Perth fresh food entrepreneur named businesswoman of the year

Perth entrepreneur Leanne Wesche, managing director of fruit and vegetable packing business Pacco Group, has been named as the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.

Perth entrepreneur Leanne Wesche, managing director of fruit and vegetable packing business Pacco Group, has been named as the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.

Wesche established Pacco Group in 2004 and it has quickly become one of Australia’s largest independent fruit and vegetable packing businesses. In addition to this, Wesche recently launched Safeguard Innovations, a company that offers a range of fruit and vegetable washes designed to protect consumers from food contaminants.

SmartCompany blogger Naomi Simson, founder of corporate gifting company RedBalloon Days, was also recognised at the awards, taking home the national prize for the Nokia Business Innovation Award.

Margaret Abernethy, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce and Director of the Melbourne Graduate School of Management at the University of Melbourne, was named the national winner of the IBM Community and Government Award.

Jacinta Caithness, international CEO of Boost Juice Bars won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Young Business Women’s Award.

Telstra chief executive Sol Trujilio claimed that entries to the awards increased 20% this year.