Judy Forbes, author and former proprietor of the cherished Plympton book café, Once & Again, has recently received well-deserved recognition for her commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
This recognition came at last week’s graduation ceremony of the South Australian Young Entrepreneur’s Scheme (SAYES).
Judy was honoured as the South Australian Mentor of the Year, a testament to her seven-year dedication to the South Australian Business Chamber’s programs.
Throughout this time, she has played a pivotal role in guiding and supporting entrepreneurs embarking on their respective journeys across a wide range of industries.
The South Australian Business Chamber CEO, Andrew Kay, acknowledged Judy’s invaluable expertise, which has made a mark on countless South Australian entrepreneurs.
“Judy’s extensive experience as a small business owner, covering a breadth of disciplines, has significantly enriched the South Australian Business Chamber’s programs,” said Andrew.
“Her 23 years of experience in vocational education and training has been instrumental in shaping the futures of emerging business leaders,” he added.
Bernadette Nicholson, owner of Whispering Sheoak and Judy’s 2023 mentee, praised Judy as the perfect mentor. “Judy has a remarkable ability to connect with individuals and adapt to their unique circumstances with unwavering kindness and profound understanding,” she said.
“Drawing from her wealth of business experience, Judy imparted invaluable wisdom and consistently motivated me to remain true to my vision and allow my passion for my business to guide my decisions and business plan.
“Judy went the extra mile, visiting our property in Springton, where she not only connected with my family but also gained a deep understanding of our operations.
“I can’t thank Judy enough for her guidance and support throughout the past year, and I look forward to continuing our mentorship journey for years to come,” Bernadette expressed.
Since bidding farewell to her café, Judy has redirected her focus toward mentoring and pursuing her latest endeavour, the launch of her new book, ‘Fulfilling Dreams & Ambitions: 6 Decades of Living, Loving & Learning.’
Celebrating its 25th year, the SAYES program is designed to nurture, grow, and scale start-up and early-stage businesses for South Australians under 35. The South Australian Business Chamber thanks the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science and VAILO for their generous support of this program, which has supported over 700 young South Australians over the last 25 years.
MEDIA CONTACT
Anthony Caldwell, Manager – Marketing, Media, Communications
Phone – 0421 508 075
Email – anthony.caldwell@business-sa.com
