BPW International

Who is Carol Hanlon ?

Carol Hanlon, ‘Business Dreams Champion’ was named as one of the Western Australia's top 100 women for the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

The Inaugural WA Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony was held on the 7th of March, 2011, and more than 1,000 Western Australian’s attended the event to find out the 100 top women in their respective fields.

Carol Hanlon Inducted into Inaugural WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2011

Carol Hanlon said, “This year, tens of millions of people around the world joined in International Women’s Day global centenary celebrations, and it’s so special that I had the opportunity to celebrate alongside so many courageous and inspiring women in WA. I am deeply honoured by the recognition and award.”

Carol Hanlon’s diverse small business experience has qualified her well for the role of Founding Manager and Facilitator at the Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc. (BEC), Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia Inc. (TCFWA) and the designedge fashion incubator. In addition Carol is also a City Councillor for Belmont, President of Belmont Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW), Chair of the Belmont Community Bank Project and National President of Australian Institute of Enterprise Facilitators.

Having been on both sides of the small business fence, Ms Hanlon is aware of the pitfalls of going into business and offers a blend of solid business knowledge with support from the heart.

Ms Hanlon's past small business background included fashion design, clothing manufacturing, wholesale, retail and export for over twenty years on the east coast of Australia of her own fashion label - which received international acclaim. The fashion studio also won the Geelong Business Excellence Award for Manufacturing - under 20 employees, in 1986.

From that time Carol has won countless awards for her tireless efforts for small business owners, and also for her work in communities with those less fortunate including international village projects that assist women to start their own sewing small businesses.

Ms Hanlon has recently returned from presenting two papers at the NGO Forums of the fifty-sixth session of the United Nations – Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Later this year, Carol will be the Convenor and organizer of the 3rd Annual International Fashion Incubator Conference to be held in Perth.

Among others inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame in 2011 were Edith Cowan, tennis player Margaret Court, the Anglican bishop Kay Goldsworthy, writer Elizabeth Jolley, surgeon Dr Fiona Wood, Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and breast cancer advocate Ros Worthington.


Media Contact:
Carol Wallbank
Ph: (08) 94793777 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (08) 94793777      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Mob: 0408 201 610 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            0408 201 610      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: carol.wallban@belmontbec.com

ABOUT CAROL HANLON:

Background 1973-1993

Fashion Designer/Small Business Owner, Geelong Victoria 1973 – 1993
Business Manager / Racing Stables, Geelong Victoria 1974 – 1993
President & Member Quota Club of South Barwon, Geelong Victoria 1983-1993, (focus on speech, hearing impaired community projects)
District Governor Quota International Inc, Victoria 1985 – 1986
Victorian Community of Community Service Clubs – Council Member, 1987
Geelong Small Business Award – Manufacturing Category under 20 employees – 1986
Major Fashion Show Events, Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney, 1978 – 1992
National Convenor, Quota International Australian Bicentennial Young Women’s Community Service Award 1986-1988
TCF Awareness Week, Geelong Victoria – Project Manager, Coordinator - 1993
Numerous Community Awards, Certificates & Recognition - Quota, Zonta, Jaycees, Australian Bicentennial - 1978-1993
Relocated to Western Australia 1993

