AgriFutures Rural Women's Award celebrates its 25th year with New South Wales shearer, registered nurse and mental health advocate, Carol Mudford, named the 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Winner and Western Australian fashion innovator, Isabella Thrupp, announced as National Runner Up.
Ms Mudford, founder of sHedway , a national not‑for‑profit tackling suicide prevention and mental health in the shearing industry, has officially been named the 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner for her leadership in creating safe spaces and practical support across sheds nationwide. Since launching sHedway in 2023, Carol has delivered events across every mainland state, breaking down stigma and building peer networks to ensure shearers and wool handlers know they are not alone.
Western Australian finalist, Isabella Thrupp, was named National Runner Up for her project Prinking in Pindan , a clothing brand shaped by life on cattle stations in the Kimberley. Managing Leopold Downs Station with her partner, Isabella has fused station life with design to create clothing for outback realities. Her first release, The Pindan Jeans, drew overwhelming demand, highlighting the appetite for durable, stylish clothing designed by women on the land. As a female founder in one of Australia's most remote regions, she turned lived experience into innovation, showing that distance is no barrier to impact.
Carol and Isabella, along with their fellow national finalists, were honoured for their exceptional contributions to rural communities and industries during Tuesday's ceremony. The 2025 cohort includes:
- Carol Mudford, founder of sHedway (New South Wales / ACT)
- Nicole McNaughton, CEO of the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) (Queensland)
- Kelly Johnson, creator of SPhiker (South Australia)
- Kristy Hollis, naturopath and founder of Everlasting Health (Northern Territory)
- Dr Mary Cole, soil scientist and founder of AgPath (Victoria)
- Sarah De Jonge, founder of 1000 Hearts (Tasmania)
- Isabella Thrupp, founder of Prinking in Pindan (Western Australia).
The announcement was made by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, The Hon Julie Collins MP, during a black‑tie gala dinner at Canberra's Parliament House on Tuesday evening. The event brought together over 540 government officials, industry representatives, members of the award's alumni, other state finalists and their families.
This year marked a milestone, 25 years of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award. Since its inception, the Award has celebrated hundreds of women transforming their industries, from food and fibre to tech, sustainability and community leadership. It's become a national platform that amplifies rural voices, fuels innovation and inspires the next generation of leaders.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award is Australia's premier award recognising and supporting the vital role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities. With the continued support of Platinum Sponsor, Westpac, the program offers opportunities to foster the growth of tomorrow's female changemakers across Australia.
In addition to the $15,000 Westpac grant already awarded to the seven state and territory winners, Carol and Isabella will receive an additional $20,000 and $15,000 respectively to further develop their winning projects.
"This is a profound honour and I am deeply grateful to AgriFutures and Westpac for their belief in my vision. With this support, we can take sHedway into more sheds and more towns, making it okay to ask for help – and to receive it," said Ms Mudford.
"Prinking in Pindan began with the idea of creating clothing that reflects station life. To have that vision recognised nationally shows that women in remote Australia can drive meaningful change and I hope it inspires others to pursue their own ideas," said Ms Thrupp.
John Harvey, Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia, praised Carol for her outstanding contributions to rural wellbeing.
"In the 25th year of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, a program that has evolved from a kitchen-table conversation into a national movement, Carol Mudford stands as a powerful embodiment of its legacy. A registered nurse and seasoned shearer and wool handler, Carol bridges two worlds with authenticity and courage," Mr Harvey said.
"Her exceptional work is changing the culture of the shearing industry and creating lasting impact for rural communities. She's trusted in the sheds and influential in the conversations shaping the sector, bringing people together and earning deep respect across both worlds," he stated.
Mr Harvey also congratulated 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Runner Up, Isabella Thrupp, who received an additional $15,000 Westpac grant.
The Award's Platinum Sponsor, Westpac, commended Carol and Isabella on taking out the National Winner and National Runner Up titles.
"Congratulations to Carol and Isabella on their recognition. Their projects highlight the ingenuity and resilience of women in rural and regional Australia and we are proud to support their leadership," said Peta Ward, Managing Director, Regional Commercial and Agribusiness for Platinum Sponsor, Westpac.
"It's an honour to showcase the contributions of women who are helping to build a stronger, more sustainable future for our regions."
Applications for the 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award opened on Wednesday, 10 September 2025 and will close on Friday, 7 November 2025 (Friday, 30 January 2026 for NT Applicants). See the AgriFutures Australia website for more details.
