Westpac announced the winners of its annual Female Founder Awards, honoring five women whose businesses range from protective workwear to frozen desserts.
UndaTech CEO takes top prize
Emily Pyke, co-founder of UndaTech, received the Female Founder of the Year title. Her company creates fire-resistant undergarments for women in high-risk professions, filling a safety gap Pyke observed during her 13 years in the Royal Australian Navy. The gear is now used in defense, emergency services, mining, and construction.
Pyke stated the recognition holds deep meaning for her team. She launched UndaTech after repeatedly seeing women wear synthetic undergarments beneath body armor in environments where fire and electrical hazards were common.
The award includes $30,000 in funding, a $120,000 national advertising campaign, and customized coaching or media training. The four other category winners each received $10,000 and comparable support.
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From school canteens to global shelves
Cassandra Spies, founder of Twisted Healthy Treats, earned the Thrive Award. Her business, established in 2009, manufactures frozen desserts using only Australian dairy. The products are available in Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, and Costco, and appear in 85% of school canteens nationwide. It has grown to employ over 80 people and expanded into the U.S., Taiwan, and China.
Spies expressed pride in building Australia’s only female-founded frozen dessert brand with its own manufacturing facility. The company operates from a factory in Ingleburn, New South Wales.
The awards also honored Jessica Armstrong of Fuca Skincare and Leah Kaslar of Djookian, who shared the Trailblazers category. Armstrong, a breast cancer survivor, developed a low-tox skincare line that contributes part of its revenue to Breast Cancer Network Australia. Kaslar’s business helps mining and infrastructure companies cut emissions.
A billion-dollar commitment to women-led businesses
Westpac has provided over $1 billion in loans to more than 2,200 women starting or expanding businesses in the past three years. Paul Fowler, the bank’s Chief Executive of Business & Wealth, described the impact as thousands of businesses now employing staff, paying suppliers, and strengthening local economies.
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Tamara Bryden, Westpac’s Managing Director of Business Lending, noted the winners showcase the diversity of female-led innovation in Australia and that such recognition helps change perceptions for future founders.
The winners will appear in a digital advertising campaign later this year, with Pyke’s company also receiving national TV and print coverage. For a business that began with a single product solving an overlooked safety need, this exposure could transform it from a niche supplier into a widely recognized name.
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