Through her work in communications, marketing and strategic visibility, Sarah supports businesses to grow their influence, strengthen their messaging and build sustainable, community-connected brands. She is particularly passionate about helping SMEs navigate growth, leadership and the evolving business landscape.

Sarah is also the founder of Hawkesbury Women in Business, a thriving network that connects and supports women across the region through collaboration, networking and professional development. Her work focuses on strengthening the local business ecosystem while championing the voices, leadership and economic contribution of women and small businesses.

In recognition of her community impact and advocacy work, Sarah was named Hawkesbury Citizen of the Year in 2025.

• Mountain Palace Restaurant (1994–2019).
• Chapel Hill Retreat (2011–present).
• The Pines Orchard Café (2012–2015).
• Sassafras Creek Café (2013–2016).
• Barrel 58 Restaurant (2015–2018).

As entrepreneurs, we are always seeking opportunities to grow, diversify, and gain experience across different areas of the hospitality industry.

After more than 15 years in the restaurant business, we identified a new opportunity when Chapel Hill Retreat came onto the market in 2010.

Although the property was run down at the time, we immediately saw its potential and had a clear vision for what it could become. After extensive negotiations, we successfully purchased the property and took over on 1 July 2011.

Chapel Hill Retreat specialises in weddings and private events. Through determination, passion, and continuous reinvestment, we have transformed the property year by year—expanding from just two ceremony locations to eight, with ongoing plans for further growth.

We also offer onsite accommodation, allowing us to provide a complete, all-in-one experience for our guests: ceremony, reception, and lodging in one beautiful location.

Our success has not come overnight. Like many business owners, 32 years running multiple businesses ,  we have faced sacrifices, setbacks, legal challenges, and countless lessons along the way. These experiences have shaped who we are today, and we continue to learn and grow every day.

Looking ahead, there is still much we want to achieve at Chapel Hill Retreat. My vision is to establish it as a leading destination in the Hawkesbury region, helping to attract visitors, support local businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the growth of the local economy.

www.chapelhillretreat.com.au

After more than 20 years delivering complex digital and technology programs across industries including banking, medtech and essential services in the public sector, Linda now works with founders to build AI-powered systems in a practical, sustainable way.

Through Hours Back Lab, she helps businesses build simple, repeatable systems for marketing, communication and online visibility. These systems are designed to reduce reliance on constant manual effort.

By combining clear workflows with AI-assisted tools, clients can save time while staying in control of their messaging, strategy and customer relationships.

Recognising that many businesses adopt AI without fully understanding the implications, Linda also founded InTheClearAI.

The platform helps organisations assess their digital presence and practices, providing clear, plain-English guidance on emerging privacy and AI-related expectations.

Across both ventures, Linda’s work centres on practical systems, responsible technology use, and helping people adopt new tools with clarity and confidence.

Her focus is on building systems that create time, reduce risk, and keep business owners in control.

Start with a free self-assessment:
score.hoursbacklab.com

www.hoursbacklab.com
www.intheclearai.com

With more than 500 hours of yoga teacher training and certification as a breathwork facilitator, Sophie is renowned throughout the Hawkesbury region for her breath-centric teaching.

Whether moving through the flowing currents of Vinyasa Yoga or settling into the quiet embrace of Yin Yoga, her pranayama practices allow for nervous system regulation and support mental clarity.

Before her journey into wellness facilitation, Sophie spent more than 20 years as a professional belly dancer in Sydney and abroad. She adored her work, but the late nights and constant giving of energy often left her depressed and lethargic.

Yoga became her lifeline, bringing a massive shift in energy, focus, and overall wellbeing. This experience later sparked her passion to guide others toward yoga and mindful practices that restore mental health before overwhelm creates dis-ease.

Sophie hosts wellness retreats on her family property in Kurrajong, offering guests an opportunity to step away from their busy lives and reconnect with themselves in nature. Her retreats combine yoga, breathwork, hiking, kayaking and creek adventures, dance, creative expression and nourishing meals in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Sophie’s next retreat, Rewild Your Soul, will take place 22–24 May 2026, welcoming guests for a weekend of self inquiry, with the invitation to tap into the deeper intelligence that lives beneath the noise of everyday life.

In addition to hosting her own retreats, Sophie also opens the property to other facilitators and wellness practitioners who want to create their own retreat experiences.

