Victoria’s top-performing female business women lead the charge
A dozen of Victoria’s top-performing female small business owners took the top spots at the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. See who they are.
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Meet 12 Victorian women leading the charge in small business.
The dozen high achievers — all small business owners — have been honoured at the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards.
They competed against 62 of the nation's most inspiring and influential women in small business.
In addition to Victoria‘s 12 leading women in small business, the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards highlighted 33 NSW-based female small business owners; a dozen from Queensland, two from South Australia and one each from the ACT, Tasmania and WA
According to federal government data, more than one third of the 3.3 million small businesses operating in Australia are run by women.
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2022 shows a 46 per cent jump in women business owners during the past two decades.
Awards Founder and managing director of the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards, Steve Loe, said it was time to honour the leading women in business.
“Just as the Matildas shone during this year‘s World Cup, attracting the nation’s admiration and highlighting the positive contribution of women in sport, this comprehensive awards program celebrates the outstanding calibre of our country’s female entrepreneurs and those who are inspiring future generations of leaders,’ Mr Loe said.
“It‘s high time we better recognise Australia’s female small business trailblazers’ massive economic, social and cultural contributions.”
SEE FULL LIST OF VICTORIAN WOMEN HONOURED AT THE NATIONAL AWARDS:
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES CHAMPION
Brenda Robinson, director of Robinsons Honey
An Australian small business success story, Brenda Robinson started Robinsons Honey in her home kitchen before blossoming into an internationally awarded brand.
Today, the business provides an expanding range of pure Australian honey products collected at the source in natural, pesticide-free areas such as Gippsland in the state’s east.
For Ms Robinson getting into the honey business was a “natural choice”.
“Winning the Australian Women’s Small Business Awards and being named the Champion Agriculture Services of 2023 is a huge honour and gives credibility for our business and also to women wanting to be leaders in the agricultural food and honey industry,” she said.
“Robinsons Honey is something I am passionate about.”
Even though the honey industry is prone to natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and other catastrophes, Ms Robinson said it was also “very rewarding”.
“From little bees, big dreams grow,” she said.
Ms Robinson was also named ‘Champion Entrepreneur’ at last year’s Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards.
Small Business Champion Entrepreneur
Pippa Hanson of The Sports Injury Clinic
This year’s title of Australian Women’s Small Business ‘Champion Entrepreneur’ went to Pippa Hanson of The Sports Injury Clinic.
The physiotherapy business started by Ms Hanson 19 years ago as “a small team” has grown into the large award-winning business.
“I am honoured and was lost for words on the night because it is an Australian-recognised award. It is a real honour and I credit my whole team for making it happen,” she told the Herald Sun.
“What inspires me as a business owner is to really provide a great workplace for my team and to look after our clients — it's really being able to help people.”
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY CHAMPION ‘23
Christy Roberts of Creating Change
Creating Change, based in Ferntree Gully took the top spot in the field of Alternative Therapy.
Founder Christy Roberts started the business five years ago but it only became a full-time job after she lost her 18-year-old son Aaron in a car accident.
“I was working as a life coach, but I had no idea how to process grief or trauma, or how to help myself, but other people didn‘t know how to help me either,” she said.
“That kind of led me down a different pathway where I discovered a healing modality called self directed healing and self directed healing.”
Energy healing modality is when people move deep emotional pain limiting beliefs, but moving them physically through the body, Ms Roberts said.
“Aaron, my son, is the driving force behind everything that I do. It’s through my work, even through the debilitating loss and grief that I’m able to honour him in the work that I do and helps me reach more people”.
SPECIALISED RETAIL CHAMPION ‘23
Beatrice Toh, Founder of HeyDoodle
HeyDoodle took top gong in the Specialised Retail category.
Based in Richmond, Beatrice Toh — a mum of three — created HeyDoodle in 2019 after identifying a gap in the market for quality, washable and reusable creative play products for kids.
