Maya is a bestselling rural romance author and was recently shortlisted as the ARRA 2019 Favourite Australian Romance Author. Her novels Wildflower Ridge and Bottlebrush Creek both gather inspiration from her rural upbringing and the small communities she has always lived in and loved. 

A former country journalist and PR writer, Maya now prefers the world of fiction over fact and blogs for Romance Writers Australia. She loves baking up a storm, tending to her rambling garden, and raising three little bookworms. Maya lives on a small property in country Victoria with her family, her menagerie of farm animals and the odd snake or two.

Maya is a bestselling rural romance author and was recently shortlisted as the ARRA 2019 Favourite Australian Romance Author. Her novels Wildflower Ridge and Bottlebrush Creek both gather inspiration from her rural upbringing and the small communities she has always lived in and loved.  A former country journalist and PR writer, Maya now prefers the world of fiction over fact and blogs for Romance Writers Australia. She loves baking up a storm, tending to her rambling garden, and raising three little bookworms. Maya lives on a small property in country Victoria with her family, her menagerie of farm animals and the odd snake or two.

Join us as we chat with Inspirational Australians making a real difference in their
communities, Australia and often the world.

This podcast is brought to you by Awards Australia, the owners and operators of the Young Achiever Awards and Community Achievement Awards programs.

The amazing people we interview are alumni and from the extended network of these awards programs, because they inspire us with their dedication, achievements and their positive impacts to local and wider communities.

We hope you're inspired by their stories too!

Join us as we chat with Inspirational Australians making a real difference in their communities, Australia and often the world.
This podcast is brought to you by Awards Australia, the owners and operators of the Young Achiever Awards and Community Achievement Awards programs.
The amazing people we interview are alumni and from the extended network of these awards programs, because they inspire us with their dedication, achievements and their positive impacts to local and wider communities.
We hope you're inspired by their stories too!

Inspirational.Australians by Awards Australia Podcast

Inspirational Australians Podcast

In this week’s episode, Geoff is talking to Maya Linnell who was a Finalist in the 2006 Young Achiever Awards for Victoria.

Episode 9 - A chat with Maya Linnell

Jamie Bucirde is a trailblazing sexologist who has made a huge impact in her local city of Adelaide, creating massive reform and progress, especially in the hospitality industry. Josh chats with Jamie about sexology – it can be a slightly “mysterious” topic to those who aren’t familiar with it – and dives into her important work that despite the name, it is not very sexy. On the back of Jamie’s success through her consultancy On the Cusp and the 'Not So Hospitable' project in Adelaide, Jamie is now looking to make impacts nationally and after hearing this episode, you’ll be backing her in to do just that.

Through the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards in South Australia, Jamie was named 2024 winner of the University Senior College Create Change Award and was also the 2024 SA Young Achiever of the Year.

Jamie Bucirde is a trailblazing sexologist who has made a huge impact in her local city of Adelaide, creating massive reform and progress, especially in the hospitality industry. Josh chats with Jamie about sexology &ndash; it can be a slightly &ldquo;mysterious&rdquo; topic to those who aren&rsquo;t familiar with it &ndash; and dives into her important work that despite the name, it is not very sexy. On the back of Jamie&rsquo;s success through her consultancy On the Cusp and the 'Not So Hospitable' project in Adelaide, Jamie is now looking to make impacts nationally and after hearing this episode, you&rsquo;ll be backing her in to do just that.
Through the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards in South Australia, Jamie was named 2024 winner of the University Senior College Create Change Award and was also the 2024 SA Young Achiever of the Year.

Jamie Bucirde is a trailblazing sexologist who has made a huge impact in her local city of Adelaide, creating massive reform and progress, especially in the hospitality industry. Josh chats with Jamie about sexology – it can be a slightly “mysterious” topic to those who aren’t familiar with it – and dives into her important work that despite the name, it is not very sexy. On the back of Jamie’s success through her consultancy On the Cusp and the 'Not So Hospitable' project in Adelaide, Jamie is now looking to make impacts nationally and after hearing this episode, you’ll be backing her in to do just that. Through the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards in South Australia, Jamie was named 2024 winner of the University Senior College Create Change Award and was also the 2024 SA Young Achiever of the Year.

Jamie Bucirde lifts the lid and tells us what sexology is actually all about.

Lucy Laurita is an Australian fashion designer known for women's event wear. Passionate about celebrating life’s special moments, Lucy believes that designing a gown is not just making a dress. It is having the privilege to be a part of someone else’s journey in creating their memorable occasion. “When you look at my collection you need to live the idea that together we have created a story”.

Lucy has partnered with the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards for 3 years now and we hear about some of the amazing young achievers that Lucy has dressed, as well as some top tips for looking your best at an awards night, charity ball or any of life’s special moments where you want to dress to impress.

Lucy Laurita is an Australian fashion designer known for women's event wear. Passionate about celebrating life&rsquo;s special moments, Lucy believes that designing a gown is not just making a dress. It is having the privilege to be a part of someone else&rsquo;s journey in creating their memorable occasion. &ldquo;When you look at my collection you need to live the idea that together we have created a story&rdquo;.
Lucy has partnered with the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards for 3 years now and we hear about some of the amazing young achievers that Lucy has dressed, as well as some top tips for looking your best at an awards night, charity ball or any of life&rsquo;s special moments where you want to dress to impress.

