Deb : Entrepreneur

DEB FARNWORTH-WOOD

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Entrepreneur

Speaker

Board Advisor

10 x Founder

Including ISSADA Cosmeceuticals and the Australian Skin Clinics International Medi-Aesthetic Franchise

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“Passionate about business and people”

11+

SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES

700 +

jobs created

35 +

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

AS FEATURED IN

About Deb

Born in Kenya, Deb spent much of her life in UK and Hong Kong. After a charmed corporate career she became and entrepreneur age 25 and built multiple successful health businesses with her GP Partners, and separately a chain of weight loss clinics with her husband Shaun, while buying, renovating and selling numerous properties.

In 2007 Deb decided to move to Australia’s beautiful Gold Coast with her husband and two children to semi-retire. Instead, she founded and built a $70M International Medi-Aesthetic Franchise - Australian Skin Clinics - which she sold in 2019, retaining and rebranding her original clinic.

She has a specialist MBA in Health Service Management and is a Certified Franchise Executive, and a serial entrepreneur.

Deb has incredible vision and passion for the aesthetics industry, where she has immersed herself since 2007. She has over 35 years of experience in the ownership and management of large, complex, and multi-disciplinary healthcare organisations, including: pharmacy, GP services,

surgical facilities, dietetics, podiatry, nurse practitioners, counselling and secondary care services in addition to aesthetics.

She also has significant experience in the multi-outlet retail sector, having held various store and head office roles in Debenhams, big shed DIY and home furnishings retailers.

Deb has participated in strategic think tanks for the Prime Minister’s Office of public reform (in the UK under the Blair government), as well as consumer feedback initiatives and her work on GP Night co-operative models influenced the 1993 national GP contract for the UK.

Other Roles

ISSADA COSMECEUTICALS (CEO)

After selling Australian Skin Clinics in 2019, Deb purchased ISSADA Cosmetics - an established mineral makeup company, and in 2020 launched ISSADA Clinical Formula Skincare which had been under development for two years at that stage. ISSADA has over 250 stockists in Australia and is poised for Global Distribution.

GRO CLINICS (Advisory Board Chair)

Deb chairs the advisory board for Gro Clinics, a specialist Hair Transplant business that operates throughout Australia.

Gro have clinics in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Perth, Auckland and Melbourne. (Current)

WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS (Envoy & Sponsor)

As the 2017 winner of the Gold Coast Woman in Business Award, Deb continues to support WIBA and as their Envoy. ISSADA is also a sponsor of the awards. (Current)

TIMELY SALON SOFTWARE

Former Director of Timely Salon Software over a two year period leading to Timely’s acquisition by Ever Commerce.

(2019-2021)

AURA MEDICAL (Founder Shareholder & Director)

Deb is a founder shareholder and board director of the Aura Medical Group. Aura partners with the nation’s premier dermatology and cosmetic medicine clinics, so they can focus on what they do best – creating exceptional results for their patients.

LATROBE UNIVERSITY (Advisory Panel)

Panel member of a Latrobe University project - “Understanding the role of cosmeceuticals in health, gender and ageing”

Commenced October 2024

SOLTA MEDICAL (AUS) Key Opinion Leader

Key opinion leader for Solta Medical after trialing the new C&B Touch Laser. Presented findings at Aesthetic Conferences in Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane. (2024)

AIR PHYSIO

Former Advisory Board Member for Air Physio - manufacturers of a medical device designed to aid respiratory conditions such as asthma.

(2021-2023)