“Locally, we are pursuing new avenues in the NDIS sector and creating opportunities to collaborate with corporations to extend our reach,” Ms Toh said
“Internally, we are continuously innovating to challenge what is available in the market and produce better products for the consumers as well as the earth.”
Ms Toh told the Herald Sun winning the award was a “sweet recognition” of the business’ journey.
“The award adds credibility to our brand and opens up pathways for our small Voice to be heard among larger players in business,” she said.
“Most importantly though, it showed my eight-year-old anything is achievable when you put your heart into what you’re doing.”
PHYSIOTHERAPY CHAMPION ‘23
Nicole French, Founder of Exercise for Rehabilitation & Health
Exercise for Rehabilitation & Health founded by Nicole French took the Physiotherapy category award.
An allied health practice located in Essendon, Exercise for Rehabilitation & Health was established 17 years ago in the heart of the Moonee Valley.
Made up of “super passionate” health professionals who are accredited exercise physiologist, and physiotherapist who use a “unique collaborative care” approach in helping patients.
Founder Nicole French told the Herald Sun the health practice’s “hands down treatment” was what made them stand out.
“We offer a really cool and incredible diagnostic and manual therapy treatment from physiotherapists which is then combined with real comprehensive approach to exercise programming,” she said.
Ms French said she and her team were “beyond thrilled” to win the Physiotherapy Champion award.
“It’s great to be recognised for our contributions to the Australian healthcare landscape, but particularly for our contributions to diabetes prevention and innovation and the way we‘re bringing our model of care to the table,” she said.
“Im super proud to be an accredited exercise physiologist and leading our business and team. I hope this award can inspire other younger health professionals, and particularly exercise physiologists to dream bigger and have the self belief that they too can actually make a difference.”
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE BUSINESS CHAMPION ‘23
Alicia Kennedy, Founder and CEO Cherished Pets
The trophy for best Social Enterprise Business went to Cherished Pets, based at Ocean Grove and run by Alicia Kennedy.
Providing both private and palliative veterinary care, it is also a social veterinary service to support pets which belong to people who experience vulnerability.
Founder Alicia Kennedy said as a vet she’s always been inspired by the power of the “human-animal bond” that transform people’s lives.
“Our purpose is to enable the benefits of healthy companion pets and a thriving human animal bond to be accessible to all people,” she said.
“I recognised a gap in our community to support pets of people experiencing vulnerability. Evidence is growing of the social value of the human animal bond to improve human health and wellbeing.
“When people struggle, pets suffer. When we support the health and wellbeing of pets we in turn improve people’s lives and build stronger communities.”
Ms Kennedy said receiving the Social Enterprise Business Champion Award was a “very exciting validation” of their “special work”.
“To be recognised at the national level is a real honour and endorses are ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the vital role the human-animal bond plays in healthy, thriving communities,” she said.
“There is no question this award creates opportunities for us to advance our work.”
BROWS AND LASHES CHAMPION ‘23
Jackie Nguyen, chief executive of Jackie Lash Co
Jackie Lash Co located at Derrimut won the highly competitive category of Brows and Lashes.
Founder Jackie Nguyen started the eyelash business in a small corner of her spare room after the tragic death of her father.
Advertising her services on social media and building her clientele from scratch, Ms Nguyen built her social media presence.
“One day, I got a message from a local beauty blogger asking if she could come in for a set of eyelash extensions; I was thrilled and quickly agreed. The blogger loved her lashes and wrote a glowing review on her Instagram. Soon, my business started getting busy,” she said.
FASHION CHAMPION ‘23
Lauren French, owner and designer of Motto Fashions
Lauren French, owner and designer of Motto Fashions won the Fashion category.
The family owned business started by Ms French’s mum and dad 40 years ago was taken over by her in 2o21.
Ms French said the clothing business was for women who value “bold styling” and want to “stand out”.
“Our demographic is about 45 to 50-year-old women who have their kids gone off to high school, and they get to the moment where they want to bring their energy back and want to be themselves and ooze confidence,” she said.
“Our clothing is designed really to enhance that confidence and let them shine. It’s fun, it’s energetic and our clothing really does give women confidence.”
