Cereal visionary Carolyn Creswell has been named the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year for her outstanding management of Carmen Find Foods.

 

Having bought the home-made muesli business for $1000 at age 18, Ms Creswell has since developed the company into a $50 million enterprise that exports to 32 countries around the globe.

 

Ms Creswell was a first-year university student from Melbourne when she purchased half the business in 1992, becoming the sole owner two years later and managing director of the Cheltenham based healthy food manufacturer.

 

Ms Creswell employs about 130 staff and uses ingredients from Australian farmers and packaging suppliers to stock domestic and international retailers and airlines.

 

Kate McKenzie, Telstra Group Managing Director for Innovation, Products and Marketing and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, said the judging this year was more difficult than ever given the calibre of exceptional, courageous and innovative women many of whom were shaping Australia’s business landscape and the nation’s future.

 

“Carolyn Creswell has a great business model and work ethic. The Awards judges described her as a hands-on leader with strong business skills in a competitive sector. She’s an articulate communicator, an inspiration to women of all ages and she’s also passionate about being a great mum,” Ms McKenzie said.