Janet Holmes à Court

Janet Holmes à Court, AC, HonFAHA, HonFAIB (born Janet Lee Ranford on 29 November 1943 in Perth, Western Australia) is an Australian businesswoman and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairperson of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court in 1990. She retained full ownership of the Heytesbury Group of companies until 2008 when her son, Peter Holmes à Court, assumed ownership, while she remained chairman.

Janet Holmes à Court

AC
Born
Janet Lee Ranford

(1943-11-29) November 29, 1943
Perth, Western Australia
Education
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1966; died 1990)​
    Gilbert George
    ​
    (m. 2018)​
    Children4, including Peter Holmes à Court, Paul Holmes à Court and Simon Holmes à Court

    Life and career

    Holmes à Court attended Perth Modern School and the University of Western Australia, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in organic chemistry and a Diploma of Education in 1965.[1] After graduation, she worked as a science teacher before marrying her husband in 1966 and having four children with him.

    She currently lives in Perth. As her children left home, she developed interests in medical research, the arts and various charitable organisations.

    After the death of her husband, she took over management of Heytesbury Pty Ltd, which was considerably in debt, rescuing and expanding it. The company operates cattle stations in remote Western Australia and has interests in vineyards, wine-making and engineering contracting.

    She owns the Holmes à Court Gallery located in the original Vasse Felix winery at Cowaramup, near Margaret River, in Western Australia which displays works from the Holmes à Court Collection.[2][3]

    As well as her business activities, Holmes à Court has been an active participant in progressive social issues, such as an advocate for the Australian Republican Movement at the 1998 constitutional convention,[4] the Patron of Private Giving at the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, chair of the Art Gallery of Western Australia[5] and deputy chairperson of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA. From 1986 to 2022, she was the chair of the Australian Children's Television Foundation.[5] She has also served on the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building. She was Pro-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia from 1990 to 1994, and a Senate member of both Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia.

    In April 2018, Holmes à Court married mining businessman Gilbert George.[6]

    Honours and awards

    She was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 and promoted to a Companion of the Order (AC) on Australia Day 2007 for service to business, particularly as a leader in the construction, wine and cattle industries, to the advancement of Western Australia's musical and theatre culture, to the visual arts, and to the community.[7] In 2001, she was awarded the Centenary Medal for her service to the arts as Chair of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Black Swan Theatre Company. The National Trust of Australia has included her on its list of 100 Australian Living Treasures.

    Her other honours and awards include:

    • United Kingdom Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, 1995
    • Institute of Engineers Medal, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 1997
    • Inducted into the Leading Business Entrepreneurs of the World (USA), 1997
    • International Business Council of Western Australia Business Award, 1998
    • AbaF Richard Pratt Business Leadership Award, 2003
    • Lifetime Commitment Award, WA State Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards, 2003
    • Champion Award for the Year of the Built Environment (Western Australia), State Steering Committee, 2004
    • WA Gold Medal Award, Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2007
    • Companion of Engineers Australia, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 2007
    • United Way Philanthropist of the Year Award, 2008
    • The Woodrow Wilson Corporate Citizenship Award, 2009
    • Inducted into the International Women's Day WA Women's Hall of Fame, 2011
    • Elected Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, 2011
    • Australian Achievement in Architecture National President's Prize, 2011
    • Champion of Entrepreneurship Award, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, 2012
    • John Shaw Medal, 2014

    She holds a number of honorary doctorates including:

    References
    1. "The University of Western Australia London Dinner" (PDF). Alumni, University of Western Australia. The University of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
    2. "Art Gallery". Vasse Felix. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
    3. Vizard, Steve, Two Weeks in Lilliput: Bear Baiting and Backbiting At the Constitutional Convention (Penguin, 1998, ISBN 0-14-027983-0)
    4. Laurie, Victoria (8 October 2022). "Janet Holmes à Court: Why I hope Simon never runs for office". The Australian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
    5. Glasgow, Will; Lacy, Christine (3 May 2018). "David Murray tapped for AMP board role". The Australian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
    6. "Australia Day 2007 Honours – Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia" (PDF). Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
    Notes
    • Edgar, Patricia (1999). Janet Holmes à Court. Australia. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-7322-5715-8The official biography
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