What can’t she do? Local legend inspires

Q. How long have you lived on the Sunshine Coast?

A. I have been living on the Sunshine Coast since 1988, when our family moved from New Zealand to Moffat Beach to give me a better future. 

Q. What are you best known for?

A. Other than wrangling my four energetic sons, I am a multi award-winning business owner of KM Exhausts Australia and Kuluin Mufflers and a charity founder and director of "Driven By KM".

Q. What has been your proudest moment so far?

A. Personally, surviving motherhood for 24 years so far. Business, writing my first book (How I Made Lemonade: A Memoir) that sold out in Australia within the first year and was then picked up internationally by major bookstores. That was incredibly exciting and very much unexpected. 

Q. What’s your top tip on how to succeed in business?

A. Keep your blinkers on and don't look at what others in the industry are doing, being able to be consistently unique and building a business that sits apart from the rest means to look inward and focus on individuality. 

Q. What’s the biggest challenge you have overcome?

A. Learning new skill sets that I needed but previously had no experience in. Google has been my biggest friend that has shown me everything from how to reconcile bank accounts to explaining the process of how to write a charity constitution. Never be afraid to try something that you have yet to learn the skill for, once you get started it is always less overwhelming and suddenly appears achievable.

Q. What’s something about you that would surprise people?

A. I have built and run a multi-million-dollar business all on my own and yet I didn't pass year 10 math. 

Q. Why is it important to celebrate International Women’s Day?

A. Because when I was growing up, I didn't have a female figure that I was able to look up to and replicate, I really hope young ladies growing up in this generation are able to clearly see the varied and exciting futures available to them.

Q. Anything else you’d like to add?

A. International Women’s Day is an incredibly important day that gives us all a chance to showcase the different ways that women live their lives. The more education given about the many paths available to young children growing up, the more likely you are to have a young generation reach beyond what was ever expected of them, as they won't see the boundaries that society has placed upon them if they have been shown an example of inspiration to follow.

International Women’s Day 2024

When: Friday, March 8, 2024
Time: 6 – 9pm  
Location: Altitude Nine, Level 9, Sunshine Coast City Hall, Corner First Avenue and South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore
Cost: $39.95 per person plus booking fee

Angie is one of three special guest speakers at Altitude Nine’s International Women’s Day celebration on Friday, March 8 2024.