From the factory floors from Queensland to the multicultural kitchens from Suburban Australia, from digital entrepreneurs who build rich from laptops to brands rooted in tradition, Australian Made Week 2025 reminds us that “local” is more than a label. It is a mentality, a movement and a mosaic of people, stories and impact.
This week we honor that spirit by bringing the founders, makers and thinkers to the attention who re -defines what it means to build something really Australian.
This is how our readers, founders and experts throughout the country think about what Australian has made for them and why it is doing more than ever.
Lorraine Gnanadickam, founder of Foodst
When Lorraine Gnanadickam Launched Foodst, she not only built a meal delivery service. She created a new kind of culinary marketplace, a where home cooks could become local heroes. Her platform connects Australians with meals that tell a story, the type of food that does not always occur in good food, but has a lifelong tradition. The meals come from accredited home cooks, many of whom are migrants, parents juggle with care and career, or Australians who want to share their heritage through food. A Sri Lankan curry, a Hungarian goulash, a Persian stew, these dishes are not just about taste, they are about identity, pride and memory.
Lorraine believes that Australian Made should include these stories. “This is the food that people eat in houses throughout the country,” she says. “It deserves to be part of the Australian food story.” For her it is not only the ingredients that matter, but also the people and traditions behind them. By creating a model in which the locals cook for the locals, Foodst is re -defined what it means to be a producer in Australia. It is not just about factories or farms, but about family citting, care and cultural continuity. It is a powerful memory that Australian Made is just as much about people as about product.
Alexandra Egan, founder and CEO of Domino Effect Consulting
With Domino Effect Consulting, Alexandra Egan helps to reform the way in which organizations think about their values. Her work focuses on guiding companies into deeper commitments to fairness, inclusion and sustainability and she believes that these values should be central to the way we define Australian. With almost 30% of Australians born abroad and hundreds of languages spoken throughout the country, Alexandra claims that we need a more extensive understanding of what local looks like. That is why she defends the idea of ’reset’, a call to re -devise equality, sustainability, empowerment and trust as fundamental values of what is made here.
For Alexandra, Australian Made has to reflect everyone who contributes to it. This includes migrants, indigenous communities, women and employees from every course of life. “If we want the label to mean something,” she says, “should everyone represent: not just a stereotype from the past.” Through her advisory work, she helps organizations to coordinate their internal practices with these broader values. According to her, that coordination is the true test whether something has been made authentic Australian.
James Chin Moody, CEO and founder of Sendle
“Running a small business today is more difficult than ever. Rising costs and global uncertainty feel the pressure. As a founder himself, I know first -hand what it means to be supported by your local community. In fact, Sendle would not be where we are today without the support of small companies in the entire country.
While supporting Australian Made starts by ensuring that local companies get the first share of wallet, the next step to invest in community -driven solutions to enable SMEs to thrive on the local market. That is why we recently launched the growth fund for small companies to give entrepreneurs the tools and support they need to thrive, and ultimately the future of Australia Power Australia. Innovation and efficiency are essential in a competitive and rapidly evolving economy. This fund is designed to help optimize small businesses, to scale sustainably and to stay ahead. Australian Made Week is undoubtedly a perfect opportunity to celebrate and defend these companies. However, the importance of supporting Australian Made goes further than just one week. In fact, every Australian choice helps to build the strong and resilient economy on which we all depend on all year round. “
Laura Canham, Digital Entrepreneur and Business Consultant
Digital entrepreneur Laura Canham sees a huge blind spot in the Australian conversation. Although physical products are often in the spotlight, she states that digital companies: the freelancers, makers, coaches and consultants are just as essential for the local economy. Her work includes helping Australians to build location-independent income flows, and she has seen the innovation and resilience that goes into these companies. “Only because you can’t hold it does not mean that it was not made here,” she says. Laura points out that many digital companies were born out of necessity and flexibility. They are often founded by women who go back to work, by people with disabilities who are looking for accessible income, or by young entrepreneurs who do not have access to capital -heavy industries.
These companies are lean, creative and incredibly scalable. She believes that intellectual, emotional and digital labor recognizes recognition in addition to traditional production. “We have to keep pace with how Australians actually work today,” says Laura. “And much of that work happens online, in bedrooms and cafés, not in warehouses.”
Kim Owen Jones, general director, SMEs directly at Myob
At MyOB, general manager Kim Owen Jones is good at what the figures tell us about Australian consumer behavior. And the message is clear: people are willing to spend more if they know that a product is being made locally and ethically. According to Myob’s new research, almost two -thirds of the Australians, 61%, say that they are happy to pay a premium for Australian goods and services. Under Gen Z, the wish is even stronger, because younger consumers are increasingly looking for brands that match their ethics and values. “Today’s consumers not just want to know where something was made, they want to know how it was made and who is behind it,” Kim explains. “Transparency, traceability and trust become just as important as price.”
For small companies this offers both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to make their values visible and verifiable. The chance lies in connecting with an audience that is actively looking for meaning in their purchases. Kim believes that the more companies invest in telling their own story, not only through labels, but through their actions, the more they will benefit from this consumer shift. “It’s not enough to be made in Australia,” she says. “You also have to represent the best of Australia.”
Leanne Bawden, founder and CEO, wild grounded co
Leanne Bawden says: “I am not only coaching mothers in the business world, I help them to rewrite the damn Rulebook.” She is passionate about building “High profit, life first companies that they don’t burn.” This approach creates a wrinkle effect, explains that ‘children, families, schools and entire communities’ influence. Leanne also shares her expertise with local non -profit organizations such as here for strength, is in the McLaren Vale Business & Tourism Association Committee and actively supports local fundraising efforts. “I believe that leadership is not only about what you build, it is also what you give back,” she adds.
When asked what is game change for her business growth, Leanne jokes: “Can I say?” She mentions the power of connection with women in South SAUSSIE who do incredible things. “From creative collabs to BIZ desties, local brains and the power of a good coffee chat, this community is the next level,” she says. “I am completely about connection about competition.
“Whether it is a brainstorm about wine, a collaboration in a local café or another mother shout in Biz about Socials, I am on women who support themselves. I don’t help women only to build companies. I help them build lives that feel like freedom, the Aussie manner” “
Stay informed of our stories LinkedIn” Twitter” Facebook And Instagram.
#Australian #Week #means #build #hear #locally