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.

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.

It was a homecoming when self-described bush girl Jill Coombe became Manager of Bridge Clinic Medical Centre at Murray Bridge, one of the largest private general practices in Australia. Jill spent nine years in the SA Public Service before returning to Murray Bridge, where she had previously worked in a laboratory. With 46 staff reporting to her, Jill has streamlined processes and co-ordinates flexible working arrangements. Bridge Clinic Medical Centre won the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ National General Practice of the Year Award in 2005. Funding secured through the award has contributed to the employment of staff for on-site mental health clinics. Prior to working with Bridge Clinic, Jill was the Emergency Management Project Officer at Kosovar Safe Haven. Her role was to source welfare and community activities for refugees from the Kosovo War hosted in Adelaide, helping them experience safe day-to-day living away from the ravages of conflict.

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.

At 32 years of age, Peta Mantzarapis is part-owner and Managing Director of Maloney Field Services, a valuation and land access services company. Peta was fresh out of university when she started with Maloney as an Assistant Valuer. Moving up the ranks, she became a part-owner at 26 and Managing Director at 30. Aiming to make Maloney a "first-choice" supplier in land access and valuation in Australia, Peta has expanded its reach nationally and its client base includes companies providing long distance oil and gas pipelines, electricity transmission lines, railways, highways and water pipelines. Peta’s academic qualifications started with a Bachelor of Business in Property (Valuation), where she earned a place on the Dean’s Merit list three times and she is undertaking the Foundations of Directorship with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Peta is passionate about a children’s clothing range she has developed with her sister.