Karla McDiarmid, who owns the spa said she was surprised, and delighted, when she was announced as the winner of the Business Director / Owner of the Year category.

Her team of 12 therapists were also announced as the winner in the Salon Team of the Year category.

Karla described the wins as overwhelming.

“It just means so much to be in this room filled with 500 people and receive these awards in front of many of my mentors and trainers.” 

“It was a complete surprise and I am still in shock.”

Karla, whose Bathurst medi spa, along with her Orange medi spa only recently won a swag of international awards, said the secret to success was valuing her staff, and always improving the businesses.

She said she works hard to ensure her team of therapists are trained in leading edge skin care, and does little things for staff so they know they are valued.

“On Thursday morning I took them all out to breakfast to celebrate our win and on the weekend I booked a house in Sydney, hired a Hummer and we went down to Sydney for the Beauty Expo.”

“I think if you invest in your team you get more in return,” she said.

Karla also thanked her clients.

“Living in Bathurst, where the community supports us, I feel really blessed.

“If our clients didn’t come to the salon we wouldn’t be where we are, doing what we do.”