Working with corporate groups, yoga teachers, ecstatic dance facilitators, pilates instructors, writers and artists, she helps bring their retreat visions to life, offering the space, support and experience needed to run meaningful gatherings in nature.

Sophie also teaches regular yoga and belly dance classes, as well as 1:1 sessions in yoga, breathwork, and energetic healing.

www.sophiealize.com

The awards recognise extraordinary women for their leadership, compassion and contributions to communities across New South Wales.

The NSW Women of the Year Awards 2026 recipients are:

• Professor Tracey O’Brien, AM (Lane Cove LGA) – NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence

Tracey is a leading Australian cancer clinician, researcher and advocate whose career has centred on one mission: improving the lives of people with cancer. Now NSW Chief Cancer Officer, Tracey works across communities, government and science to ensure equitable, culturally safe cancer care for all. 

• Adjunct Professor Nicole Turner (Port Stephens LGA) – NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year

Nicole is a proud Kamilaroi woman with over 30 years’ experience in Aboriginal health. She is CEO of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, working closely with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across New South Wales. 

• The Founders of Gidget Foundation Australia (Metro Sydney regions) – NSW Community Hero

For 24 years, these seven incredible women have worked to improve mental health support for parents in New South Wales. Today, Gidget Foundation Australia provides parents experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety with accessible, timely and specialist care. The foundation has established 39 Gidget Houses and delivered a total of 108,704 appointments to support 12,705 families. 

• Jo Marshall (Upper Lachlan Shire LGA) – NSW Regional Woman of the Year

Jo is a visionary leader and advocate for rural communities. As the driving force behind the Australian Agricultural Centre, including their Women in AG program, Jo inspires and equips the next generation of agricultural leaders through immersive education, hands-on training and innovative programs. 

• Milli Weaver (Randwick LGA) – NSW Young Woman of the Year

Milli is the founder and Chief Executive of the Australian Endometriosis Foundation, a volunteer-run charity she established at the age of 24 in 2023 to address the gap in peer-led support and advocacy for young people with endometriosis. 

The Awards also showcased 10 inspirational girls aged 7 to 15 who were awarded in the Ones to Watch category for their acts of courage, strength and kindness to help and support those around them.

The Ones to Watch recipients (7–15 years) for 2026 are:

• Imali Bamji (Hunters Hill LGA) .
• Piper Clarke (Shoalhaven LGA).
• Hafsa Faizan (Liverpool LGA).
• Emma Hoskins (Blacktown LGA).
• Amalia Carolyn Howard (Dubbo LGA).
• Elly Ings (Northern Beaches LGA).
• Hannah Orr (Goulburn Mulwaree LGA).
• Ruvi Pooliyadde (Blacktown LGA).
• Shanvi Govinda Raju (Penrith LGA).
• Ivy Walker (Hornsby LGA).

At the same time, Local Members of Parliament were able to recognise their Local Woman of the Year for their contribution to their local community. The Local Women of the Year 2026 honour roll is available at Local Women of the Year Award 2026 | NSW Government

The Women of the Year Awards ceremony was held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney this morning. It is the flagship event of NSW Women’s Week 2026 which runs from Monday 2 March to International Women’s Day on Sunday 8 March.

Since 2012, the NSW Women of the Year Awards have celebrated women and girls whose determination, leadership and advocacy are shaping a stronger, more inclusive New South Wales.

More information about the NSW Women of the Year Awards program, including the full recipient and finalist biographies, is available at https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/women-nsw/awards-and-events/nsw-women-of-year-awards.

Deputy Premier New South Wales Prue Car said: “These award recipients represent outstanding women and girls across New South Wales who lead with courage and purpose.

“Each of these remarkable women represent the very best of our state, and I commend them for their extraordinary contributions.

“To every award winner recognised today, thank you for the powerful impact you have made in your fields and communities.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“Each year, the NSW Women of the Year Awards shines the light on women and girls who are driving meaningful change across our state.

“This year’s recipients and finalists come from diverse backgrounds and communities, but they share a common commitment to lifting others up and creating a fairer future. Their stories remind us of the power of leadership grounded in service and empathy.

“Congratulations to the NSW Women of the Year, the Ones to Watch and our Local Women of the Year. Thank you for your contributions to our communities, and being the leaders that others can aspire to.”

NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence 2026 recipient, Professor Tracey O’Brien, AM said:

“I’m humbled and deeply grateful to be recognised alongside women making a difference across NSW. After more than 25 years in the public health system in frontline cancer care, I have seen tremendous progress, but the impact of cancer on individuals, families, communities and our economy remains profound and is increasing. Healthcare is always a team effort and I am grateful to the clinical teams, researchers and communities that I have had the privilege to serve with. 

“When we celebrate women who challenge inequality and create impact, we expand the horizon for the next generation and signal leadership comes in many forms, across every community in NSW.”

The NSW Government has invested over $190,000 for Entrepreneurial & Small Businesswomen Australia (EBSWA) to support the development of the Women-Owned Enterprises Australia Supplier Network, a hub for women-led businesses of all sizes to increase their visibility.

The Supplier Network will then match women-owned enterprises on the database with commercial businesses or NSW Government tenders under $3M.

The goal is to have 3,000 women on the database in three years to increase visibility and opportunities for their businesses.

Women are currently under-represented in small business, often due to a lack of access to finance and formal networks when compared to men.

The 2021 Census shows approximately 34 per cent of NSW small business owners are women. In comparison, 66 per cent of the state’s small business owners are men. Increasing the proportion of small businesses owned by women supports economic growth and social progress. 

To support women in seizing the opportunities, EBSWA has also been funded to run industry-specific procurement-readiness workshops to address existing knowledge barriers and a small business summit to help women connect and learn from each other.

This is part of the NSW Government’s wider effort to improve women’s economic opportunity and advance gender equality. This includes membership to the WEConnect global women-owned business network so verified women-led businesses can be connected to New South Wales buyers, reaching new markets and customers.  

Other work we are doing includes, partnering with organisations in the Supporting Women in Business Grants and Investing in Women Grants.

More information and access to the Women-Owned Enterprise Australia Supplier Network hub is available here: https://www.esbwa.com.au/

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said: “The Minns Government is working hard to empower women to dream big, start up and run their own businesses. Many women have fantastic business ideas, and just need a bit of a boost to turn them into something more.

“This new hub is a great way to connect women-owned and led businesses with NSW government tenders, so that we can use our buying power to really boost women’s opportunity.

“It’s not only good for women, but also great for our economy by increasing the diversity of suppliers.”

Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin said: “Small businesses are the engine room of the NSW economy, but for too long, many talented women entrepreneurs have been operating under the radar.

“By investing in this database, we are shining a light on women-led enterprises and ensuring they are front and centre when it comes to major contracts and tenders.

“This initiative will open new doors for thousands of women in business – giving them the visibility, connections and confidence they need to grow and compete.”

Getting the right information at the right time can make all the difference between a successful transition and a costly mistake. The 2026 Buying and Selling a Business MASTERCLASS at WEXPO is attracting strong interest from business owners across Western Sydney and for good reason!

WEXPO has partnered with Xclusive Business Brokers and Aspect Legal, two of Australia’s leading business advisory firms to deliver in-person and practical insights that you won’t find online. At this engaging and informative event, you’ll learn the six key points around selling and buying businesses, including:

• How businesses are valued and how to increase that.
• The biggest mistakes sellers make and how to avoid them.
• What buyers are really looking for – right now.
• Tips to prepare your business for sale before you go to market.
• How to value your business.
• Structuring deals, negotiations and timing for maximum value.

Our presenters include: 

• Zoran Sarabaca – Director, Xcllusive Business Brokers.
• Joanna Oakey, Aspect Legal. 

The event forms part of the broader WEXPO series, which brings together business leaders, industry experts and community organisations to share knowledge, build networks and support business growth in the region.

For many business owners, selling a business represents the culmination of years of hard work and investment. Yet without proper preparation, including understanding valuation, legal obligations, tax implications and buyer expectations, owners can risk underselling their enterprise or encountering unexpected challenges during negotiations.

Similarly, prospective buyers must approach acquisitions carefully. Conducting proper due diligence, analysing financial records, understanding market positioning and securing professional legal and financial advice are essential steps in ensuring a sound investment.

The WEXPO session will demystify the process by bringing experienced advisers together to explain the key stages involved in buying or selling a business. Attendees will gain practical insights, ask questions and learn how to avoid common pitfalls.

