{"id":901,"date":"2025-01-01T05:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-01T05:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elegantmedia.com.au\/blog\/?p=901"},"modified":"2025-12-18T04:19:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T04:19:32","slug":"17-australian-female-entrepreneurs-crushing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elegantmedia.com.au\/blog\/17-australian-female-entrepreneurs-crushing\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Australian Female Entrepreneurs crushing it in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australian entrepreneurship was once almost exclusively reserved for men. Not anymore! Now, female entrepreneurs are not only competing but also beating men at their own game.<\/p>\n

We obviously still have a considerable way to go before women have an equally fair shot at being a successful Australian entrepreneur as men do.<\/p>\n

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Consider this statistic: Just 22.3 per cent of Australia\u2019s founders are women. But more and more female entrepreneurs are starting businesses and revolutionising industries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While there are thousands of women who deserve to be celebrated for their achievements, in this article we highlight some famous female entrepreneurs (and some not so famous ones) who are absolutely crushing it in 2026. You can also check out our list of the <\/span>10 Richest Australian Tech Entrepreneurs<\/span><\/a> or the <\/span>50 Most Popular Women Celebrity Entrepreneurs<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So here is our list of the female Australian entrepreneurs who are leading the way and inspiring the next generation of women entrepreneurs around the world.\u00a0 (The list is in no particular order)<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Melanie Perkins (Canva)<\/span><\/h2>\n

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E\u00f3in Noonan via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Net Worth: $13.18 Billion together with Cliff Obrecht<\/span><\/h4>\n


\n\u201cTop Under 30 Founders of the decade\u201d <\/span>Forbes<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Melanie Perkins is the CEO and Co-founder of the billion-dollar Australian Tech startup Canva. She co-founded the disruptive online design and publishing tool in 2013 and has since managed to make Canva one of the world\u2019s most successful tech companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the past 12 months Canva has opened new offices in Melbourne, Austin, Texas and its first European location in London and its team expanded by 1,128 to 4,000 people worldwide. Canva also has plans for a flagship Sydney campus, scheduled to open in 2026.<\/p>\n

Melanie has raised one of Australia\u2019s largest early-stage investment rounds as CEO of Canva. Canva was valued at $40 billion in 2023, making her not only one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in Australia but also one of the most successful Australian entrepreneurs of the modern era.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Katie Page (Harvey Norman)\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Net Worth: $2.91 Billion<\/span><\/h4>\n

Named 4th in ABR\u2019s list of \u201c50 most powerful women in business” 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a long 21 year career as Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Norman Holdings, Katie Page has also been referred to as the mastermind behind the success of her empire. She manages a network of 300 stores, with a new UK Flagship outlet, due to open in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Page is also a backer of several professional sports and an active promoter of women in sports. She was the first woman to be elected to the board of the National Rugby League (NRL). In 2005, she went on to introduce the NRL\u2019s \u2018Women in League\u2019 initiative. In 2021, Page was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.<\/span><\/p>\n

Katie Page is truly an exemplary Australian entrepreneur, inspiring men and women all over the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Kayla Itsines (Sweat App)<\/span><\/h2>\n

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FLIPP Management via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Net Worth: $165 Million<\/span><\/p>\n

Itsines and Tobi Pearce’s net worth was estimated as $486 million on the Financial Review\u00a02019 Rich List.<\/p>\n

This Australian entrepreneur has gone from being a personal trainer at a gym in Adelaide to building one of the world\u2019s most successful <\/span>fitness app SWEAT<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0In 2016, SWEAT generated more revenue than any other fitness app.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kayla Itsines is a great example of how you can leverage the power of Apps to launch your business and potentially earn millions from it. As the best mobile app developer, we at <\/span>Elegant Media<\/span><\/a> have developed several successful Apps that are generating substantial revenue for entrepreneurs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t

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4. Diana Williams (Fernwood Women\u2019s Health Clubs)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Net Worth: $23 Million revenue<\/span><\/h4>\n

In 1989, Diana Williams was a stay-at-home mom in Melbourne. Which is when she realised there was a need for a female-only gym and opened her first one in Bendigo, Victoria. Thirty years later, her health club brand Fernwood Women\u2019s Health Clubs has 70 clubs around Australia and 73,000 members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diana\u2019s background in weightlifting has helped her hone her vision for women\u2019s fitness, not just in Australia but all around the world. Her fitness studios offer a staggering variety of classes, from yoga and Pilates to Tai Chi and Zumba. Add to that the perks of free breakfasts, hair care products and even creche facilities \u2013 no wonder Diana\u2019s business is crushing it!<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Janine Allis (Australian Entrepreneur Boost Juice)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Net Worth: (upwards of) $66 million<\/span><\/h4>\n

In Australia, you are more likely to spot a Boost juice bar than a kangaroo. Janine started selling juice from her home in the year 2000, 20 years later, she has managed to build an empire of 550 Boost juice stores around the world. Janine has always been outspoken about the importance of leadership and given a good example of it herself by leading her company from her kitchen to Prahran\u2019s Chapel Street and onto a worldwide <\/span>phenomenon<\/span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

She is also the part-owner of Retail Zoo, which is the parent company of Boost Juice, Salsa\u2019s Fresh Mex Grill, Betty\u2019s Burgers and Cibo Espresso. In 2022, Allis returned to The Celebrity Apprentice Australiaas\u00a0Lord Sugar’s boardroom advisor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Janine Allis has authored <\/span>The Accidental Entrepreneur \u2013 The Juicy Bits<\/span><\/i>, which signifies the importance of resilience to achieve success. She had also worked with Village Roadshow and United International Pictures prior to starting off on her entrepreneurial path. <\/span><\/p>\n

Once it started, there was no looking back for her \u2013 just like there shouldn\u2019t be if you, too, intend to become a famous female entrepreneur. Who knows, you might find yourself pitching to her on Shark Tank!<\/span><\/p>\n