WESTPAC FEMALE FOUNDER AWARDS

Thank you to everyone who entered, we have now announced our finalists.

The Westpac Female Founder Awards are a national awards program designed to recognise excellence, amplify founder stories, and back women with the credibility and platform to keep growing.


We’re looking for all types of female founders across Australia who are breaking the mould, disrupting the market, improving communities, and setting new standards of excellence.


To celebrate reaching our $1 billion lending milestone to women in business, we’re taking the next steps to support the future growth and success of female founders right across Australia.

Meet the finalists

Our finalists in the Female Founder Awards represent a diverse cross-section of Australian business, across a range of industries including; healthcare, sustainability, financial wellbeing, education, manufacturing, technology and retail.
 

Winners will be announced on 24 August. 
 

Thrive

The Thrive category recognises businesses that have stood the test of time, adapted and continued to grow.
 

  • Abby Crawford, Australian Power Equipment: built a trusted business supplying power and infrastructure solutions to organisations across mining, infrastructure and renewable energy, helping customers tackle complex operational challenges.
  • Cass Spies, Twisted Healthy Treats: turned better-for-you frozen desserts into one of Australia's fastest-growing treat brands, manufactured in her own Sydney facility.
  • Kellee Eriksson, Little Human Linens: an emergency nurse and mother of four turning safe-sleep expertise into a trusted bedding brand for families.
  • Melinda Farley, Kollektive: nearly two decades supplying baby and children's products; her patented Flexisuit onesie grows with the child, cutting cost and textile waste.
  • Michelle Kvello, Lantern Partners: helps founders navigate growth, expansion and business sales, using a proprietary Financial Health Check to identify challenges and guide smarter decisions.

Trailblazer

The Trailblazer category celebrates founders who are already disrupting their industries in the early stages of business.
 

  • Elysia Krstevski, Meke Baby: launched Australia's first portable milk warmer, now a full ecosystem of feeding solutions for busy parents.
  • Emily Pyke, Undatech: Former sailor in the Royal Australian Navy, developing fire-resistant protective apparel for women in Defence, emergency services and high-risk industries, addressing a long-overlooked safety and capability gap.
  • Jessica Armstrong, FUCA Skincare: created a low-tox skincare range for sensitive skin after her own cancer diagnosis, building a community for survivors along the way.
  • Katy O'Connell, CPR Clancy: over three decades as a nurse educator and CPR trainer, led her to design a more realistic interactive CPR training manikin to improve emergency outcomes.
  • Leah Kaslar, Djookian: built a business delivering sustainable temporary power solutions to major industries while creating pathways for women and Indigenous Australians in the sector.

Greater Good

The Greater Good category celebrates founders building businesses that create meaningful social impact alongside commercial success.
 

  • Kelly Johnson, Woodlane Pantry: transforming surplus produce into affordable, nutritious meals that support farmers, families and regional communities.
  • Dr Louise Metcalf, Gheorg: drawing on three decades as a psychologist to create an AI-powered platform that helps children navigate anxiety, stress and neurodiversity challenges, making support more accessible for families.
  • Lucy Kough, Tap the Gap: helping women grow their superannuation through everyday spending and education, making wealth-building simpler and addressing Australia's gender retirement savings gap through a behavioural lens.
  • Melisha Sirisena, Kids Hearing: drawing on her experience as a paediatric audiologist, she founded Kids Hearing to integrate hearing assessments directly into schools, supporting teachers, improving access to hearing care for students to identify concerns earlier, and guiding children, families and schools with the support needed to improve learning, development and wellbeing.
  • Ruby Riethmuller, Womn-Kind: creating the support system she wished she'd had growing up, helping girls and gender-diverse young people build confidence, connection and resilience through wellbeing and leadership programs.

The Award Categories

There are three award categories, with one outstanding finalist selected as the overall Founder of the Year​.
 

Trailblazer

Early-stage businesses (less than 3 years) that have developed an innovative product, service, or business model. They are disrupting their industry, market, or the status quo.

