Community & Business
27 August, 2025
Local women recognised
TWO local women have been recognised at this year’s national Ausmumpreneur Awards.
Crystal Leonardi of Bowerbird Publishing and Nicola Baker of Moyamoya Australia have returned home from the 2025 national Ausmumpreneur Awards with five individual awards.
Crystal was named the winner in Author of the Year and Overcoming the Odds categories, while Nicola was named the winner in Rural & Remote Business Excellence, Emerging Non-Profit Business Excellence and Women Changing the World categories.
Created by sisters Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner, the AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate the achievements of Australian mums in business across a wide range of categories, including business excellence, product innovation, customer service, sustainability, and technology.
“There are so many incredible women right across Australia balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and these awards are a chance to share their stories and celebrate their success,” Katy said.
Crystal is the founder and chief executive officer of Bowerbird Publishing, located in Julatten.
She is the author of seven titles, notably her 2025 release, “Clarity” that documents her experience with her son’s brain cancer diagnosis, self-doubt and rediscovery.
“Clarity” has already earned recognition in the American Literary Titan Awards, ABLE Book Awards and, now Ausmumpreneur.
Crystal is proud of her achievements in the past 12 months, particularly her publishing company that was “built to give a voice to those who feel lost, alone, and unheard”.
“Awards like Ausmumpreneur represent mothers in business who are juggling more than they let on. The quiet hustlers, the dreamers, the believers. The toughest journeys are often the most powerful,” she said.
She said it could be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst raising a family.
“My advice to them is to back yourself. Self-belief is the most valuable asset in life – and in business,” Crystal said.
