Women in business inspire

Local business operators gathered at the Geraldton Air Charter hangar for the monthly Women Inspiring Better Business breakfast.

Now in its sixth year, the WIBB’s breakfast runs once a month, allowing a business operator to share her story with the group of women.

WIBB chairwoman Barbara Thompson said the breakfast was a chance for women to network and support each other.

“It’s such a friendly, relaxed environment,” she said.

“There are amazing women in the community that strive and achieve a great deal.

“We get to learn about one another and it gives people hope and inspiration.”

This month’s guest speaker was Geraldton Air Charter owner Wendy Mann, who talked about her childhood and how she came to own 10 planes.

Mrs Thompson said Mrs Mann had made an incredible contribution to the tourism industry in Geraldton.

“She’s helped open the international market in our own backyard,” she said.

“She will go down in history for making the pink lakes what they are, now — world famous.”

In 1977, Mrs Mann’s husband Rob traded two tractors for a plane at their Mullewa Auto Electrics store.

By July, 1978, Mrs Mann was a licensed pilot, and in 1981, she received her commercial licence.

Although Mrs Mann describes the industry as “a boys’ club”, she was determined to run her own business, finally becoming chief pilot at Geraldton Air Charter in 1997.

She has pioneered the Chinese tourism industry in Geraldton, flying 1600 Chinese tourists around the region since October, 2014.

“It’s quite demanding, but it’s going to be very rewarding,” Mrs Mann said.

WIBB will host a business expo on Wednesday, November 9 at the African Reef Resort in Geraldton.

The reporter is not related to Wendy Mann.