Shine winner Sharon Winsor’s tale from despair to success

The lowest point in Sharon Winsor’s life was also one of the most defining moments for her future success.

Indigiearth founder Sharon Winsor is the overall 2023 Shine Award winner. Picture: Dean Marzolla

The lowest point in Sharon ­Winsor’s life was also one of the most defining moments for her ­future success.

In the pits of despair, after enduring domestic abuse and the stillborn death of her son, the NSW entrepreneur decided she had to make a change.

She poured her pain and passion into her business and the idea of creating a better life for herself, her children and other Indigenous people living in rural Australia.

Ms Winsor combined her culinary training with a love and understanding for native food to create a trailblazing brand that has taken Indigenous tucker from the bush to the supermarket aisle.

In the 25 years since, Indigiearth has become a leading provider of premium bush food, ingredients and botanicals in what has become a rapidly growing sector worth more than $80m a year.

“This year alone has been a ride, but my greatest personal achievement yet is that I am still here,” Ms Winsor said.

“We need to showcase more First Nations stories and achievements nationally for positive role models and stories that never seem to make mainstream news often enough. That there are many First Nations people who are in business and operate in a wide range of industries, in the hope that we can change some stereotypes.”

To Ms Winsor, a Ngemba Weilwan woman from Mudgee, supporting Indigenous-owned nurseries and farms is a huge part of the experience as a businesswoman. “Growing up in the bush and thriving off country are some of the greatest memories of my life,” Ms Winsor said.

For her entrepreneurial spirit, determination to share her culture and passion for supporting other Indigenous businesses, Ms Winsor has been awarded the Shine Award for Grace, as well as the overall winner of the 2023 awards. Now in their seventh year, the Shine Awards – a campaign by rural masthead The Weekly Times, supported by Harvey Norman – seek to recognise the achievements and contributions of women across rural and regional Australia.

Harvey Norman chief executive officer Katie Page-Harvey, who was on the judging panel, said Ms Winsor was chosen as the overall winner to recognise her “extraordinary contribution to employment, creation of new commercial markets, community education and the elevation of the Australian food industry”.