Lucy Laurita is an Australian fashion designer known for women's event wear. Passionate about celebrating life’s special moments, Lucy believes that designing a gown is not just making a dress. It is having the privilege to be a part of someone else’s journey in creating their memorable occasion. “When you look at my collection you need to live the idea that together we have created a story”. Lucy has partnered with the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards for 3 years now and we hear about some of the amazing young achievers that Lucy has dressed, as well as some top tips for looking your best at an awards night, charity ball or any of life’s special moments where you want to dress to impress.

Fashion tips to celebrate life’s special moments, with designer Lucy Laurita

Josh Murray of Josh's Rainbow Eggs and Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu of Little Green Panda join forces to discuss ethical business business practices. 

In this chat, hosted by Josh Griffin from the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards, we dive into the way Josh's Rainbow Eggs and Little Green Panda were developed with their values front of mind and how the businesses grew, the challenges they faced along the way and whether their initial vision for ethical business is still possible when you start competing with the major players.

There are some great words of wisdoms in this discussion for business owners or for anyone in business, that wants to do the right thing whilst achieving their business goals.

Here's some info on the two amazing guests in this episode.

Josh Murray, Josh’s Rainbow Eggs:
Josh started his business, Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, at the age of 9 with 40 hens on his family farm. Fast forward to 2025 and Josh’s Rainbow Eggs have developed a unique model of free-range egg production with mobile solar powered sheds, custom designed by us and made in Melbourne. With a focus on ethical practices, sustainability and a quality product, Josh’s Rainbow Eggs have grown to be a major player in the Victorian egg industry and are stocked in Woolworths, Coles, IGA and more.
Josh believes in using business as a force for good, which is why he introduced the Josh’s Rainbow Eggs Ethical Business Award as a category in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards program, to encourage and celebrate other young business owners prioritising ethical practices in their businesses.


Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu, Little Green Panda:
Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu is driving a greener, ethical future for businesses and the planet. Manon founded Little Green Panda, a company reshaping the packaging industry with sustainable and innovative solutions. By transforming agricultural waste into eco-friendly straws and packaging, Manon combines environmental responsibility with ethical practices. Her collaborations with Southeast Asian farmers and The Bridge Inc. highlight her commitment to empowering communities and promoting inclusivity. Despite pandemic-related challenges, Manon remains dedicated to refining operations and exploring local manufacturing in Australia. Little Green Panda's revolutionary products, such as home compostable straws and cutlery made from upcycled coffee grounds, have replaced millions of single-use plastics.

Josh Murray of Josh's Rainbow Eggs and Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu of Little Green Panda join forces to discuss ethical business business practices.&nbsp;
In this chat, hosted by Josh Griffin from the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards, we dive into the way Josh's Rainbow Eggs and Little Green Panda were developed with their values front of mind and how the businesses grew, the challenges they faced along the way and whether their initial vision for ethical business is still possible when you start competing with the major players.
There are some great words of wisdoms in this discussion for business owners or for anyone in business, that wants to do the right thing whilst achieving their business goals.
Here's some info on the two amazing guests in this episode.
Josh Murray, Josh&rsquo;s Rainbow Eggs: Josh started his business, Josh&rsquo;s Rainbow Eggs, at the age of 9 with 40 hens on his family farm. Fast forward to 2025 and Josh&rsquo;s Rainbow Eggs have developed a unique model of free-range egg production with mobile solar powered sheds, custom designed by us and made in Melbourne. With a focus on ethical practices, sustainability and a quality product, Josh&rsquo;s Rainbow Eggs have grown to be a major player in the Victorian egg industry and are stocked in Woolworths, Coles, IGA and more. Josh believes in using business as a force for good, which is why he introduced the Josh&rsquo;s Rainbow Eggs Ethical Business Award as a category in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards program, to encourage and celebrate other young business owners prioritising ethical practices in their businesses.
 Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu, Little Green Panda: Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu is driving a greener, ethical future for businesses and the planet. Manon founded Little Green Panda, a company reshaping the packaging industry with sustainable and innovative solutions. By transforming agricultural waste into eco-friendly straws and packaging, Manon combines environmental responsibility with ethical practices. Her collaborations with Southeast Asian farmers and The Bridge Inc. highlight her commitment to empowering communities and promoting inclusivity. Despite pandemic-related challenges, Manon remains dedicated to refining operations and exploring local manufacturing in Australia. Little Green Panda's revolutionary products, such as home compostable straws and cutlery made from upcycled coffee grounds, have replaced millions of single-use plastics.

Josh Murray of Josh's Rainbow Eggs and Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu of Little Green Panda join forces to discuss ethical business business practices.   In this chat, hosted by Josh Griffin from the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards, we dive into the way Josh's Rainbow Eggs and Little Green Panda were developed with their values front of mind and how the businesses grew, the challenges they faced along the way and whether their initial vision for ethical business is still possible when you start competing with the major players.

Episode 9 - A chat with Maya Linnell

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