Meet four regional entrepreneurs changing their communities - Women's Agenda

Meet four regional entrepreneurs changing their communities

The finalists in the NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards have just been announced. So which leading women are up for top prize in the Regional Entrepreneur or Manager of the Year award? Learn a little more about our four finalists below.

Winemaker Eliza Brown

Eliza Brown is the CEO of All Saints Estate and St Leonard’s Vineyard, based in north-east Victoria. A small family business run by young, energetic and ambitious people, the company focuses on online and retail sales.

Brown credits the company’s continued growth on its ability to breathe life into the old and dusty, particularly through efforts to build an online presence and communicate directly with customers.

With a strong vision for the company, Brown is the chief motivator for her colleagues. The company places a strong emphasis on teamwork and building the skills of staff members.

In 2011 Brown was accepted onto the board of Tourism North East. She has also chaired the Winemakers of Rutherglen Association for the past two years.

During her time on the board, Brown has concentrated on building a new look for the region with the aim of promoting and marketing Rutherglen as a premier wine region in Australia and beyond.

Aboriginal arts promoter Alison Page

Alison Page is the founder and executive officer of Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, an Aboriginal arts and culture organisation established in 2008 and governed by 10 Aboriginal land councils in the Mid North Coast of NSW.

The alliance is an innovative social enterprise that drives demand for the employment of hundreds of Aboriginal contractors in the fields of art, design and events. It was conceived with the intention of creating sustainable home-based income generation for Aboriginal people that would be meaningful and strengthen the cultural identity of the artists and their communities.

Since its inception, the alliance has helped find contracts for 400 Aboriginal people in art and events and has delivered training to a further 700 people.

In 2012 Page launched the commercial arm of the alliance with the aim of brokering joint ventures between Aboriginal artists and manufacturers to create unique design products and “close a gap” by supporting home-based art and design businesses.

Through her training and experience as a leader Page has also implemented leadership and professional development opportunities for her staff.

In 2011 Page was appointed by the Prime Minister as a non-parliamentary member on the expert panel for Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Furniture guru Margot Spalding

Margot Spalding began her career in children’s clothing manufacturing before taking a different route and joining forces with her husband to establish Jimmy Possum, a furniture and homewares company.

Nine years later and the one-time backyard business now employs 150 staff, with nine retail stores across Australia. As co-owner and managing director, Spalding is the driving force behind the company’s business framework.

Despite pressures to chase the “manufacturing dollar” elsewhere, the company remains tethered by Spalding’s community ethic, and has its roots firmly planted at “Possum Central” in Bendigo.

Spalding also initiated the Jimmy Possum healthcare and wellbeing program – The Filthy Challenge – that was acknowledged by Worksafe Victoria in 2012. Jimmy Possum has also adopted an in-house leadership program and encourages factory staff to obtain new skills through training and apprenticeships.

In addition to micromanaging the company, Spalding also spends time mentoring other women in business and is part of a start-up team for women within the Bendigo Business Council.

Communications expert Jo Scard

Established on a farm in rural NSW, Fifty Acres – The Communications Agency is the brainchild of Jo Scard. The firm specialises in working with not-for profits and has grown to employ seven staff who work remotely from their homes across Australia.

Fifty Acres credits itself as a change agent, working with 15 NFPs at board and CEO level to assist with strategic thinking, government and media engagement. It also has partnerships with Pro Bono Australia and The Walkley Foundation.

With no “clock on, clock off” time, staff are encouraged to work around their personal schedules and are entrusted with undertaking work in their own time, which Scard believes creates staff loyalty and enthusiasm.

Staff are also given the opportunity to develop their skills across different areas, participate in networking groups and contribute to the agency’s advisory board.

Scard is also the co-author of The Working Mother’s Survival Guide.

×

Stay Smart! Get Savvy!

Get Women’s Agenda in your inbox