See how women in rural, regional, and remote areas are realizing their dreams in business. Celebrate what women can do in the business world.

- The WiRE Showcase Series -
A Celebration of Remarkable Rural, Regional and Remote Women Entrepreneurs


The main objective of the WiRE Showcase Series is to celebrate exceptional rural, regional and remote entrepreneurial women and to provide a resource that other women can use in their entrepreneurial journeys. Some of the women showcased here are business women, others are entrepreneurial leaders in their communities who make a significant difference to their communities and regions, and some of them are both.  

The video interviews were conducted by Retha Wiesner, Program Director of the WiRE Program, via Zoom, and since these interviewees reside mostly in rural and remote Queensland, the quality of internet connection wasn't optimal for most of the interviews. However, internet connection problems have never stopped women in rural, regional and remote Queensland to progress worthwhile activities and share their valuable ideas. This Showcase Series is just one example! 

The WiRE Program would like to sincerely thank the interviewees for their time and the wonderful advice shared in these interviews. Below you will find concise written case studies and video interviews where they share their advice and lessons learned during their entrepreneurial journeys.

This page is a work in progress with more case studies to add as the latest WiRE Female Founders Fast-Tract Initiative progresses. 

The 2024 Showcase Series was proudly supported by the Queensland Government.

The 2019 and the 2020 Showcase Series’ were funded by the Queensland Government through its Department of Employment, Small Business and Training. The 2017 and 2018 WiRE Showcase Series’ were funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

View the 2024 Showcases HERE

Previous WiRE Showcases

Jo collins (Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast - top my cake)

Click HERE to find out more about Jo as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Jo talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Katherine Walton (Warwick, QLD - kathryn Walton consulting: Relax in Nature Bundle)

Click HERE to find out more about Katherine as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Kathryn talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Jacqui Blanch - Kensington Grove, Queensland: MAJA Community Initiatives

Click HERE to find out more about Jacqui as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Jacqui talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

MAJA Community Initiatives co-create vibrant, healthy, sustainable and caring communities by building social capital, connecting individuals and community th...


Dulmini Ranasinghe - DURA, Toowoomba, Queensland

Click HERE to find out more about Dulmini as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Dulmini talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

DERA is Hand Made - Baby Clothes Design Brand. Dulmini designs her ownpatterns and sew them with quality fabrics.

Blaise Graham - Find Your North: Quinalow (Darling Downs)

Click HERE to find out more about Blaise as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Blaise talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Samantha Devers: Small Biz HQ - Gladstone, Central Queensland

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Samantha talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Over 60% of small business ventures fail in the first three years due to three main reasons, poor cashflow, poor strategic planning and trading at a loss. We...

Shannon Townsend - Sionna Lifestyle & Aquatics: Toowoomba, Queensland.

Click HERE to find out more about Shannon as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Shannon talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Marnie Louise Reiffel - Marnie Louise / Asset You: Whitsundays, QLD

Click on the image below for a short video interview in which Marnie Louise talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Asset You inspires and empowers women entrepreneurs to own their worth and know their value - step out of overwhelm and avoid burnout! An investment and jour...
 

Nikki McNamara

Click HERE to find out more about Nikki as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Nikki talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Nikki's venture is Tenrou. Tenrou is where the Adventurous unwind. She offers online self-guided programs, and one-on-one coaching so Action Takers, Free Spirits and Over Achievers will be able to simplify and de-stress their lives using the fun easy to implement techniques developed from her real-life experiences.

Danielle Doyle 

Click HERE to find out more about Danielle as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Danielle talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Daniel's passion is people. Her venture is Wild Spark, which is a rural women's network - connecting rural, regional and remote women in business - helping them be the best they can be no matter where they live.


Etina Mlambo 

Click HERE to find out more about Etina as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Etina talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

My business is Audacity Business Solutions. As a Coaching and Training Business, we help small business owners and individuals uncover, discover and develop their strategic thinking, business acumen and leadership skills in achieving business /personal results on an ongoing basis. We do this by helping them gain self-awareness, clarify goals, achieve their development objectives and unlock their potential.

Felicity Wegemund

Click HERE to find out more about Felicity as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Felicity talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Felicity Wegemund's venture is Last Wishes. It is the online afterlife organiser for everything your loved ones will need in the event of your death. Felicity describes the WiRE Program as an excellent place for women in rural areas to gather the tools to create a successful business.


