Award Winners
2006 National
Award Winners
2006 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year
Margot Spalding
Co-owner and Director of Jimmy Possum Furniture, Bendigo, Victoria
When Margot established JIMMY POSSUM in partnership with her husband, Alan, in 1995, it operated out of a small shed with just one employee. Today the company is the nation’s largest producer of recycled timber furniture, but that’s just one aspect of its unique design, manufacture and retail success story. JIMMY POSSUM employs in excess of 140 people and offers more than 1000 products through eight stunning showrooms in five Australian States and Territories.
National Business Owner Award
Margot Spalding
Co-owner and Director of Jimmy Possum Furniture, Bendigo, Victoria
When Margot established JIMMY POSSUM in partnership with her husband, Alan, in 1995, it operated out of a small shed with just one employee. Today the company is the nation’s largest producer of recycled timber furniture, but that’s just one aspect of its unique design, manufacture and retail success story. JIMMY POSSUM employs in excess of 140 people and offers more than 1000 products through eight stunning showrooms in five Australian States and Territories.
National Private and Corporate Sector Award Winner
Dr Jennifer Smiley
Principal GP, Illawarra Family Medical Centre, NSW
Dr Jennifer Smiley is the Principal GP at the Illawarra Family Medical Centre in Wollongong. Established in 2005, the centre brought together several GP businesses and a range of health facilities. Jennifer is Chairperson of the after-hours Wollongong Medical Service, and has implemented new business practices to ensure a higher quality of patient care. Jennifer is also Chairperson of Cervical Screening Working Group that aims to register women from non-English speaking and disadvantaged backgrounds for cervical screening.
National Hudson Community and Government Award Winner
Anne Bradford
Regional Manager for the Department of Defence, NT
Anne Bradford is Regional Manager for the Department of Defence. Anne manages over 1300 employees across 92 Defence sites, providing a range of administrative and technical services. Most recently, Anne was involved in overseeing the provision of services and support for peacekeeping operations in East Timor. In 2000/01 Anne was the National Manager Learning and Development for the National Crime Authority where she was responsible for developing and implementing a workforce capability framework for training, professional learning and staff development.
Business Innovation Award Winner
Linda Lowndes
Director/Inventor, Microskin Internationa, QLD
Linda Lowndes is the Director and Inventor of Microskin International. Microskin is a simulated secondary skin, which aids sufferers of skin conditions, birthmarks, burns, scars and acne damage. Linda created Microskin International after 7 years of research and trials. Microskin International is scientifically formulated to match each patient's skin colour, will bind to the epidermis, lasting up to 5 days. It is waterproof, flexible, 100 per cent breathable and is UV resistant. Microskin International has been successfully trialled by more than 300 patients and is the subject of two current medical studies.
National Young Business Women's Award Winner
Amy Sznicer
Retail Operations and Marketing Manager, Brown Sugar, VIC
Amy Sznicer is the Retail Operations and Marketing Manager for fashion brand, Brown Sugar. Under her leadership, Amy has led Brown Sugar to achieve record sales growth, including expanding the company with the implementation of more stores, both brand new and newly refurbished, around the country. Amy's responsibilities on a daily basis include managing Brown Sugar's marketing, human resources, store design and website development, which she has improved by introducing strategic approaches to visual merchandising, customer communications and service levels.