The founders of Carman's and Boost Juice are among a range of female food manufacturing representatives who've been welcomed into the Australian Businesswomen's Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame officially launches on 4 March in the lead-up to International Women's Day, celebrates Australian female business owners who are trailblazers in their industries, which range from food to fashion and charity work to construction.
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN) CEO, Suzi Dafnis, said technological developments have helped women to excel in a professional capacity.
"Over the years I've really seen women come into their own as business owners. Their level of ingenuity, creativity and spirit is inspiring. I really believe the biggest change factor has been technology. The changes in technology over the past 10 years have really enabled women-lead flexible, innovative and globally-competitive businesses.
"All of the women in our 2013 ABN Hall of Fame have used technology in some way to help their business. Technology has enabled them to start and build their businesses regardless of three elements that could have once been barriers family responsibilities, geographic location or operating from home. Because of technology these things are no longer barriers for women entrepreneurs," Dafnis said.
This year, a number of the inductees work in the food and beverage industry. These include:
- Carolyn Cresswell, founder of Carman’s Muesli
- Jacqueline Arias of Republica Coffee
- Janine Allis, founder of Boost Juice
- Kris Lloyd from Woodside Cheese Wrights, and
The remaining inductees are:
- Annie Crawford of Can Too
- Chris Cameron of Rockcote
- Gillian Corban and Amanda Blair of Corban & Blair
- Heidi Middleton & Sarah-Jane Clarke of Sass & Bide
- Jane Cay of birdsnest.com.au
- Lorna Jane Clarkson of Lorna Jane Activewear
- Melinda Cruz of Miracle Babies Foundation
- Naomi Simson of Red Balloon
- Ronni Khan of OzHarvest
- Shelley Barrett of ModelCo
- Wendy Simpson of Springboard
- Trinette Schipkie of BTB Group
The ABN Hall of Fame has been running since 1998 and these new inductees join 150 other women the ABN has previously recognised as outstanding female business leaders.
Earlier this year Food mag spoke with Carolyn Cresswell about how she turned a $2000 investment into a $50m global empire.