Leader in healthcare Businesswoman of the Year

Published 8:00am 12 July 2023

Words by Kylie Knight

The Banyans Healthcare founding CEO Ruth Limkin won the Westpac Award for Businesswoman of the Year at the 2023 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards on July 7.

See the full list of winners here.

Ruth was approached by the original company shareholders to ‘operationalise a concept’ for The Banyans Healthcare which opened in 2015 near Samford.

The centre provides residential and intensive outpatient treatment programs for professionals and their families experiencing mental health challenges or addiction.

Using a multi-modal treating team of medical staff, allied health, physical therapy and nutrition, The Banyans provides exclusively one-on-one therapy in a private and confidential treatment program.

It draws guests from across the world and Australia, and has been described as the 'gold standard' of rehabilitation.

Ruth was the first person in the business, recruiting the clinical and support teams. She also helped design the treatment model and navigated the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures.

There is now a team of 34 employees.

Ruth is elated, surprised and overwhelmed to receive the Westpac Award for Businesswoman of the Year at the 2023 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards.

“It’s been a long journey the last seven years and there’s been lots of challenges with the pandemic. Really, I am made to look good by my team. For me, this is really about recognising that no woman does it by herself, but it has been a great honour and joy,” she says.

“It gives people the opportunity to realise they can do it, have a go. As women … should I start a business, should I give it a go? Yes, absolutely. Do it. You can’t be what you can’t see.”

So, how has the region enabled her success?

“We have a lot of clients who come from all around Australia and overseas and one of the things that’s so attractive to them is the beautiful, natural environment that we have in Moreton Bay Region,” she says.

“We also have access to incredible hospitals and international airports, so it’s the best of everything in the region that we’re in.”

To find out more, visit the website thebanyans.com.au