Thrive

Businesses that have stood the test of time (3 years or over) - adapting to changing economic and market conditions while also achieving significant growth.

Greater Good

Businesses and social enterprises whose products or services drive positive change in our communities, creating impact that is meaningful and commercially sustainable.

Prizes

Category Winners

  • Same as the finalists plus:
  • Choice of coaching, media training or mentorship​
  • $10,000 to support your business​


All finalists will receive

  • Award Certificate
  • Use of Westpac Award logo for 12 months

Overall Founder of the Year

 

The best of the best. A founder who has stood out, whether for their impact, growth potential or ability to inspire others.​

Prize

  • Choice of coaching, media training or mentorship​
  • $30,000 to support your business​
  • Paid ad campaign worth $120,000
  • Award Certificate
  • Use of Westpac Award logo for 12 months

Who's Eligible

The Westpac Female Founder Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding female‑founded businesses across Australia, from early‑stage innovators to established leaders, and highlight the impact women are having on our economy and communities.​
 

  • The awards are open to both Westpac customers and non‑customers. ​
  • To be eligible, applicants must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and an owner or part‑owner of the business being entered.
  • The business must be at least 50% women‑owned and women‑led and hold an active Australian ABN.
  • All entrants are required to be compliant with applicable taxation and regulatory requirements.​

2026 Key Dates

Applications Open

20th of May to 30th of June

Judging

7th to 28th July, judging rounds will be completed.

Finalists Notified

From 31st July, finalists will be notified via phone and email.

Finalist Announcement

5th of August, finalists will be published.

Winners Notified

10th of August, winners will be notified.​

Winners Announcement

24th of August, winners will be announced publicly.​

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a Westpac customer to enter?

No. The awards are open to both Westpac customers and non‑customers.

You can enter if you: 
 

  • Are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Are an owner or part‑owner of the business being entered
  • The business must be at least 50% women‑owned and women‑led
  • Hold an active Australian ABN
  • Are compliant with taxation and regulatory requirements

Yes. Early‑stage and startup businesses are encouraged to enter the Trailblazer category. 

Yes. Founders may enter more than one category if their business meets the eligibility criteria.

  • Trailblazer – Early-stage businesses (less than 3 years) that have developed an innovative product, service, or business model. They are disrupting their industry, market, or the status quo. 

  • Thrive – Established businesses (3 years or over) that have demonstrated sustained success and adaptability.

  • Greater Good – Businesses and social enterprises whose products or services drive positive change in our communities, creating impact that is meaningful and commercially sustainable.

  • Westpac Female Founder of the Year – Selected from the pool of 15 finalists, the best of the best. A founder who has stood out, whether for their impact, growth potential or ability to inspire others.​

You’ll be asked to provide: 
 

  • Business details
  • A written response tailored to your chosen category


Submissions are completed online via the SmartyGrants platform.

Yes. Our submissions platform SmartyGrants allows you to save progress and return before submitting.

Yes. You’ll receive an automated confirmation email once your application is successfully submitted.

All submissions are assessed through a transparent, evidence‑based process that includes: 
 

  • Eligibility screening 
  • Independent scoring by judges using weighted criteria

Each category has specific judging criteria, assessing areas such as innovation, traction, impact, leadership, scalability and sustainability. 

If you have any questions on the awards program or submission platform, please contact the following;


Awards program information: femalefounders@westpac.com.au

Category Winners: Trailblazer, Greater Good, Thrive (3 in total)

The three category winners will receive:

Female Founder of the Year Winner

The Female Founder of the Year will receive:

  • Award Certificate
  • Use of Westpac Award logo for 12 months
  • $30,000 to support their business
  • Mentorship or coaching, with the choice of one of the options below:
  • 1 month paid advertising campaign, covering digital and press adverts with News Corp, to the value of $120,000

The Westpac Female Founder Awards are designed for commercially operating businesses and social enterprises. As such, not for profit organisations and registered charities are not eligible to apply.

Things you should know

By submitting an application in the Westpac Female Founder Awards Program, each applicant agrees to have read and accept the terms and conditions.