Local Community Activities, Projects 1994 to current – established & coordinated

Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc – assisting people to start a business or grow an existing business - 1994 to current
Belmont Small Business Awards – to provide recognition for small business excellence & achievement - 1994 to current
International Trade Display Centre – research establishment of trade display centre, Business Park, Perth Airport 1994-1995
Belmont Business Residential Survey – researching the establishment of a business enterprise residential zone - 1995
Belmont Clothes Library – a free lending library of garments for unemployed to attend job interviews - 1996 to current
Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of WA Inc (TCFWA) – industry assoc. assisting TCFL industry - 1998 to current
Designedge Trade Exhibition – staging a trade exhibition and bringing in international buyers 2003
Designedge fashion Incubator – showcase of emerging designers to showcase their talent & designs - 2005 to current
City of Opportunity Perth Royal Show Fashion Parades – showcase emerging talents designers & models – 1999 to 2002
Belmont Business Sundowners– local business networking events 2000 - 2007
WA Youth Showcase – highlighting the skills and talents of young entrepreneurs at major public events - 2000 to 2002
Business Workshops for Youth – provide information & inspiration to students to consider self employment – 1998 to current
Designedge Innovation festival – workshops, events, displays, showing inventors, innovation & technology - 2005 to current
Australian Designer Showcase – assist designers to showcase their designs at national & international events 1998 to current
Indigenous Modelling Training & Grooming projects – develop skills and talents of local indigenous youth - 2000 to current
Small Business Centre Belmont - assisting people to start a business or develop an existing business – 2005 to current
Tsunami Sri Lanka Collection – coordination two containers of donated household items for Sri Lanka – 2005
Multicultural Business Support Services – providing specialised support, business workshops, mentoring - 1998 to current
Women in Business Mentoring – business mentoring services at Everywoman Expo 2006 to current
TCFWA Buying Missions – assisting small business to visit Hong Kong trade exhibitions 2004 to current
Indigenous Textile Fashion Industry projects – assisting to develop an indigenous textile fashion industry 2004 to current
Creative Women Regional & Isolated Australia project – delivering business workshops, mentoring, forums 2004 to 2006
Belmont Business Mentor Program – connecting local businesses and mentors 2005-2006
TCF Australia Business Skills project – delivering business workshops, mentoring, forums 2006 – 2007
Belmont Business Development Project – local small business skills analysis project 2006
Designedge Training & Mentoring project – assists fashion & jewellery designers re business and e-commerce 2007-2008
Multicultural Women’s Sewing Project – assisting women to start a home based sewing business - 2007 to current
TCF Global – creating international networks for emerging fashion designers & village communities - 2007 to current
TCF Global Community Sewing Project, Ormoc Philippines – collection donated sewing machines and equipment for community centres 2007 to current
WA Racing Industry Business Development Project-assisting local racing Industry business mentoring, workshops/forums – 2007-2008
Past National Board Member, BEC Australia Inc – representing 110 small business assistance centres across Australia 2005-09
Conference Convenor, National Small Business Development Conference, Perth, October 2007

Community Awards & Recognition 1994 to current - awarded to Carol and projects

Department of Commerce & Trade – Certificate of Recognition, 1994
Commonwealth Government, Federal Trade Minister, Bob McMullen, Certificate Export Achievement, 1995
Telstra Business Women’s Award – Public Sector, Finalist, 1998
Community Services Industry Awards – Focus on Innovation, Belmont Clothes Library Finalist, 1998
City of Belmont Opportunity Award – Contribution to Small Business, Belmont BEC, 1999
Australian Micro Small Business Awards - Certificate of Recognition, 2000
National Community Link Volunteer Awards – Certificate of Commendation, 2001
Commonwealth Government, Small Business Minister, Joe Hockey – Certificate TCF Australia Uncovered Project, 2004
WA Small Business Centres, WA Small Business Minister, Bob Kucera, - Certificate 10 years of service to Small Business, 2004
Best National Business Enterprise Centre Manager Award – 2004
Commonwealth Government, Small Business Minister, Fran Bailey – Certificate TCF Australia Business Skills Project, 2006
WA Citizen of Year Awards – Commerce & Industry Category, Nominee, 2006
Commonwealth Government, Small Business Minister, Fran Bailey - Certificate Designedge Training & Mentoring Project, 2007
Belmont Business & Professional Women’s Club – Most Inspirational Member Nomination, 2007
‘100 Champions of WA’ WA Week – City of Perth, 2007
The Australian Taxation Office Award for Best Business Enterprise Centre Manager (BEC) in Australia, 2008
City of Perth Convention Scholarship Award – to attend 2nd International Fashion Incubator Conference, Atlanta USA. Nov 2009

Current Appointments, Memberships

National President, Australasian Institute Enterprise Facilitators – promoting professional standards in business counselling
Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors – promoting professional standards in governance, business and organizations
President, Belmont Business & Professional Women’s Club – enhancing the status & support to women locally & internationally
Asia Pacific Business Facilitation Accreditation (APEC) – internationally accredited small business counsellor
WA Committee, Children First Foundation – assisting expansion of Moira Kelly’ medical evacuation program into Western Australia
Councillor City of Belmont – elected member local government Councillor, October 2007
Conference Convenor – 3rd International Fashion Incubator Conference, 2011
Chair, Belmont Community Bank Project – establishing Belmont Community Bank Project, August 2010



Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc
PO Box 370, Cloverdale WA 6985 Phone 08 9479 3777 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            08 9479 3777      end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax 08 9479 3888   
www.belmontbec.com  www.tcfwa.com www.tcfaustralia.com   
www.tcfglobal.com  www.designedge.net.au