Southern Highlands’ top businesswomen revealed
From architects and experts in social media marketing to the doyens of body treatments and the heads of gourmet retreats, these are the women leading from the front.
The Bowral News
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There are so many wonderful women in the Southern Highlands doing great things for the community and heading up many varied businesses.
From architecture to organic beauty products, these women are leaving an indelible mark on the Southern Highlands.
Here are the top businesswomen in the region, as voted by you.
VALENTINA BORBONE
Banter Group
Valentina Borbone is the brains behind marketing powerhouse Banter Group.
When she moved to the Southern Highlands, Ms Borbone saw a need to educate people, especially small businessowners, on the best way to do social media marketing. Within a day of merely mentioning the idea, Ms Borbone had her first client, and within eight months she has eight employees and a burgeoning business.
Ms Borbone was adamant that she would create the flexible workplace that would allow her the freedom to balance time with her kids with work.
“There isn’t a lot of scope for a working mum in a traditional marketing agency. I decided I’m going to put my energy where my mouth is and create exactly what we all wished we had,” she said.
As most of her team are also parents, Ms Borbone finds that being flexible with scheduling means that her employees are more focused and willing to work hard at work.
“What I’m laying down as a groundwork for the business; it’s up to the team to play with those rules, but as long as the clients get what they need on the deadlines, then we work hard and we play hard.”
With this flexibility comes a strong sense of inclusivity that Ms Borbone has worked hard to foster in Banter Group. She has hired two people using the Nova Employment Disability Employment Service and strives to employ people with the right skills, regardless of circumstance.
“I don’t want to build a million-dollar empire. If we’re successful financially, then that goes straight back into the people and straight back into the environment we work in, for a better life and better conditions.”
Ms Borbone’s focus on collaboration is the core of the company, right down to the name.
“Naming the business Banter is based on the ethos that conversations solve problems, so we’ll come up with the right answer collectively with the client. So, we are a big bunch of talkers.”
DONNA JENNINGS
Bare Body Beauty
When Donna Jennings started making body scrub in her parents’ kitchen six years ago, she had no idea that she was creating a product that would be sold throughout the country.
The single mum started out selling three handmade beauty products at the Berrima Markets and is now selling 150 products in three locations across NSW (with another 50 product ideas in mind).
Bare Body Beauty is a company founded on principles of all-natural ingredients and sustainability. Ms Jennings says that 80 per cent of the beauty products made in Bowral are edible, although probably not the tastiest.
“It’s a philosophy of why put on your body what you wouldn’t put in your mouth. All of the products are the most natural products you can get on the market,” she said.
The business has won the Wingecarribee Council Environmental Sustainability Award in 2017 and 2018 and was highly commended in 2019.
Bare Body Beauty is a family business, and both of Ms Jennings’s children have been heavily involved since its inception.
“My kids are very active in the business because they have to be,” she laughs.
Both her 6-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son are instrumental in the running of the company. Her son has been running the Berrima store since he was 11 years old, and he was awarded the Business Youth of the Year award in 2019 for his efforts.
“They’ve both got the best work ethic,” Ms Jennings says of her kids.
“I’m very lucky with all of my staff. They’re all family.”
Ms Jennings has just opened her third store in Byron Bay and is looking forward to having some time to reflect on the growth of the business.
“I want to be able to sit back, look at the business and think ‘this is great’. I just want it to be stable. For it to be the best that it can be.”
JENNIFER FOSTER
Southern Highlands Flower Farm
Jennifer Foster is an entrepreneur who turned a love of gardening into a blooming flower farm in one of the toughest years in history.
When Ms Foster’s cut flower farm began to fstart blooming for the first time in January, she had been evacuated because of the bushfires. Thankfully, her thoughtful neighbours were able to video her plants and send it through to her.
“We’ve got a lovely community here,” she enthuses.
Due to the drought and the smoke damage, it wasn’t a great yield for the farm’s first year, but Southern Highlands Flower Farm sold out of blooms due to the pandemic. Demand for flowers surged as people were confined to their homes and wanted to keep their houses looking cheerful.
“More and more people were asking for flowers. It was a busy time,” Ms Foster said.
Ms Foster is effusive in her praise of the local community, and particularly the floral community who have been very supportive of her flourishing business.
“Everyone just helps each other out and is so nice,” she said.
“I get satisfaction from the flowers themselves and from sharing the experience.”
The businesswoman is keen to grow her business and to explore different options.
“I can do better every year. I love learning and I have plans to put in place,” she said.
She is currently working with local flower farm Highland Dahlias on learning about the specifics of dahlia care to best cultivate her 1500 plants. Ms Foster is also in talks to supply local florists and cafes, in addition to her current agreement with Moss Vale IGA.
“A success story from a good businesswoman with a delightful can-do personality,” is the succinct description of Southern Highlands Flower Farm from her nominator Mai Rose.
PETREA KING
Quest for Life
Petrea King is the founder and CEO of Quest for Life, which opened in Bundanoon in 1999.
Quest for Life is a centre for those who have been through a traumatic event in life, providing programs for people suffering a wide range of life challenges, from physical illnesses to emotional stress.
