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Entrepreneurship isn’t simply about starting a business. It’s about recognising a genuine need, finding a way to address it and having the courage to turn that idea into something real. It takes curiosity to identify an opportunity, resilience to pursue it and determination to turn an idea into something that creates genuine value.

That is what makes the Entrepreneurship category of the French-Australian Excellence Awards particularly worth celebrating, and why Bilateral Solutions is proud to sponsor this category every year. Organised by Le Courrier Australien, the Awards are now in their sixth edition, celebrating the people, businesses and organisations helping strengthen the relationship between France and Australia.

The 2026 nominees are a diverse group of entrepreneurs, with very different stories and very different businesses. What connects them is something much more interesting: they saw a problem, a gap or an opportunity and found an idea to address it.

Rather than simply listing their achievements, we want to put the spotlight on the people behind the businesses and the ideas that brought them to where they are today.

Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit

The French-Australian Excellence Awards celebrate the people, businesses and organisations strengthening the relationship between France and Australia across business, innovation, culture, community and more. Entrepreneurship is an important part of that story, recognising those who have the courage to identify a need, pursue an opportunity and build something of their own.

The 2026 Entrepreneurship nominees reflect that spirit in many different ways. They are building businesses across a diverse range of sectors and addressing very different needs, but all share the drive to turn an idea into something real.

Meet the 2026 Entrepreneurship nominees

The nominees below are presented with no ranking or preference implied. As the sponsor of this category, Bilateral Solutions is 100% neutral; our aim is simply to celebrate entrepreneurship and give each nominee visibility.

We encourage you to discover the individual stories behind the 16 nominees and learn more about the businesses and ideas they are bringing to life.

Discover the 16 Entrepreneurship nominees →

• Rachel Crampton at Juurnee
  Juurnee connects people who need assistance while flying with people willing to accompany them. Inspired by Rachel’s own experience travelling alone with three young children, the platform supports families, older travellers, people with disabilities and others who may need assistance while travelling by air.
• Carine Anceaux at WanderBuddies
  WanderBuddies brings solo travellers, expats and locals together through curated events, experiences and trips. From social activities to adventures across Australia and beyond, the business aims to help people connect, make friends and find their travel community.
• Laetitia Andrac at Understanding Zoe
  Understanding Zoe helps families and the people supporting neurodivergent individuals work together more effectively. Its AI-powered companion, Pip, captures everyday observations and helps turn them into meaningful insights that can support families, health professionals, educators and others.
• Germain Briand at BioDotDotDot
  BioDotDotDot brings together nature, science, art and innovation to explore new ways of reconnecting people with nature. Germain’s ventures include nature-based urban solutions, living light and bioluminescence, demonstrating how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied to environmental and social challenges.
• François Chemillier at Herdy
  Herdy is a carpooling platform designed to make better use of the empty seats already travelling on Australia’s roads. Inspired by France’s established carpooling culture, François has developed the platform for the Australian context, with the aim of helping people share transport costs, reduce emissions and connect with others.
• Tamara Craig at VOULEZ VODKA
  VOULEZ VODKA is an Australian vodka brand created by Tamara, combining her French heritage with her life in Australia and a deeply personal entrepreneurial journey. The business also extends beyond the product itself through the VOULEZ Martini Cart, a bespoke martini experience for private and corporate events.

• Karine Grimoux Bunney at Sun & Cloud Counselling
  Sun & Cloud Counselling supports expatriates, individuals and multicultural families navigating life between cultures. Drawing on her own experience of living between France and Australia, Karine provides culturally sensitive support in French and English while exploring the broader idea of Multicultural Safety.
• Marine Hautemont at Choosing Your Uni
  Choosing Your Uni is an Australian edtech platform helping students navigate the process of choosing a university course and provider. The platform combines AI-powered tools with personalised content to help students identify courses and providers that may be a good fit for their needs.
• Caroline Khelaifia at Maison Otto
  Maison Otto brings French fashion, home and lifestyle to Australia, connecting customers with independent French brands and artisans. Caroline’s business has evolved across wholesale, retail and online, with its South Melbourne Market store offering a curated selection inspired by French craftsmanship, culture and the art of living well.
• Nikita Labaysse at Chez Coco
  Chez Coco is a French boulangerie-pâtisserie in Kuranda, Far North Queensland, inspired by Nikita’s French heritage and her grandmother, Coco. Combining her Australian roots with the French culture she discovered while spending time in France, Nikita has created a business with a strong connection to the local community.
• Melody Lan Ah Loi at IMMelody
  IMMelody is a bilingual French-English buyer’s agency helping French nationals, expatriates and other clients make informed property decisions in Australia. Melody combines local property knowledge with an understanding of the cultural and practical differences between the French and Australian property markets.
• Max Pantacchini at Preston Fresh
  Preston Fresh has grown from Max’s work in the seafood industry into a substantial fresh and smoked seafood business serving the Cairns region. Built together with his French wife Françoise, the business also provides employment opportunities for French-speaking staff and young French people in Australia on working holiday visas.

• Gabriel Schiano at Amplicity
  Amplicity is a climate-tech company helping data centres, industrial facilities and critical infrastructure operators make better use of battery systems. Gabriel is leading the company’s Australian development, connecting international climate-tech innovation with Australia’s energy, technology and industrial sectors.
• Marie Carrillon at The Business Mum Compass
  The Business Mum Compass supports mums navigating the realities of building a business alongside motherhood. Through her podcast, live events and community, Marie creates a space where mum entrepreneurs can build confidence, make connections and pursue their ambitions while raising a family.
• Maud Dunne at France Travel Solutions
  France Travel Solutions creates intimate, small-group journeys designed to help Australians discover France through its people, culture, gastronomy and regional traditions. Maud’s work also contributes to the broader exchange between France and Australia by building connections with chefs, producers, cultural organisations and other French and Australian professionals.
• Caroline Seigneur at The Travel Corner
  The Travel Corner is a boutique travel agency creating highly personalised journeys for clients seeking authentic and carefully curated experiences. Caroline brings together her French background and Australian experience to create travel experiences while building connections between Australia, France and destinations around the world.

Your vote matters

The 16 nominees each have their own story, their own idea and their own entrepreneurial journey. We invite you to discover their profiles, as well as the nominees across all the other categories, and make your own choice.

Explore all 10 categories and meet the 2026 nominees

The Entrepreneurship category is just one part of the sixth edition of the French-Australian Excellence Awards. Organised by Le Courrier Australien, the Awards bring together nominees across 10 categories, celebrating the people, businesses and organisations making a difference across the French-Australian community.

We encourage you to explore the nominees across all categories, discover their stories and learn more about the initiatives, ideas and achievements strengthening the relationship between France and Australia. Voting is now open, so take the opportunity to discover the full list and cast your vote.

Discover all 2026 nominees and vote →

Congratulations to all the nominees across the ten categories. Each represents a different story, ambition or contribution, and together they showcase the breadth of talent, initiative and collaboration that makes the French-Australian relationship so dynamic.