Events like this highlight the value of face-to-face forums where business owners can connect directly with experts, share experiences and gain the knowledge useful in making confident decisions about the future of their businesses.

For entrepreneurs planning their next move, the message is clear: when it comes to business transactions, good advice is optional.

Event details:

When: This session will be held on Monday, May 4th.

Time: 12.30pm to 3pm.

Location: Novotel Parramatta.

Tickets: $9.90 per head includes refreshments and FREE copy of the book Buy Grow Exit by Joanna Oakey.

BOOK HERE Buying and Selling a Business MASTERCLASS-Events

The WEXPO May event will also feature exhibitor stalls and a special segment for parents called Careers of Today.

Image: Joanna Oakey, Aspect Legal.

Through brand strategy, storytelling, PR and marketing, Sara helps businesses be seen, heard and remembered.

Her work blends commercial thinking with creativity, guiding clients to uncover the message at the heart of their brand and turn it into meaningful impact. Alongside her consultancy,

Sara is also developing her upcoming debut book and album, May the Road Rise, a creative project exploring voice, identity and the journeys that shape both lives, origin-led life purpose.

www.themaybrandworks.com.au/home

With a background as a registered nurse in emergency departments and experience in NDIS regulation, she didn’t just transition into business for the sake of ownership; she did so to solve a specific community problem: the need for personalised, dignity-focused care that allows people to be age “happily” at home. 

Zieta isn’t just a business owner who hired nurses; she is the nurse. Her background in emergency nursing and NDIS regulation gives her an “insider’s eye” for safety and compliance that many non-clinical entrepreneurs lack. 

This transition from high-pressure bedside care to high-stakes business leadership shows a rare ability to translate clinical cold-headedness into strategic business growth.

What marks her as a standout entrepreneur is her ability to scale compassion. While many health professionals struggle with the shift from clinical work to operational management, Zieta has successfully built a 24/7 service that manages complex dementia care and nursing support across a broad territory, including the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains regions. 

Her leadership is defined by the “happier ageing” philosophy, where she challenges the traditional “task-based” medical model by asking her clients what they used to love doing and finding ways to bring those passions back into their lives.

As of late 2025/2026, the Australian aged care landscape underwent a major transformation with the new Support at Home program. Zieta has positioned her business as a lighthouse for the community during this confusing time. 

By acting as an educator—helping families understand quarterly funding and single-provider models—she has moved beyond a “service provider” to a trusted community consultant, which is a hallmark of sophisticated entrepreneurship  

Beyond her clinical oversight, Zieta’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her commitment to local economic growth. By hiring local caregivers and nurses, she has turned her franchise into a vital local employer. 

Her success testifies to how women in healthcare can leverage their frontline experience to become disruptive business leaders; proving that a “bold pink” brand can be both a serious professional enterprise and a deeply personal community asset.

What sets Zieta apart as a woman in business is her insider’s perspective on healthcare quality. Having worked in NDIS regulation and aged care standards, she brings a “zero-compromise” approach to compliance and safety. 

This expertise has been vital in navigating Australia’s recent shift toward the Support at Home program, where she acts as both a provider and an educator for local families.

https://www.nursenextdoor.com.au/location/hawkesbury

Dating apps and social platforms typically see a surge in activity during this period, driven by the promise of companionship, intimacy and connection. But alongside genuine relationships, this heightened activity also creates fertile ground for romance scams, where emotional vulnerability is deliberately exploited using increasingly sophisticated digital techniques.

Romance scams in Australia increasingly combine emotional manipulation, investment fraud and emerging technologies. Understanding how these scams unfold helps explain why warning signs are often missed.

Romance scams are a form of fraud in which a scammer pretends to form a genuine romantic relationship to exploit trust for financial gain. They most often begin on dating apps, social media platforms, or messaging services and typically develop over time rather than through immediate requests for money.

Scammers usually create convincing fake profiles and invest significant time in building an emotional connection before introducing financial requests. This process, often referred to as love-bombing, involves frequent messaging, expressions of affection and discussions about future plans designed to establish trust and emotional dependence.

As trust builds, the scam shifts. Victims may be asked to help with an emergency, send money temporarily, or participate in what appears to be a legitimate financial opportunity. These requests are structured to discourage outside scrutiny and normalise secrecy, making the scam difficult to recognise while it is unfolding.

