- Kimberley businesswoman wins AgriFutures 2025 WA Rural Women's Award
- The award celebrates the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities
A young innovator whose experience on northern cattle stations inspired her burgeoning fashion business has secured the title of 2025 Western Australian AgriFutures Rural Women's Award winner.
Awarded the honour at a gala event in Perth last night, Kimberley pastoralist Isabella Thrupp founded the online business Prinking in Pindan, which creates stylish and durable clothing suitable for the demanding lifestyle of rural women.
She also managesLeopold Downs Station, a pastoral station in the Kimberley, with her partner.
Ms Thrupp's business began out of need for jeans that couldwithstand the harsh conditions of outback Australia.
Her debut product, The Pindan Jeans, sold out within minutes - highlighting the demand for practical yet flattering clothing designed for station life.
Ms Thrupp is passionate about fostering connections between rural and urban communities, championing sustainability and innovation.
She will use the award to explore Australian-made clothing research and development, particularly cotton and wool fabric blends.
Ms Thrupp receives a $15,000 business development bursary towards her project and will go on to represent WA at the national awards in September.
Finalist Gen Whisson of Kulin, who supports high school students to participate in international aid through the Kulin to Cambodia initiative, will receive a $2,500 sponsorship towards her project.
In addition, Bolgart farmer Tegan Johns was honoured with an AgriFutures Acceleration Grant, one of seven awarded across the nation. A bursary will go towards developing a project focused on promoting regional towns as ideal filming locations, increasing tourism, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
The Rural Women's Award is supported by AgriFutures, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Westpac, CBH Group and the Rural, Regional and Remote Women's Network of Western Australia.
As stated by Regional Development and Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson:
"As Minister for Regional Development I'm delighted to see the breadth of innovation and entrepreneurship taking place in regional Western Australia.
"Furthermore, as the Minister for the Kimberley, it's excellent to see Isabella provide great representation from the region and I congratulate her on taking out the top prize.
"These awards empower and celebrate the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia's rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities.
"I commend these energetic and passionate women who are breaking new ground in their respective fields, be it a new business enterprise, humanitarian project or community endeavour."
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Congratulationsto Isabella, who is a role model to other young people starting out in business.
"Isabella is a self-made success story, using her firsthand experience to create a product to meet the needs of regional women.
"Her perseverance to develop her business, while managing a station, highlights that you can build a successful, innovative brand no matter where you live."
