LAUNCESTON mother of two Laura McBain won the Private and Corporate Award at the 2013 Telstra Australian Business Women's Awards in Melbourne last night.
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The Bellamys Organic chief executive won three awards at the state awards, including the Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year, and was in contention for the national prize.
QSuper chief executive Rosemary Vilgan won the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Mrs McBain, 36, joined the then-struggling Launceston- based food and baby formula company in 2007 and has since expanded its market further around Australia, and to China, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
"By ensuring that all our products are 100 per cent certified organic, wholesome, nutritious food that tastes great, we can start to develop mindful eating habits in young children and babies that sets them on the path to a healthy lifestyle," Mrs McBain said.
She said it was an honour to even be nominated for the awards and proved women could just about do anything.
Telstra chief operations officer Kate McKenzie said Mrs McBain was "very impressive" with the judges.
"Laura McBain took over something broken and built it into something whole and sustainable that is now in the growth markets of Asia," Mrs McKenzie said.
"The business was struggling in many ways with a $3 million turnover when she took over in 2007. Now it's putting Tasmanian products into China and heading to revenues of $50 million."