in what they are doing.”
For those interested in starting a business Ms Benson said being passionate is the most important thing, along with having time-management skills and being driven.
“Dive in head first and don‘t let anything hold you back,” she said.
NAOMI McMULLEN: WAGGA
A familiar face at Wagga’s big events, Naomi McMullen is a savvy business woman who has thrown herself into every venture.
She, alongside her husband Tim, is the current director and owner of Borambola Wines and Tuckerbox. But Ms McMullen is also a yoga teacher and a mentor with Women in Business Wagga.
“I have over 20 years experience in Brand & Social Marketing, Event Management, and Public Relations, specialising in the wine and travel industry,” she said.
When asked what piece of advice she would give to women starting in business, Ms McMullen said it was essential to have a vision and supporting business plan.
“Understand your customer, and be involved with your local community groups for support and encouragement,” she said.
Ms McMullen said she was inspired by many women around her, but especially Chris Hillis and Danielle Wait.
“Chris is a wife, mother, grandmother, business women, board member of the Riverine Club, and volunteer to various charity organisations,” Ms McMullen said.
“Danielle is a wife and mother of (almost) two, who is working, and studying law full time. She has previously been on the board of the Wagga Business Chamber and Riverina Conservatorium of Music.”
NIKI SZABLYAS: BYRON BAY
Niki Szablyas, 41, the fashion designer and owner behind beloved Byron Bay boutique Nikko – formally known as Etnix.
She is a world traveller born to a bohemian family and originally from Budapest and designs all the vintage pieces herself for the store.
Although Ms Szablyas is inspired by fashion designers Marc Jacobs and Roberto Cavalli, she also likes to be her own inspiration.
“Be truly yourself. Don’t be into trends, don’t allow fashion to own you,” she said.
“Decide who you are, and what you wish to express by what you wear and how you live. Open your heart and the rest will follow.”
While running her own business, Nikki is also a dedicated mother to her young twin.
Her advice to becoming a successful businesswoman is to meditate as it helps her to “pull back” with the daily stresses of life.
ZANI McENNALLY: BANGALOW
Zani McEnnally, 51, has been running The Clay Barn, a ceramic and pottery studio in Bangalow, since 2017 where she teaches hand-building and wheel-throwing classes along with workshops and events.
Her journey began when she enrolled in a ten-day course at Mullumbimby Drill Hall which explored live drawing, painting and sculpture.
“It was the first time I had played with clay,” she said.
“The teacher encouraged me to apply for the Bachelor of Visual Arts degree at Southern Cross University in Lismore. I applied and was accepted.”
Ms Mcennally completed the degree seven years later, managing to raise three young boys at the time.
“I remind myself of how lucky I am with the life I’ve created, supporting others in the pursuit of creativity and also making a living out of doing what I love,” she said.
“Go with your heart and try not to listen to your head, when you go with your heart and instincts it opens doors.”
LISA DANIELLE SMITH: BYRON BAY
Lisa Danielle Smith, 34, is a Byron Bay influencer behind the bag label Louie Bloom.
She has worked in fashion for years and “has always been obsessed with accessories” with a long-term desire to create her own business which was further fuelled after she went on a trip to Morocco where she saw women creating incredible bags.
“I was nervous to take the plunge,” Ms Smith said.
“I have a deep love for the country, so it felt right to start there. We started sampling some designs and they turned out beautiful so we placed our first order.”
Ms Smith said she test-wore the bags she designed every day to ensure that her products were high quality before building a website and social media pages.
“The brand is launching in a few weeks’ time, it’s been a lot of work but I’m so happy about what we have created,” she said.
Ms Smith says it’s important to surround yourself with people who inspire and support you.
ROSA DIAFERIA AND OLIVIA SEFFANO: BALLINA
Lola Dining is a cozy restaurant in Ballina with a mixed cuisine of flavours from Europe that owners Rosa Diaferia, 37, and Olivia Seffano, 32, acquired from travelling.
The pair moved to the Northern Rivers during the pandemic for the lifestyle and noticed there was a gap in the market for a diverse restaurant.
“Lola Dining is a cultural institution, not just a restaurant, we were inspired by our travels around Europe so it has a mix of cultures,” Ms Diaferia said.
The restaurant is 70 square metres, including the kitchen, which allows for the customers to watch their food being made.
“We like the small space because it makes communication easier,” Ms Diaferia said.
“When customers walk in for the first time they think there is a second kitchen.”
Although they are now running a successful business, they recall how difficult the journey to success was - opening in 2021 they did not expect Covid to last as long as it did so they went into “survival mode”.
“We are relieved we didn’t know how difficult starting Lola Dining would be because if we knew how difficult it would be to obtain the correct licenses, we may have been deterred from the idea to run a business,” Ms Diaferia said.
“But we believed in ourselves, we kept trying and eventually we got there.”
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