As Managing Director of two of Rio Tinto’s subsidiary companies, Dampier Salt (DSL) and HIsmelt, Denise Goldsworthy is responsible for more than 500 employees and a large global customer base. Since Denise’s appointment to DSL, the world’s leading exporter of solar salt, record earnings of US$129 million were posted in 2009. In her role as MD of HIsmelt, she is responsible for the marketing of HIsmelt iron-making technology. Denise attributes her success to her style of leading and motivating her management team. In 2009 she challenged them with a motivational campaign designed to get them thinking about ways to increase salt capacity by 12 per cent with zero outlay. The resulting ideas led to an outcome far beyond expectations, delivering an eventual 20 per cent increase in capacity. Denise’s innovative Sustainable Health and Safety program has also ensured significant improvement in all injury rates.

After 10 years working within Murray F. Young & Associates (MFY), Melissa Mellen decided to buy the business. MFY is a consulting traffic engineering firm providing professional traffic, transport and parking advice to private and government clients. When Melissa purchased the business in 2003, she became sole Director. Since taking over, Melissa has grown the business from four to 10 permanent employees and increased the number of projects by 33 per cent. Her firm has expanded its interstate project base, now providing traffic advice in all Australian States and opening an office in the Northern Territory. Starting as a Senior Traffic Engineer, Melissa moved into an Associate role before becoming sole Director. Prior to working with MFY, Melissa was a Traffic Engineer with Mitcham City Council. An accredited senior road safety auditor and a Chartered Professional Engineer, Melissa has an honours degree in Civil Engineering.

As Managing Director of two of Rio Tinto’s subsidiary companies, Dampier Salt (DSL) and HIsmelt, Denise Goldsworthy is responsible for more than 500 employees and a large global customer base. Since Denise’s appointment to DSL, the world’s leading exporter of solar salt, record earnings of US$129 million were posted in 2009. In her role as MD of HIsmelt, she is responsible for the marketing of HIsmelt iron-making technology. Denise attributes her success to her style of leading and motivating her management team. In 2009 she challenged them with a motivational campaign designed to get them thinking about ways to increase salt capacity by 12 per cent with zero outlay. The resulting ideas led to an outcome far beyond expectations, delivering an eventual 20 per cent increase in capacity. Denise’s innovative Sustainable Health and Safety program has also ensured significant improvement in all injury rates.

Tanya Monro is a recognised leader of the international scientific community who has been responsible for breakthroughs in optical fibre research. In 2005 she founded the Centre of Expertise in Photonics as a collaborative venture between the University of Adelaide and DSTO, and the success of this centre led to the creation of the Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), which brings together 130 physicists, chemists and biologists to tackle the big questions in sensing technologies. As Director of IPAS, Tanya has raised more than $65 million in research funding and has driven 11 patent applications, all taking fibre beyond communications. She has received national and international awards, including recognition as the 2010 South Australian Scientist of the Year, and been published more than 300 times. Tanya is active on State and Federal Government and local boards and review panels, including Australian Research Council panels, the Federal Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council and the SA Premier's Science Research Council.

A self-taught cheesemaker, Kris Lloyd took over Woodside Cheese Wrights in 1999. Recognising the importance of staying fresh as new players entered the market, Kris travelled to Europe to attend workshops, competitions and visit individual cheesemakers, using what she learned to produce numerous award-winning cheeses. Kris has pioneered a range of seasonal cheeses, with innovative packaging and presentation like vine leaves and organic flowers, to take advantage of variations in milk supply. Knowing that learning her craft is costly and aware there was a skills shortage in South Australia, she formed Cheese SA, an incorporated peak body that raises awareness for her industry. She established a cheesemaking training course through TAFE, and is the founder of the Cheesemaker in Residence Program, which brings international cheesemakers to South Australia to impart their skills locally. Kris is a Board member of the Dairy Industry Development Board and The Premiers Food Council.

In her three years as CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society (NT) Inc, Janet Buhagiar nearly doubled revenues. She was responsible for the operations of 35 employees and 200 volunteers across five retail outlets, accommodation services offering 65 emergency hostel beds and five outreach programs that serve more than 300 people in need each night. Janet was accountable to the St Vincent de Paul Society (NT) Board for establishing sound and long-term fundraising partnerships with government and corporate networks and ensuring that a diverse income source is in place so the Society can respond to community needs as they arise. One of Janet’s major business achievements was winning private developer support and government funding for a $5.8 million project to build 20 two-bedroom units on Society land. Janet has recently stepped down as CEO to volunteer for a private charity in East Timor for the remainder of the year. She will return to the Territory in 2011 to continue the pursuit of community housing initiatives.