A TRIO of successful local mums has been recognised for business excellence at the prestigious AusMumpreneur Annual Awards.<\/p>\n
Marshall businesswoman, Justine Martin, took out five awards including gold for Coach of the Year in recognition of her professional work in resilience through her businesses JUZT art and Justine Martin Consultant & Speaker.<\/p>\n
The mum-of-two and grandmother to six also won silver medals in the Creative Entrepreneur and Disabled Business Excellence categories, as well as bronze for both Business Pivot and Overcoming the Odds.<\/p>\n
Justine\u2019s business success is testament to her own resilience, having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 10 years ago, undergoing three heart surgeries and being diagnosed with three primary cancers.<\/p>\n
Specialists and doctors told her she would be unable to work again but she has proven them wrong, going on to be an award-winning artist and running three businesses.<\/p>\n
She is also a published author and is about to launch The Resilience Mindset Podcast.<\/p>\n
Justine described being acknowledged nationally as Coach of the Year as a pinnacle moment in her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been so overwhelming winning the Gold Award for Coach of the Year \u2013 not only achieving one of my greatest dreams but how important it is to keep believing in yourself and in building your own resilience to keep forging ahead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly 10 years ago I was told I would never work again but I would not accept that! I had goals, dreams and a vision on what I wanted my life to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough all the ups and downs I have never lost sight.<\/p>\n
\u201cResilience has really become my middle-name, and the story of why I am now called the \u2018Resilience Queen\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Armstrong Creek GP and mum-of-two Saba Qutub, who is the founder of Armstrong Health and DRSQ Skincare, took out gold in both the Multicultural Business Excellence and Health Business categories.<\/p>\n
The business savvy doctor said she was honoured and elated to win in her categories in the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards against such a talented group of women.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be recognised for my achievements is incredibly humbling because I simply started just to gain control over my career to spend more time with my family, so to get to this point is surreal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word mumpreneur says it all. I love being both a mum and an entrepreneur, and I couldn\u2019t see my life without either one of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy children and business make me who I am, and I wholeheartedly believe that it\u2019s important for mums to know that it is okay to want both!\u201d<\/p>\n
Torquay artist Katharine Rattray from Kat\u2019s ART Club and Kat & Fox took out silver in the WBS category.<\/p>\n
The mum-of-three is an accomplished children\u2019s book illustrator who launched Kat\u2019s ART Club during the pandemic when her work as an illustrator slowed down.<\/p>\n
The club is an online illustration hub for kids aged 6-11 years where they can learn a range of skills during fortnightly online sessions, as well as interacting with other budding illustrators.<\/p>\n