In Australia, the number of women business owners and operators is on the rise and their contribution has a significant effect on both local economies and communities.
While regional businesswomen face many of the same issues their city counterparts face, they also experience challenges that are unique to their particular part of the world.
Understanding those challenges and creating a sense of community around our businesswomen is what Mandurah Murray Business Women Australia is all about.
Meeting in Pinjarra in the last week of September, businesswomen from across the region came together to share and discuss the issues they face.
While the businesses were as diverse as the individual women representing them, the perspectives that were shared provided a strong thread for community, support and forward motion.
Business Women Australia (BWA) is a national collective that provides support, community and development to women in business.
The Mandurah Murray Chapter meets monthly giving Peel businesswomen a fantastic opportunity to connect, develop friendships and networks, share knowledge and support each other in the growth of their businesses.
Robyn Clarke MLA, Member for Murray-Wellington, attended the meeting which was hosted by Sue Daley, Peel's renovation expert, and Cathy Smith, owner of CATCO Enterprises and BWA Bunbury Circle leader.
Robyn offered an overview of what's happening in the region and her unique perspective on the issues Peel businesswomen face.
Sue and Cathy led a discussion that explored the positive benefits of heading a regional business, issues and barriers that have been experienced, as well as suggestions of assistance and ways to address and move through these issues.
Some of the region-specific issues that were discussed include local businesses getting a foot in the door with local government contracts, the issue of defining 'local' and the importance of locals supporting locals.
By sharing their unique perspectives, the women found common experiences and expressed a shared determination to not only succeed individually but to support each other in creating change for the future.
Paddi Creevey, Peel Development Commission chair, said that while some of the issues regional businesswomen face can seem complex, the group's positivity and willingness to embrace and propel change will also propel their success.
"Successfully tendering for government contracts, for example, takes learning and persistence - it's important to have reasonable expectations, a good understanding of the process and be willing to utilise available resources to improve your skills and capability," she said.
Pauline Bright, owner of Bright Business Coaching, echoed this sentiment saying that, "Change is always happening and we tend to want to find someone to do something about it when actually, we can always change our own perspective and ask ourselves, 'What can I do?'"
The Mandurah Murray BWA Chapter meets monthly with meetings open to businesswomen in the Peel.
Next month's meeting will be held at the Pinjarra Golf Club on October 14 at 9.30am.
This meeting will focus on buying local to support our local businesses and how our buying decisions can make a big difference to the local business community and of course, our regional economy.
