Shine Awards: Sharon Winsor, founder of Indigiearth, rises from the ashes

Indigiearth’s Sharon Winsor has come through the flames of adversity stronger than ever to become a bush foods pioneer.

Sharon Winsor, a Ngemba Weilwan woman from western NSW is the personification of rising from the ashes to grow and succeed.

Producing a range of bush foods from native products under her Indigiearth brand, Sharon is also an executive chef who passes on her Indigenous knowledge through native food masterclasses and pop-up dining experiences.

She was the first First Nations person to win NSW Business Leader of the year in 2013, and her brand is the first Aboriginal-owned native food brand to be stocked in Woolworths.

For Sharon, this union of food and country is what drives her each day - but it’s also what kept her going through some of the darkest moments of her life, including the loss of her firstborn child and being a survivor of domestic violence.

“Growing up in the bush and thriving off country are some of the greatest memories of my life. My passion for bush foods and country runs deep in my veins,” Sharon said.

Sharon Winsor, the CEO and Founder of Indigiearth, based in Mudgee, has triumphed over personal tragedy to be a shining light in her community.

“Starting a business when I was living in Sydney, many years ago, was born from my passion for bush food, yearning for the bush and excitement to want to share culture with the world.”

Along with balancing the needs of her business, Sharon supports her brothers, one of who is physically disabled and the other is Australia’s first Indigenous winter Olympian.

It’s a testament to her ability to forge on through the fire and to emerge victorious.

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