Katie Smith 

Click HERE to find out more about Katie as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Katie talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Katie Smith's ventre is Olive, the Typsy Gypsy - Marry Me Event.Olive delivers one of a kind events that are styled to you and your event. What's more, Olive is double the value at half the price tag! Katiecomments that The WiRE Hub program provided her with the essential knowledge to successfully launch Olive into an existing market.

Megan Sidebottom 

Click HERE to find out more about Megan as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Megan talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Megan Sidebottom's venture is Solo Birds. Solo Birds focuses on helping small business owners build their business online using modern social media strategies. By building a strategy around social media, branding, attraction marketing and mindset we can provide tools and training to assist owners to build their business.

Natalie Petersen

Click HERE to find out more about Natalie as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Natalie talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Natalie Petersen's venture is Evolve HR Solutions. You know how small business struggles to prioritise Human Resource Management until there is a problem? Well what I do is look over the HR practices already in place and show a business how to utilise them to achieve an outcome, suggesting improvements and additions, if necessary.

Romaine Undery

Click HERE to find out more about Romaine as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Romaine talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Romaine Undery's venture is RAMESA Nursery. They are a family run plant nursery located a short distance north of Kingaroy supplying a wide range of plants suitable for many garden types. They travel each weekend and sell their plants from their pop up nursery stall at Markets, Garden Festivals and Events and are available to speak at these and Garden Clubs.

Ruth Hotson

Click HERE to find out more about Ruth as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Ruth talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Ruth Hotson's venture is Finding Balance Kinesiology. You know how life can get stressful and you feel overwhelmed - well what I do is to help relieve stress using a variety of different techniques so you can feel more relaxed and in control.

BRENDA FOLEY

Click HERE to find out more about Brenda as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Brenda talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

Brenda Foley is a tech savvy digital entrepreneur with a desire for making your business a true reflection of who you are and what you do. In a competitive digital landscape, you want someone that knows the ropes. You want to know that preparing your brand for the world is going to be smooth sailing.

Michelle Hamilton

Click HERE to find out more about Michelle as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Michelle talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Carolyn Smith

Click HERE to find out more about Carolyn as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Carolyn talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com


Brigid Price

Click HERE to find out more about Brigid as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Brigid talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Angela Elliot

Click HERE to find out more about Angela as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Angela talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Tara Jacobsen-Neven

Click HERE to find out more about Tara as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt (Tara is also a WiRE Hub Facilitator)

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Tara talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Felicity Chapman

Click HERE to find out more about Felicity as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Felicity talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Heather Jonsson

Click HERE to find out more about Heather as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Heather talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Jane Thompson

Click HERE to find out more about Jane as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Jane talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Karen Alexander

Click HERE to find out more about Karen as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Karen talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Kelly Beasley

Click HERE to find out more about Kelly as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Kelly talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Kym Breeze

Click HERE to find out more about Kym as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Kym talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Megan Neilson

Click HERE to find out more about Megan as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Megan talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Rachelle Hampson

Click HERE to find out more about Rachelle as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Rachelle talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Richa Joshi

Click HERE to find out more about Richa as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Richa talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com

Sheena Lindholm

Click HERE to find out more about Sheena as a person, her venture, her entrepreneurial journey and lessons learnt.

Click on the image below for a short video clip in which Sheena talks about her venture and her experience in the WiRE Program.

The WiRE Showcase series showcases inspiring entrepreneurial women in rural, regional and remote enterprises. See www.wireprogram.com


Georgie Somerset

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Georgie's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview. 

The WiRE Showcase Series - Georgie Somerset: A beef producer and rural leader with experience in agribusiness, marketing and regional development, Georgie Somerset's work involves identifying and advocating opportunities, resolving issues and creating linkages and networks across sectors.

 

Claire Dunn

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Claire's entrepreneurial journey.  Click on the image below to view the full interview. 

The WiRE Showcase Series - Claire Dunne: Claire Dunne, 24 years old, started her first business at age 23. She self-publishes a rural women's magazine, called Graziher. It has been successful and has released seven editions to date as well as build a wide community of like-minded rural women.

 Joy McClymont

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Joy's entrepreneurial journey.  Click on the image below to view the full interview. 

The WiRe program Showcase Series - Joy McClymont; Joy is owner of Off The Track Training Pty Ltd, which focuses on providing virtual health and fitness opportunities, guidance and resources to people who want to be a part of a supportive community and participate in a holistic fitness program from any location (home, travelling, office, paddock).