Ms French said she was very excited to get the award especially because often people forget about the “45 plus age bracket” in the fashion market.
“We‘re really trying to combat we want to bring that age to the forefront and really empower people that once you get to that point, it’s not about oh, I can’t wear that anymore … we‘re trying to break all those stigmas around ageing,” she said.
MARKETING SERVICES CHAMPION ‘23
Christie Nicholas, chief executive of Mumpower
Best in Marketing Services went to Mumpower, which specialises in marketing to mums.
Chief executive Christie Nicholas said Mumpower tracks growth for brands that speak to mums because when it comes to family households, research continues to show that mums “control the majority of the household buying decisions”.
“We deal with this by listening, involving and empowering mums to shape the brands they buy, and in turn this mum-centric ethos means that brands that speak to this audience grow faster and strengthen relationships with her. It’s win-win for everyone,” she said.
Ms Nicholas said she was “extremely proud” Mumpower was recognised as the winner in the hotly contested category competing.
“This award celebrates mums and the role they play in shaping the economy. It acknowledges the brands that are leaning into being their best for their customers,” she said.
“It is a nod to our exceptional team who are driven by our values and ethos to make a difference to this space.”
SERVICES CHAMPION ‘23
Gurpreet Kaur Batth, MD of CMP Security Services
The services category was won by CMP Security Services, owned by Gurpreet Kaur Batth, proving that women can succeed even in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Operating under the business name Force Response Security is an esteemed national company offering a comprehensive selection of services encompassing physical security, mobile patrol services, security breach risk assessments, and brand protection
Founder Gurpreet Kaur Batth, who started her career as a security officer quickly realised the male-dominance within the industry which inspired her to start the business.
“As a female, I faced constant discrimination from both colleagues and clients, and opportunities for certain roles were denied to me simply because of my gender. These challenges fuelled my determination to create a more equitable and inclusive environment within the security industry,” she said.
Alongside her passion for promoting gender equality, Ms Batth’s deep-rooted dedication to the safety and service of local communities also played a significant role in starting her business.
“I firmly believe in the importance of providing reliable security services that communities can trust. Witnessing the gaps and biases within the security industry only strengthened my resolve to make a positive impact and prove that women can excel in this field,” she said.
“I am grateful to the Australian Small Business Champions Awards for this recognition, as it not only celebrates the success of Force Response Security, but also highlights the importance of promoting diversity and equality in business.”
NOT-FOR-PROFIT SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION ‘23
Marisa Debattista, chief executive of Second Chance Animal Rescue
Victoria’s animal-focused small business female trailblazers also shone this year, with the Second Chance Animal Rescue shelter based in Craigieburn, run by Marisa Debattista, named winner of the Not-for-Profit Small Business category.
Operating since 2008, the community based charity is run by vet professionals, animal-loving volunteers and foster carers.
They rescue and rehabilitate dogs and cats due to be euthanised at pounds and shelters across Victoria and offer them a Second Chance at finding their forever homes.
Knowing she could make a change, Marisa Debattista launched Second Chance Animal Rescue with a handful of animals in need.
Starting the charity more than 15 years ago Ms Debattista’s mission was to make the world a better place for pets and their people.
“Today, I find myself surrounded and supported by an incredible team of devoted staff and volunteers, who share in my passion and commitment to pets and their human companions,” she told the Herald Sun.
“We’ve grown into a network of hundreds of foster carers and other volunteers, with just as many cats and dogs in care. We’re proud to say that by the end of 2019 over 10,000 animals had been rescued from not-so-pleasant fates in pounds and shelters throughout Victoria and are now happily settled in new homes around the state.”
MAKEUP ARTIST CHAMPION ‘23
Emma McFarlane, chief executive of Blush Bar
The title of 2023 Makeup Artist Champion is now held by Newtown’s Emma McFarlane, chief executive of Blush Bar.
Blush Bar is an exciting and experience-focused concept in make-up and hair services, which is fully-licensed.
Originally published as Victoria’s top-performing female business women lead the charge
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