Australian Franchise News – 17-10-14
Jacinta McDonell, co-founder of Australia’s number one health club Anytime Fitness, is one of 21 finalists in the prestigious Telstra New South Wales Business Women’s Award 2014. The finalists join a prestigious list of winners since 1995, including Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron; Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick; public servants Jeannine Biviano, the Deputy Director General at NSW Trade & Investment; Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn; and racing royalty Gai Waterhouse.
With over 2500 clubs and 1.5 million members’ worldwide, since Anytime Fitness’s launch into Australia in 2008 it has become the quickest growing segment of the world’s fastest growing fitness chain. There are currently over 370 clubs open throughout Australia and 400 clubs are scheduled to open by the end of 2014. Anytime Fitness’s company ethos is based on changing lives, it’s what they do every day. Jacinta has taken this ethos one step further by undertaking fundraising work for non-profit organisation The Hunger Project. Jacinta personally raised over $100,000 for The Hunger Project and travelled to Malawi in August to see first-hand what her funds achieved. As well as running a company and raising money for charity Jacinta also has three young children, juggling a successful and demanding career with being a mum.
Jacinta says “I am so proud to be a finalist in this year’s Telstra Business Women’s Awards alongside twenty other amazing woman who are both innovators and leaders, and from such a range of sectors with diverse career backgrounds. These awards are fundamental in the promotion and celebration of women in the Australian business world and to be a part of them is a true honour”.
Winners of the 2014 Telstra New South Wales Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Friday 24 October in Sydney. The NSW winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on 26 November.