 

Julia Telford

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Julia's entrepreneurial journey.  Click on the image below to view the full interview. 

The WiRE Showcase Series - Julia Telford: Julia is known throughout regional Australia for her work with regional small businesses and community organisations. Julia's business, Engage & Create Consulting, allows her to follow her passion of ensuring viability and vibrancy of regional Australia through project development using creative ideas and solutions.

 

Karen Brook

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Karen's entrepreneurial journey.  Click on the image below to view the full interview. 

The WiRE Showcase Series - Karen Brook: Karen is an entrepreneurial expert, a results mentor and someone who is truly focussed on converting thinking into results. For the past decade she has worked with individuals and teams, helping them to boost productivity, performance and profit by setting big worthy goals, closing their knowing-doing gaps, shifting old paradigms and forming success habits that will last a lifetime.


Alison Mobbs

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Alison's entrepreneurial journey.  Click on the image below to view the full interview. 

The WiRE Showcase Series - Alison Mobbs: Alison Mobbs, President of QRRRWN is a strategic thinker and business leader with a proven track record of developing women. She is a director and secretary of Mobbs Cattle Co Pty Ltd, breeding beef cattle across Queensland for over twenty years.

 

Fiona Lake

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Fiona's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Showcase Series - Fiona Lake: Fiona is a professional photographer dedicated to explaining life in rural and remote areas. Since the first photograph sale in 1982, Fiona has developed a unique, multi-strand business to support this life-long advocacy.

 

Carmen Roberts

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Carmen's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

WiRE Program Showcase Series - Carmen Roberts - Compass West. Carmen has one clear purpose, which is to help businesses do business well. As a boutique agency, they are no nonsense problem solvers who work with businesses to solve everyday issues, effectively, efficiently and affordably.

 

Kristy Sparrow

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Kristy's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

WiRE Showcase Series - Kristy Sparrow: Kristy is a grazier and co-founder of BIRRR (Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia), a Facebook group established in 2014 to address the telecommunication issues faced by people who live in rural and remote Australia.

 

Lisa Lonsdale

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Lisa's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Showcase Series - Lisa Lonsdale: As an independent specialist with a grazing background, I understand the complex issues that producers are faced with. I grew up on a beef cattle enterprise at the head of the Hunter River in NSW.

 

Dr Sandra Baxendell

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Sandra's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Showcase Series: Sandra Baxendall: Sandra left the Queensland public service in 2013 after a long and successful career and set up her sole trader business, Goat Veterinary Consultancies - goatvetoz, a short time later. This was a combination of a 'goats only' veterinary practice where work was done on goat farms in South East Queensland with contracted work for goat industry groups.

 

Fleur Anderson

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Fleur's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Program - Fleur Anderson: Fleur is a self confessed small town addict. Never living in a town larger than 10,000 people and starting 3 businesses in the last 10 years from the town of 500, Theodore in Central Queensland.

 

Helen Hill

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Helen's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Showcase Series - Helen Hill: Located midway between Townsville and Ayr on the Bruce Highway lies a 120 hectare plantation with 16,000 Achacha trees, the only one in Australia and currently the only known large-scale plantation in the world.

 

Jess Fealy

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Jess' entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

Jess Fealy wears many hats. A qualified chartered accountant, Jess grew up on a dairy farm and is now a farm wife and mum of four, at Blue Sky Produce, a family owned and operated mango, avocado and lime orchard in Far North Queensland.

 

Joy Taylor

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Joy's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Program - Joy Taylor: Joy is the Co-Founder and Community Manager of Canvas Coworking Space in Toowoomba, Qld, where she supports entrepreneurs by creating a collaborative community environment and hosting programmes designed to build capability, capacity and confidence.

 

Meg Kummerow

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Meg's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

The WiRE Showcase Series - Meg Kummerow has agriculture running in her veins. She grew up on a beef cattle property and has been involved in beef cattle feedlotting, cotton and grains industries. Her husband and two daughters life on a grain farm west of Toowoomba.

 

Bronwyn Reid

Click HERE to view the concise written case study on Bronwyn's entrepreneurial journey. Click on the image below to view the full interview.

WiRe Showcase Series: Bronwyn Reid is a small business owner and entrepreneur whose passion is helping small business grow by taking on contracts with large organisations. Her new venture - Mining for Business - will be her third startup, all from the regional Queensland base of Emerald.