Today we can reveal the identity of our 2021 Top 50 Small Business Leaders. Download the report here to read the inspiring stories of resilient small-business owners who have achieved remarkable feats in terms of growth and innovation.
This time last year I assumed the challenges of dealing with a global pandemic would be an “outlier” and that 12 months down the track we’d be celebrating businesses well on track to putting COVID behind them and benefitting from a resurgent global economy. Alas, that is far from the case – over 15 million Australians are in lockdown today – so it is even more remarkable that we had so many inspiring stories of small-business leaders overcoming the challenges of the last 18 months to thrive from which to select this year’s Top 50.
Once again this year our Top 50 represent small businesses in every sector – from primary production and manufacturing to IoT and Agtech start-ups – all of whom have made outstanding contributions to their clients, the communities in which they live and work, and to society at large. Indeed, sustainability is a recurring theme with everyone who made the cut this year.
From free-range egg farmer Julie Kos and gluten-free doggy treat producer Ben Whyatt to innovative manufacturer of water-saving devices Nicole Gibson and furniture design guru David Light, our winners have demonstrated resilience, innovation and agility to ride the waves of the pandemic and lead their businesses forward to a brighter future.
I’d like to thank Richard Thame and the the team at SNAP Printing and Design for their generous sponsorship of this year’s report, which you can download here.
Australia’s 2021 Top 50 Small Business Leaders
Adam Nobel, Hugo Alexander Property Group, Qld
Aimee Brown, Bespoke Chiropractic Manning, WA
Andy Heller, EmuTel, NSW
Ben Whyatt, Doggylicious, Vic
Bianca Stawiarski, Warida Wholistic Wellness, SA
Carley Johnson, carleyjohnson.co, Vic
Carmen Garcia, Community Corporate, SA
Carol Brunswick, Belly Bands, Qld
Carrie Kwan, Mums & Co, NSW
Christine Smith, Great Ocean Stays, Vic
Corina Vucic, FC Business Solutions, Vic
Craig Rochat, Land of Plenty Food Co, NSW
Danielle Storey, Eastern Innovation, Vic
David Ashton, Corporate Supremacy, WA
David Light, Icon by Design, NSW
Emily Bobis, Compass IoT, NSW
Fleur Madden, Freelancing Gems, Qld
Grant Davidson, Davidson Branding and Design2Thrive, Vic
Jane Wundersitz, WunderTraining, SA
Janine Leghissa, Desiderate, NSW
Jeni Wilcock, Sullivan Dewing Chartering Accountants & Business Builders, NSW
Julie Kos, The Smoked Egg Company, Vic
Julie Ockerby, Meli Studio Australia, NSW
Kat Davidson, Earths Tribe, Vic
Katrina McCarter, Partnership Mastery, Vic
Kaye Waterhouse, Vital Beat, WA
Kerry Ridley, My Little Bookshop, WA
Kim Vespa, Bobbie Brands and Punk Angel, Vic
Leigh Rust, Safetyline Jalousie, NSW
Lielette Calleja, All That Counts, NSW
Lisa Smith, BYOM, WA
Lisa Sweeney, Business in Heels International, Vic
Lisa Vincent and Jenny Barltrop, Savv-e, NSW
Matt Smith, MyPass Global, NSW
Michael Finn, Kingdom Constructions Group, Vic
Nathan Wardell, Packserv, NSW
Nicolas Cann, Blobfish International, Vic
Nicole Gibson, Soka Australia, Qld
Nina Nguyen, Pakko, Qld
Philip Chapman, Lease1, Qld
Rupa Parthasarathy, Mindkshetra, NSW
Sarah Leung, Alg Seaweed, Vic
Sharon Melamed, Matchboard, NSW
Shelley Cox, Makers & Merchants Barossa, SA
Sinay Salomon, aXonPlay, NSW
Steve Chapman, Shine Drink, NSW
Susan Sadler, Red Wagon Workplace Solutions, SA
Tanya Abbey, Black Wolf Group, Qld
Tim Langford, Claim App, Qld
Tracy Sheen, The Digital Guide, Qld
