What entrepreneur wouldn't dream of turning a single store into a

thriving chain of outlets? Few succeed, but someone who has is Catherine

Harris, chair of Harris Farm Markets. With her husband David as CEO,

Catherine co-founded the business in 1972 with a small fruit and

vegetable shop in the western Sydney suburb of Villawood. It has since

grown into an operation with a chain of 22 stores and three butchers

across the state of New South Wales and more than 1000 employees. Harris

Farm Markets was a trailblazer in being the first Australian fresh

produce business to serve its customers in the style of a supermarket.

From the start, the family-run concern has bought its goods from the

Sydney Markets at Flemington, near the site of the 2000 Olympics. Harris

Farm Markets continues to be based there.

Catherine Harris has maintained a close association with the University

of New South Wales since completing her degree in the late 1960s at

what was then the faculty of commerce, which is now the Australian

School of Business. An Officer of the Order of Australia, Catherine has

held other prominent directorships and sat on a number of boards. She is

currently a commissioner of the Australian Rugby League and Honorary

Consul General for Bhutan.