“Quest is dedicated to providing education and support so that people who have experienced trauma can find post-traumatic growth and find a useful way through,” Ms King said.
The CEO has been working in the wellness field since 1985, when she started out as a naturopath and yoga teacher. She moved down to the Southern Highlands in 1995 and opened the Quest for Life centre in 1999.
Quest for Life is very active in the community, offering 100 programs a year and in 2020, many of those programs focused on those in rural communities who were affected by drought or bushfires.
Fundraising efforts also allow financially disadvantaged local people to attend programs, and residents of Bundanoon are able to attend the programs for free if they sleep in their own homes.
“We really want what we do here and the education we share with people to be available to our own local community,” Ms King said.
The humble CEO said the success of the business was due to the network around the business.
“I feel very privileged really, because I’ve been blessed with amazing support that has enabled us to have such a huge impact on so many people in the community, so that’s been incredibly gratifying that people have invested in Quest so that we can do this work,” she said..
TINA TZIALLAS
Tziallas Architects
Some 12 years ago, Tina Tziallas moved to the Southern Highlands and followed her dream of starting Tziallas Architects.
“I really wanted to create an architectural studio that focused on quality design and achieving really beautiful design solutions for clients,” she said.
The architect is very passionate about the collaboration between designer and owner and ensuring that the two visions are aligned.
“It really does become a journey about what the feeling of the house needs to be and how a family works and lives, and how a house can reshape how a family operates,” she said.
“The biggest thing for me in architecture is establishing that connection with people.”
The mother-of-three has found that establishing connections with clients and communicating effectively has been easier to do in the Southern Highlands.
“I’ve had three babies of my own and raised them in the office,” she says.
“I could only do that in the Highlands because all of my clients were really understanding. I wasn’t prepared to give up (work for) my first baby, which was the practice.”
Her own experience as a working mother means Ms Tziallas has created a very family-friendly practice with flexible scheduling and an emphasis on focusing while at work.
“It’s impossible to separate family life from work life, you have to find a way to bring it together.”
Ms Tziallas said this philosophy was very effective during the pandemic. The team usually works on more than 45 local projects simultaneously, all at different stages, and that didn’t slow down during the pandemic.
“Commercially and professionally, last year was one of the most exciting for our projects,” the businesswoman said.
“We were fortunate that our work involves people’s homes, and the one thing people were reflecting on last year was their homes because a lot of people were spending more time than ever at home.”
BRIGID KENNEDY
The Loch
Brigid Kennedy has worked in hospitality for nearly four decades, perfecting the art of culinary hosting. The Loch is the natural culmination of all her experience and her passion for regenerative farming.
“The Loch is a gourmet retreat. Whether as a retreat from towns to have an authentic country experience to get away from the maddening crowds and be looked after by our lovely girls,” she said.
Much of the food served at The Loch is taken from the same paddock where guests will dine, and the rotating menu changes according to the availability of produce. Meat is sourced from local farms in the area.
“It’s a community and we all help each other. When everyone works well together, it promotes everybody,” she said.
Though the pandemic was a challenge, Ms Kennedy said it reinforced a business truth for her.
“The Loch is all about diversity. You’ve got to have diversity if you’re going to be a woman in business,” Ms Kennedy said.
Diversity is obvious at The Loch, which is an entertainment space and a rural experience as much as a sustainable eatery. To be COVID-safe, diners now order online to get the food and drinks delivered to their tables as they arrive on site.
In the year ahead, Ms Kennedy has big plans for The Loch. There is an intimate concert with an acclaimed singer and a special performance by a Shakespearean actor, but Brigid is most excited about a truffle showcase that will highlight the region’s under-appreciated produce.
“We’re excited to establish that truffle culture here in the Southern Highlands, where we have 12 growers.”
CHENELLE CONQUEST
Paws N Whiskers Pet Services
It’s no surprise that Chenelle Conquest is such a success in the animal services industry. For an avid animal lover and self-confessed people pleaser, an all-inclusive pet services company is an obvious outcome.
Ms Conquest began Paws N Whiskers in 2016 when she saw many people were delaying or cancelling holidays because they were worried about leaving their animals alone. The vet nurse realised people weren’t taking care of themselves because they were worried about their fur children.
“We strive to make life more enjoyable and less stressful for people,” she said.
“Part of my service is to be there for animals in the way they deserve – because they can’t talk or communicate so people need to be there for them more than they realise.”
It was challenging starting the company while working and raising a family, but Paws N Whiskers now has six staff over three locations (Southern Highlands, Goulburn, and the Hunter Valley).
“I feel like it’s something I was meant to do. Doing something you’re passionate about doesn’t feel like work,” Ms Conquest said.
She is very involved with the local community and ensures the company does an annual fundraiser, with proceeds going to various charities.
“Long term, we’re looking to start our own charity,” Ms Conquest said.
“My ideal would be somewhere that people can drop off animals with no questions asked, and to rehabilitate animals so that all the bills are paid for. It’s something I’ve had the works for a while, but I think it’ll take a while before that comes together.”
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