Now in its second year, The Australian Women’s Weekly/CPA Australia Women In Business Awards seeks to uncover the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
With $75,000 in prizes to be won, the major prize winner will be awarded $10,000 plus Bauer Media Trade credits to the value of $25,000. In addition, two highly commended winners are awarded $5000 each, plus Bauer Media Trade credits to the value of $15,000.
Our panel of judges, each a recognised leader in their field and including former CEO of the Australian Industry Group and Reserve Bank Board member Heather Ridout, as well as the Federal Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer, are looking to reward women whose existing business is primed to go from small- to medium-sized, and then take on the world.
We are proud to announce the following 15 semi-finalists in our exciting competition.
ZIAH LANE
BUSINESS NAME: No Issues Tissues
FROM: Potts Point, NSW
THE BUSINESS: No Issues Tissues is the only premium, environmentally friendly tissue product available in Australia. The 100 per cent tree free products, made from renewable and sustainable bamboo, are now available in Woolworths, Coles and Harris Farm Markets, with a strategy to sell the products to airlines, hotels and overseas markets.
CARMEN O’KEEFE
BUSINESS NAME: Riga Precast Pty Ltd
FROM: Griffith, ACT
THE BUSINESS: Riga Precast is Canberra’s preeminent precast panel supplier. In 12 months since being incorporated, Riga has experienced rapid growth, securing $12.5 million in contracts, and now has a team of 11 employees.
KRISTY CHONG
BUSINESS NAME: Modibodi
FROM: Gladesville, NSW
THE BUSINESS: Modibodi is a revolution in women’s underwear – stylish and comfortable, but also leak and sweat-proof. Launched in 2013, in the three months to March this year Modibodi has increased their revenue 20 fold since January 2015.
Top row: Kristy Chong, Carmen O’Keefe, Julie Adams and Lorna Cook
Second row: Kim Liddell, Alison Cotton, Ebony Shalders
ALISON COTTON
BUSINESS NAME: First Base
FROM: Bondi, NSW
THE BUSINESS: The women’s sports-inspired basics clothing brand was launched in 2013. Since then, First Base now is sold in more than 125 stores throughout Australia, Asia, UAW and the US and has expanded to include lifestyle products and high performance active wear.
CAROLINE MONET
BUSINESS NAME: Caroline’s Skincare
FROM: Hamilton Hill, WA
THE BUSINESS: A specialised range of therapeutic skincare products for the treatment of dry and inflamed skin conditions. Available in pharmacies, health stores and from health-care practitioners throughout Australia, as well as online, Caroline’s Skincare has grown from a cottage industry to a national company in just four years.
Top row: Ziah Lane, Seona Emanuelli, Rachel Van Nierop
Second row: Sue Turner, Roslyn Sutton, Nicola Mason
NICOLA MASON
BUSINESS NAME: Smitten Merino
FROM: Taroona, TAS
THE BUSINESS: Specialising in merino and organic cotton, all Smitten Merino garments are designed and manufactured ethically in Tasmania. The website with 50 products was launched in 2011, and by 2014 had expanded to 600 products available online and in stores nationwide.
SUE TURNER
BUSINESS NAME: The Uniform Exchange
FROM: Pymble, NSW
THE BUSINESS: A service to recycle and exchange used school uniforms and text books either at the Pymble store or nationally via the website. Currently there are over 45,000 items available, which represent substantial saving on education costs for parents.
STACEY FISHER
BUSINESS NAME: Minnow Designs
FROM: Balmain, NSW
THE BUSINESS: Practical, beautiful and unique beach booties designed to protect babies’ feet from hot sand, shells and rocks while they explore the sea and sand. The trial product first launched to a hugely positive consumer response in 2015 and retail exclusively at minnowdesigns.com.au.
Rachel Perkins and Caroline Monet.
RACHEL VAN NIEROP
BUSINESS NAME: Henty Brook Angus
FROM: Burekup, WA
THE BUSINESS: Grass fed beef delivered straight to consumers’ front doors. A range of bulk beef products are available, with a focus on quality (MSA graded and dry-aged) grass fed beef of exceptional value from animals treated with compassion and respect, and without the use of feed antibiotics or hormonal growth promoters.
RACHEL PERKINS
BUSINESS NAME: JustMums Recruitment
FROM: Coburg, VIC
THE BUSINESS: A niche recruitment agency dedicated to connecting working mums and mums returning to work with jobs with a focus on full and part-time, flexible and family-friendly employment. The agency specialises in job placement, resume development and referral to specialist services tailored to working mothers.
KIM LIDDELL
BUSINESS NAME: Non Destructive Excavations Australia
FROM: Vineyard, NSW
THE BUSINESS: World leaders in subterranean safety, protectors of underground infrastructure, the business began with one truck in 2005. Now operating a fleet of trucks, NDEA is branching into fully sustainable, 100 per cent recycling of mud slurry construction waste.
Stacey Fisher
EBONY SHALDERS
BUSINESS NAME: Pig in a Pickle
FROM: Sandy Beach, NSW
THE BUSINESS: Full day meat preserving workshops in the creation of sausages, salami, pancetta and more. Since 2013 Pig in a Pickle has grown from a small word of mouth to people from all over Australia attending workshops.
SEONA EMANUELLI
BUSINESS NAME: Bidibots Pty Ltd
FROM: Reservoir, VIC
THE BUSINESS: Bidibots is a healthcare company specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of products for Newborn Intensive Care units. Research of premature nappies commenced 10 years ago and Bidibots now supplies nappy product to 15 of the 22 Neonatal ICUs in Australia.
JULIE ADAMS AND LORNA COOK
BUSINESS NAME: Chemo@Home
FROM: Perth, WA
THE BUSINESS: Chemo@Home administers chemotherapy and other infusions to patients in the comfort of their own homes through metropolitan Perth. The company now administers over 200 treatments per month in the private sector.
ROSLYN SUTTON
BUSINESS NAME: Sutton’s Juice Factory & Cidery
FROM: Stanthorpe, QLD
THE BUSINESS: A family run, fully functional apple orchard which has grown from a traditional apply orchard to a multi-faceted boutique business incorporating a juice factory, cidery, distillery, pick your own apples and Shed Café.
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