Meet Australia’s 10 Leading Female Entrepreneurs

The entrepreneurial network has been a male-dominated ecosystem for the longest time. However, the last decade has been marked by the entry of strong female entrepreneurs in the field. These enterprising women have paved the way for the much-needed participation of females in the entrepreneurial arena. Breaking the glass ceiling, they have risen to the top and astounded millions with their flourishing businesses, dynamic personalities, and steadfast attitude.

The Federal Government has taken note of this pleasant change and is offering tools to support women entrepreneurs, including securing funding, getting desired training, finding mentors, networking opportunities and more. Several women-led organisations in the country have set an example for others to follow suit and emulate their success. So, here is a list of Australia’s ten leading female entrepreneurs who can ignite your passion for achieving your goals.

1. Gina Rinehart

Honoured with the Order of Australia (AO), Georgina Hope Rinehart is the Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting. She ranks among the world's 100 most powerful women and is the single largest landholder in the country. She was the wealthiest person in the country in 2019 with her net worth at US$14.8 billion. Her net worth in 2021 was projected to be more than $30 billion.

Gina became the executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting in 1992 when her father passed away. However, the business was on the verge of bankruptcy at that time. She used her prowess and farsightedness to transform it into a thriving company that has become one of the largest mining entities in the world. Gina has become a role model for budding entrepreneurs who wish to start their ventures or acquire a business for sale in Melbourne or any other prosperous city in the country.

2. Melanie Perkins

The chief executive officer and co-founder of Canva, Melanie Perkins is the wonder woman who leads one of the most thriving tech companies. With a net worth of $8 billion, she is among the richest women in the country and was named among the ‘Top Under 30 Founders of the decade’ by Forbes.

Canva was founded by Melanie, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams. The freemium software has 60 million monthly users, which helps users to create beautiful graphics without designing skills. The company was valued to be worth $40 billion in 2021.

3. Katie Page

Kay Leslie Page is the chief executive officer of Harvey Norman, a multi-national retail company with a market capitalisation of 5.18 billion. Positioned fourth among ‘50 most powerful women in business’ in 2015, Katie’s net worth stands at $80 million. She is considered the force behind her company's success since taking charge as the CEO in 1999. She helped to expand the retail brand internationally to New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, and Slovenia.

In 2016, Harvey Norman had 280 company-owned and franchised stores in Australia. She became a part of the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2021 and is considered a leading entrepreneur in the country. Katie is known to support several professional sports and enthusiastically endorses women in sports.

4. Fiona Geminder

The third richest woman in the country, Fiona Geminder, has a net worth of $3.3 billion. She owns a considerable stake in the listed plastics-packaging business Pact Group and her family's paper packaging and recycling business, Visy Asia-Pacific.

Born in 1965, Fiona is married to Raphael Geminder, who is also ranked among billionaire businessmen in Australia. She has been actively involved with the Pratt Foundation, a philanthropic organisation started by her parents in Melbourne.

5. Judith Neilson

Another Order of Australia recipient, Judith Neilson is a well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the co-founder of the White Rabbit Gallery and a shareholder in Platinum Asset Management. With a net worth of $1.2 billion, Judith was ranked among the ‘100 Women of Influence’ in 2018 and has been a part of the list of Australian billionaires for a long time.

She is an avid promoter of visual arts and humanitarian causes. She also started an art gallery and performance centre called Phoenix in Sydney. Here White Rabbit Gallery has the largest collection of modern Chinese art.

6. Janine Allis

The founder of Boost Juice and part-owner of Retail Zoo, Janine Allis has a net worth above $66 million. The Boost Juice franchise began in 2000 and is now present in 13 countries, while the holding company Retail Zoo has acquired Salsa's Fresh Mex Grill and Cibo Espresso. The revenue generated by the company stands at $350 million. Her franchise network offers an ideal platform for aspiring female entrepreneurs who wish to purchase a business for sale in Melbourne or any other city to jump the bandwagon.

Janine has also written a book - The Accidental Entrepreneur – The Juicy Bits that tells her story of resilience and success and has appeared as an investor on Shark Tank. She is the epitome of woman empowerment.

7. Naomi Milgrom

The founder of ARJ Group Holdings, Naomi Milgrom, is a name to reckon with in the women’s clothing industry. Her company owns popular clothing lines for women including Sportsgirl, Suzanne Grae and Sussan. She began her career in 1988 as a marketing planning manager for her family business Sussan and became the CEO by 1990. In 2003, she acquired full ownership of the Group and its brands.

Naomi’s net worth stands at $795 million, and she is also involved in philanthropic activities. She has been honoured with the Centenary Medal for her contribution to the fashion industry and was selected as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2010.

8. Kayla Itsines

The 31-year-old entrepreneur, Kayla Itsines is a personal trainer, author of fitness ebooks and the co-founder of Sweat and co-creator of High Impact with Kayla. With a net worth of $64 million, she was named among the 30 most influential people on the Internet in 2016.

Kayla has been credited with using social media to market her brand and achieved the feat of acquiring 8 million followers on Facebook and 12.5 million on Instagram in 2016. Starting her career in 2008 as a personal trainer, she has managed to transform the lives of several women by improving their health and fitness.

9. Maxine Horne

The founder and Non-Executive Director of the Vita Group, Maxine Horne is also a professional speaker, business consultant and brand ambassador for Act for Kids. Her net worth is estimated to be $1.4 million and is one of the highest-earning executives in the company.

Vita Group is a leading retail company in Australia which was founded in 1995 under the brand Fone Zone. Starting from one store, it expanded to 160 and got Telstra’s only Master Licence under her leadership. Maxine was involved with the further evolution of the company and the creation of Vita Enterprise Solutions, Artisan Aesthetic Clinics, Sprout Accessories, and SQD Athletica.

10. Diana Williams

Owner of Fernwood Fitness, Diana Williams is known as a leader in the women's health and fitness industry in Australia. Her business has a turnover in excess of $75 million per annum, and the brand has 70 clubs across the country with 80,000 members.

Offering a dedicated workout space to women, Diana has come a long way since the launch of her first gym in Bendigo, Victoria. She has been included in the Australian Women’s Hall of Fame and Fitness Industry Hall of Fame and happens to be the first woman to become a part of the Franchise Council of Australia’s Hall of Fame.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship is usually considered a privilege enjoyed by men. However, Australia has witnessed a slew of female entrepreneurs breaking the barriers of gender inequality. The list above is a way of celebrating their achievements and inspiring several others like them to take the next step to economic empowerment.