WA WiF WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2026
We’re delighted to congratulate Donna Edmiston – Guzman y Gomez, winner of WA WiF Woman of the Year 2026!
This award celebrates the achievements, leadership and contribution of an outstanding woman within the WA franchising community.
Congratulations, Donna!
Who will take home the title next year? Will you be the next WA WiF Woman of the Year?
What our clients say about us.
"As always, the Sundowner was a great event for networking in a relaxed and comfortable environment, with Mark facilitating the social interactions and setting the tone."
“What makes the Sundowner a great event is the opportunity to meet other professionals facing similar challenges and working towards similar goals. The casual environment makes it easy to strike up conversations and build genuine connections.”
“It was a wonderful WA Women in Franchising Breakfast, and so great to network with all the ladies. Thank you, Mark, your questions were great. I really enjoyed it very much and now have more connections with awesome ladies.”
“Last night’s sundowner event was a fantastic experience — everything was executed brilliantly. The team clearly knows how to host a successful gathering! There was a great mix of people, making it easy to connect, engage, and have meaningful conversations. It was the perfect blend of networking and energy, with plenty of opportunities to build relationships in a relaxed, enjoyable setting. Looking forward to the next one!”
“An incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded people, spark new ideas, and exchange powerful concepts all in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. I left feeling energised and inspired!”
“No matter how cold it is outside, Mark's warm and inviting welcome immediately thaws the coldness from you as you come in fromthe icy weather.”
“Attending the Franchise Industry Sundowner was a lot of fun. It was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded business owners, share insights, and gain valuable industry knowledge. The event was well-organised, welcoming, and full of genuine conversations and connections. I left feeling inspired and motivated with fresh ideas and new contacts. I highly recommend attending if you want to stay connected and grow within the franchise community”
“Great to see a broad range of people at the FranchisingWA Breakfast and new networking opportunities. Informative session and good presenters who were engaging.”
“Overall the FranchisingWA Breakfast was en' point! Venue, food, coffee, timing, content, interaction- all top notch.”
“A well-organised breakfast event with interesting guest speakers, great venue and food. A rose for the ladies was a lovely touch on Valentine’s Days. Thanks, FranchisingWA and sponsors.”
“The FranchisingWA Breakfast is an informative event. No matter if you are or aren't a franchisee or franchisor.”
“I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere at the WA Women in Franchising Lunch & Learn event. The information provided was insightful and helpful to my business.”
“WAWiF is fantastic opportunity to get to know your peers, network and overcome the challenges. Great support!”
"Mark and his team did a great job and had a really fun day playing with other Franchisees. Will do it again!"
“Congratulations on organising the gala event. I really enjoyed it all, meeting such interesting people, the hospitality and even the coffee was very good!”
"Very well organised!"
“During the Awards Night, I liked the way the host kept the public engage and the enthusiasm of the nominated team members. Not to forget the entertainer team was fabulous!”
"Mark has extensive franchising and business experience and combines this knowledge with great enthusiasm and drive. He is a brilliant person for bouncing ideas around and always brings creativity and a fresh perspective to the table. Would recommend Mark for his wide ranging abilities in policy, strategy, industry knowledge and innovative thinking."
“A great event celebrating the best franchising affiliated business in WA!”
"I must say you put things in a way that made me understand things and I really got lots from our session and plan to be making changes in the future. I look forward to the next steps in our meetings."
“Great night to get your team together and celebrate all their hard work. I was able to meet so many wonderful like-minded business owners in other industries.”
“On behalf of Legalwise Seminars, we wanted to thank you for chairing our Franchise Law seminar. We are extremely appreciative of your significant contribution. Overall, the feedback received from the seminar has been excellent and we are delighted with the outcome."
“Very enjoyable night!”
“Mark and I always seem to catch up at just about franchising event around the country. He is deeply immersed in the business community and is a great source of help and advice when required. He is exceptionally knowledgeable and a really nice guy who is always a pleasure to catch up with."
“Great showcase of local franchise businesses. Great promotion for the industry to get behind and support an independent award with internationally acclaimed judges.”
“What a night for WA franchising, just shows what small business can do.” – Anonymous
"A quick one to say thanks for Tuesday night. I thought it was a great venue, great atmosphere and a bunch of knowledgeable and colourful business people. Hats off mate!"
“If you are considering Franchising, either as a Franchisor or a Franchisee, then early on in the process speak to Mark Fernandez at Franchising WA.”
"Mark brings a sense of energy and positivity to everyone he meets. I have total trust in him as a fellow consultant, and together we are able to get great outcomes for a client we jointly work with. He has an instinctive understanding of how businesses work, and is able to bring structure and systems which enable businesses to replicate and grow. He is comfortable working with financials, whilst his greatest strength is probably his insight into people. Mark is supportive and encouraging, yet not afraid to be honest and forthright when required. I look forward to working with Mark on future projects."
"Great to be able to share my expertise in an area I am very passionate about being data analytics and helping enable businesses with the information they need to move their business forward, grow and prosper."
“I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere at the WA Women in Franchising Lunch & Learn event. The information provided was insightful and helpful to my business.”
“WAWiF is fantastic opportunity to get to know your peers, network and overcome the challenges. Great support!”
