Local business woman named finalist for National Awards

Louise Barrett of Hagane Home has been named as a finalist in the Product Design and Innovation category for the AusMumpreneur Awards.

Created by sisters Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner, the AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate the achievements of Australian mums in business across a wide range of categories, including business excellence, product innovation, customer service, sustainability, and technology.

“There are so many incredible women right across Australia balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and these awards are a chance to share their stories and celebrate their success,” adds Katy Garner.

"I'm an inventor by necessity rather than training. I don't come from a background in product design, my training is in medical science and research, majoring in human physiology and biochemistry. That background turned out to be surprisingly good preparation for developing a roasting pan: it taught me to test ideas methodically, prototype, observe what fails, and keep refining until something actually works.

My professional career was fragmented as I followed my husband's work and raised our children, but that same discipline: ask a question, test it, learn from the result; never left me.

At 65, I noticed a genuine gap in cookware design: nothing existed to keep an oven clean during roasting. Rather than wait for someone else to solve it, I spent the next five years designing it myself, and the Ultimate Roaster was the result."

Louise is excited to be named a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards and is proud of her achievements in the last 12 months, particularly bringing a genuinely novel design to market through a 103.24% funded Kickstarter campaign, which validated demand and immediately brought customers on board from the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Singapore and Australia.

Earning third-party endorsement from respected voices in food, including cookbook author Sophie Hansen, who called it "the pan I wish I'd had for the past twenty years of Sunday roasts" has also been a highlight.

"What I'm proudest of, though, is what our customers tell us after they've used it. Carina wrote that she got "zero mess in my oven after what is normally the messiest roast night," while Tom described the Ultimate Roaster cooking "the juiciest roasts, juicier than any other roasting pan," proof the design solves the problem it was built for, night after night."

It can be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst also being a mother and grandmother, and Louise gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise.

"Expect a constant back and forth of "I can, I can't, I can, I can't, I can." That cycle is normal, the trick is to keep going through it. I had a supportive, encouraging husband who wouldn't let me give up, whenever I thought about throwing in the towel, he'd gently encourage me to stay the course."

“This event offers women an opportunity to find connection, support and inspiration while also celebrating their success with others who understand the journey of business and parenting.” explains co-founder Peace Mitchell.

The AusMumpreneur Conference includes keynote speakers, networking sessions, workshops, and panel discussions focused on leadership, visibility, and business growth. It is designed to support women at all stages of business—whether just starting out or scaling nationally.

The event includes a glamorous awards gala celebrating Australia’s top 100 Mums (and Grandmothers) in Business at the AusMumpreneur Conference on 14 - 16 September in Sydney, where the 2026 AusMumpreneur Award winners will be announced.

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