Local businesswoman Jaimie Abbott secured a top gong at the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards.
The former Port Stephens councillor, who claimed the online business category, was just one of two winners to prevail from the region.
Mayfield West’s Newcastle and Hunter Community Health took out the best professional medical service, too.
At a gala event at the Western Sydney Conference Centre, Ms Abbott accepted the award on-stage before almost 1,000 attendees.
A presentation skills expert, who specialises in attracting high-paying speaking opportunities for her clients, she provides media training and public speaking courses and masterclasses.
Her business, born from a vision to empower individuals to become confident public speakers and effective communicators, includes her hugely-successful Paid to Speak online course.
Formerly, she worked as a broadcast journalist, political media advisor and a communications advisor for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Ms Abbott is also a published author, academic and regular media commentator, who’s involved with various volunteer groups.
“I was once asked to speak at an event that I thought I just couldn’t take on at the time,” she said.
“So, I quoted a fee of $30,000 thinking the client wouldn’t accept such a steep amount for one day’s work.
“To my surprise, my quote was accepted within 45 minutes and it was at that point that I realised I had been undervaluing my offering.
“My advice to the small businesswomen of Australia is to respect your worth and don’t undersell yourself because women in particular tend to do so.”
The Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards saw thousands of entries this year and honoured the achievements of a total of 65 category winners from a broad cross section of industries.
Additionally, four individual efforts were recognised at the red-carpet event, which was hosted by accomplished journalist and popular broadcaster Deborah Knight.
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