2025 Award Winners
Gold Coast Awards
Gold Coast Women in Business Awards 2025 Category Winners and Finalists
Gold Coast Woman in Business of the Year 2025
Winner
Sandra Barber Co-founder – DockPro
Finalists
Cathy U’Ren – Founder & Chief Wellness Officer – Pet Wellness Centres
Shelley Jacks – Founder & Director, Magnus Health
Business Achiever Award 2025
Winner
Cathy U’Ren – Founder & Chief Wellness Officer – Pet Wellness Centres
Finalists
Courtney Scott – Founder and CEO Empowered Living Choices
Ashley Freeman
Community Dedication, NFP & Social Entrepreneur Award 2025
Winner
Shelley Jacks – Founder & Director, Magnus Health
Finalists
Tanya Diessel – CEO – Gold Coast Community Legal Centre
Katie Lister – President – Arundel Park Riding for Disabled (APRDA)
Aspiring Young Business Achiever Award 2025
Winner
Jasmine Meagher – Founder SUPLAB and Ritua
Finalists
Natalie Peat – CEO – ECO Modern Essentials
Danika Goodman – Director – Barriers Unleashed, Community Development Manager – Eximm, Operations & Programs Manager – Sports Gold Coast
Empowering Young Women’s Award 2025
Winner
Rahaf Afif – Grade 11 – Benowa State High School
Finalists
Talia Peters – Year 11 – St Hilda’s School
Vanessa Kimber – Ormeau State High School
Delilah Nutley – Queensland Academies for Health Sciences
Creating Change & Sustainability Award 2025
Winner
Karen Dickinson – General Manager – TAFE Queensland Gold Coast
Finalists
Tracey Tyley – Founder & CEO of Motherhood Village
Bella Zanesco – Single Threaded Leader – Sustainability, Australia Pacific Japano – Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Tourism 2025
Winner
Simone Jenkins – Co-founder & Director – Elsewhere
Finalists
Mireille Pizzo – International photographer & Photo Art Gallery
Rebekah Goan – Senior Digital Channel Manager at Village Roadshow Theme Parks.
Innovation, Technology & Research Award 2025
Winner
Associate Professor Laura Diamond Deputy Director – Australian Centre for Precision Health and Technology (PRECISE)
Finalists
Dr Sheila Gough Kenyon – Co-Founder/CEO of Starbound Space Solutions
Tracey Crawford – Product Manager – Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Rising Star – Small Business 2025
Winner
Julie Stone – General Manager – Dryspace Solutions
Finalists
Tani Boudell – CEO and Co-Founder – Vela Estate
Mia Behlau – Owner – M Behlau & Associates
Employer of the Year 2025
Winner
Jasminne Hristic – Founder & CEO, NGO Training Centre
Finalist
Cathy U’Ren – Founder & Chief Wellness Officer – Pet Wellness Centres
Export and International Business Award 2025
Winner
Sandra Barber – Co-founder – DockPro
Finalists
Kamila Kingston – Founder – White Lotus Beauty
Genevieve Dennis – Founder – Easy Name Change
The Futurist Award 2025
Winner
Dr Francesca Oieni – Research Fellow in Regenerative Neurobiology – Griffith University
Finalists
Annie Muller – Operations Manager KnG Group
Fernanda Candia – Little Grubs Orchard
Encouragement Honour
Emma Boyd – Griffith University Student