Romance scams are also referred to as dating scams or romance fraud. In recent years, Australian authorities have increasingly used the term pig-butchering to describe long-term romance scams that transition into investment fraud, particularly involving cryptocurrency or offshore trading platforms. In these cases, losses are escalated over time and recovery is unlikely.

In 2025, Australians reported 3432 dating and romance scams, with total losses of about $28.7M (AUD), and an average loss per victim of about $8360. Losses are concentrated among older Australians, particularly those aged 55–64 and 65 and over. Women account for nearly two-thirds (about 63 per cent) of the total financial losses.

State-level reporting shows New South Wales (877 reports) and Queensland (854 reports) recorded the highest number of cases, followed by Victoria (641) and Western Australia (331). Smaller jurisdictions such as the Northern Territory (23) and the ACT (57) report far fewer cases, largely reflecting population size rather than lower risk.

One evolving pattern is the integration of emotional trust with financial deception. Scammers may encourage victims not only to send money, but also to invest jointly in what appears to be profitable opportunities, such as cryptocurrency trading or offshore ventures. The Australian Federal Police warned Australians about organised fraud syndicates that lure people through dating apps before encouraging investment transfers to scam accounts.

Another emerging trend is the use of AI-assisted impersonation, including deepfakes. Europol has documented how deepfakes can support fraud and social engineering. The Europol Innovation Lab warns that advances in AI now make it technically possible to manipulate audio and video content in near real time, including in videoconferencing environments. As a result, voice messages, images and even live video interactions can no longer be assumed to provide definitive proof of identity.

Key red flags people often miss

Many red flags are difficult to identify while a relationship is unfolding because manipulation begins with emotional engagement rather than obvious requests for money.

One common feature is unusually rapid emotional intimacy. Expressions of affection and commitment appear early, creating trust before meaningful verification occurs.

Another frequently missed signal is repeated avoidance of video calls and in-person meetings. Scammers typically provide plausible explanations, such as travel, busy schedules or technical issues, as part of a broader social engineering strategy used to avoid identity exposure. Individually, these explanations may not raise alarm. It is their persistence that matters.

These scams deliberately avoid face-to-face verification, relying instead on sustained text-based communication to build emotional attachment before any financial request is made.

Financial escalation is often gradual. Requests for help or suggestions to invest together tend to be framed as temporary, shared, or confidential rather than urgent or exploitative. Secrecy is often positioned as trust or loyalty, discouraging individuals from discussing relationships with others.

Once the relationship feels established, requests for financial help and personal financial information are gradually introduced. Concerningly, scammers may suggest “investment opportunities,” often framed with assurances of shared benefit, which can normalise financial risk and delay scepticism.

A further trend is the rapid movement of conversations away from dating apps and mainstream social media. Once communication shifts to private messaging services such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or WeChat, platform-level safeguards weaken. This reduces opportunities for moderation and reporting and limits the chance that friends, family, or moderators might notice inconsistencies or raise concerns.

A simple checklist to protect yourself and report early

Practical actions can reduce harms from romance scams and support early intervention:

• Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or financial details to someone you have not met in person.
• Be cautious if a relationship becomes emotionally intense very quickly or if video contact is consistently avoided.
• Treat any move towards financial help or shared investment with caution, particularly before meeting face to face.
• Keep records of messages, profiles and requests rather than deleting conversations immediately.
• Report suspicious behaviour within the app or platform before blocking the account.
• If money or personal information has been shared, report it early to the Australian Government’s ScamWatch and cybersecurity website.

Early reporting is not an admission of error. It is a preventative cybersecurity action that supports national scam intelligence and helps protect others.

Romance scams persist in Australia not because people are careless, but because emotional trust is exploited. As online platforms increasingly mediate personal relationships and AI tools lower the cost of impersonation, cybersecurity must be understood as a shared responsibility that includes protecting the social spaces where trust is formed. 

Ritesh Chugh

Professor Ritesh Chugh is an ICT academic and researcher at CQUniversity’s School of Engineering and Technology. His interdisciplinary research examines how information technologies shape people, organisations and society, including socio-technical systems, digital risk and cybersecurity. He has published extensively on socio-technical issues, including information systems, educational technology and the social impacts of emerging technologies such as AI, and appears among the Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientists for research influence.

Professor Ritesh Chugh is on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riteshchugh/