Westpac names winners of the 2026 Female Founder Awards

Editorial Team
08:45am August 24 2026

Westpac Female Founder Award winners (from L-R): Cassandra Spies, Twisted Healthy Treats; Emily Pyke, UndaTech; Jessica Armstrong, Fuca Skincare; Leah Kaslar, Djookian; Melisha Sirisena, Kids Hearing. (Image: Supplied)

A former Navy officer developing protective clothing for women in high-risk jobs.

 

A paediatric audiologist pushing for hearing checks to become routine for children.

 

A food manufacturer exporting frozen desserts from south-west Sydney to international markets.

 

A national skincare brand championing authentic representation for women experiencing cancer and those with sensitive skin.

 

And a clean energy business helping mining and infrastructure companies cut emissions while creating new pathways for women and Indigenous Australians.

 

These are the five winners of Westpac’s inaugural Female Founder Awards, recognising female entrepreneurs across Australia who are building businesses with commercial success, innovation and community impact at their core.

 

The winners are:

 

 

Female Founder of the Year winner, Emily Pyke, will receive $30,000 cash, a national advertising campaign valued at $120,000 and the choice of coaching, media training or mentoring. 

The category winners will each receive $10,000 cash and their choice of coaching, media training or mentoring. They will also feature in a digital advertising campaign.

 

“These five winners represent the ambition, innovation and determination we see every day from women building businesses across Australia,” said Paul Fowler, Westpac Chief Executive, Business & Wealth.

 

“Backing these founders means backing Australian jobs, stronger communities and economic growth across the country.”

 

Female Founder of the Year: Emily Pyke, UndaTech

 

After 13 years in the Royal Australian Navy, Emily Pyke saw first-hand how women are exposed to safety risks daily, from fire and explosions to electrical hazards. Traditional undergarments, often made from synthetic materials, can be incompatible with these environments, leaving gaps in both comfort and safety.

 

That gap led to the founding of UndaTech: fire-resistant protective undergarments, including a bra and period brief, specifically designed for women working in high-risk industries such as defence, mining, construction and emergency services.

 

"This recognition means so much to our small but mighty team… and helps us keep pushing to get better, safer products to the women who need them," Pyke said.

As Co-Founder and CEO, she works closely with organisations and government agencies where safety standards are non-negotiable to help close gaps in workplace protection.

 

"Emily didn't just spot the gap, she's now manufacturing the fix," said Tamara Bryden, Westpac's Managing Director of Business Lending.

"That's a genuinely important Australian business and she is exactly the kind of founder this award exists to celebrate."

 

Thrive Award: Cassandra Spies, Twisted Healthy Treats

 

For Thrive Award winner Cassandra Spies, a search for better dessert options has grown into a manufacturing business employing more than 80 people.

 

Twisted Healthy Treats runs its own manufacturing operation in Ingleburn, New South Wales, supplying products to school canteens across Australia and major retailers including Woolworths, Coles, ALDI and Costco. It has also expanded into the United States, Taiwan and China.

 

"As Australia’s only female-founded frozen dessert brand, we are incredibly proud of what we have built," Spies said.

 

“To receive this recognition from Westpac, and to have a banking partner that understands our growth journey, is incredibly meaningful.”
 

Joint Trailblazer Award: Leah Kaslar, Djookian

 

Leah Kaslar co-founded Djookian, a female-run business helping mining and infrastructure companies cut emissions through hybrid technology and carbon tracking, while also creating jobs and training pathways for women and Indigenous Australians.

 

"We started Djookian because we wanted to make real change in industries where we did not always see people like us represented," Kaslar said.

 

“This award from Westpac helps show that smart, sustainable ideas can create value for customers while opening doors for more women and Indigenous Australians to build careers in the energy transition.”

 

Joint Trailblazer Award: Jessica Armstrong, Fuca Skincare

 

Jessica Armstrong founded Fuca Skincare after a personal battle with breast cancer left her searching for products suitable for her sensitive, post-chemotherapy skin.

 

What began as a response to her own experience has evolved into a broader mission centred on representation for women facing cancer and creating skincare products for anyone living with sensitive skin.

 

"Fuca has always been about more than skincare,” Armstrong said.

 

“It is about helping women going through cancer feel seen, supported and part of something bigger, and this award is a beautiful reminder of why that community matters so much.”

 

Greater Good Award: Melisha Sirisena, Kids Hearing

 

A paediatric audiologist, Melisha Sirisena founded Kids Hearing after seeing the difference early intervention could make to a child's learning, development and confidence.

 

A school screening pilot that identified previously undetected hearing loss confirmed what she’d long suspected: families need easier access to these checks.

 

“To have Westpac recognise Kids Hearing is incredibly encouraging,” Sirisena said.

 

“It helps start important conversations about children’s hearing health and the need for hearing checks to be a routine part of their healthcare, just like dental and vision checks.”

 

The five winners represent the strength, ambition and potential of female entrepreneurship in Australia. But beyond the awards, the focus remains on creating more opportunities for women to start, grow and scale successful businesses.

 

Female founders are helping shape the future economy by creating jobs, solving problems and bringing new ideas to market. With more than $1 billion in lending to women-led businesses, Westpac continues to support women with the capital, connections and confidence needed to grow.

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