Melbourne – Belmont business leader Carol Hanlon has been named the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) National Small Business Champion 2025, a recognition that cements her as one of the country’s most dedicated advocates for entrepreneurs and creative industries.
The award was presented at the COSBOA Summit Gala, acknowledging Ms Hanlon’s remarkable five-decade career supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at local, national, and international levels.
As founding CEO of the Belmont Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) since 1994, she has assisted more than 36,500 small businesses and start-ups. Through 45 major projects, she has championed women in business, Indigenous and migrant entrepreneurship, sustainability, cyber security, and international trade.
In 1998, Ms Hanlon established the Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre WA (TCF WA), which has since supported over 7,500 designers and creative industry entrepreneurs across Australia and abroad.
COSBOA chair Matthew Addison praised her lifelong dedication, stating: “She has opened doors for thousands of entrepreneurs, especially women, Indigenous Australians and migrants. She is a true champion for small business and an inspiration to us all.”
Among her many achievements are the creation of the Belmont and WA Small Business Awards, now in their 32nd year, launching the Design Edge Innovation Festival, and hosting Australia’s first Women Economic Forum. Each initiative reflects her drive to foster entrepreneurship through recognition, innovation, and empowerment.
Reflecting on her journey, Ms Hanlon said her mission has always been to “make a difference” to entrepreneurs. “My passion is the economic empowerment of women and the creative, fashion and textile, clothing and footwear MSMEs. I endeavour to create programs, projects, business skill development and mentoring across many sectors to assist them,” she explained.
Her message to small business owners is one of resilience and hope. “Micro small businesses need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. MSMEs are time poor and often don’t know what they don’t know. My role is to ensure they feel supported and equipped to grow.”
