Belinda and Adam MacDougall

When his professional rugby league career ended in 2011, Adam experienced firsthand how challenging it can be to maintain a healthy lifestyle outside the structure of elite sport. The sudden loss of his best friend to a heart attack at age 40 became the wake-up call that inspired Adam to find a way to help everyday Australians improve their health.

"When I started to have a look at the food industry and the health industry in general, I realised that there were a lot of products in the market that weren't helping. There was a real profit first, people second mentality, so I saw an opportunity to create a product to help people first and not worry about profit," he says.

Belinda and Adam took a risk and became entrepreneurs overnight, consulting with nutritionists and food scientists to create a high-protein meal replacement for everyday people to control their weight and improve their cardiovascular health.

Under Belinda's leadership as CEO, their garage start-up turned into a multimillion-dollar company with products now found on supermarket and pharmacy shelves across the country. The Healthy Happy Co has achieved strong national reach while challenging industry norms through advocacy for greater transparency in food labelling and a commitment to improving the health of all Australians.

"We didn't set out to be leaders, but I think what was amazing is that by creating such a terrific product, it forced consumers to demand more from what they were currently getting from the big players in the market," says Belinda.

The MacDougalls have used their success to become respected philanthropic leaders in the Hunter. Through The MacDougall Foundation, they have supported a wide range of initiatives that create lasting community impact, from providing vehicles for wheelchair-bound Novocastrians and building the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Courtyard at John Hunter Hospital to funding brain cancer research through the Mark Hughes Foundation and supporting Jenny's Place to help local families experiencing domestic violence and homelessness.

"There's so much need in Newcastle and there are so many amazing little charities out there that are doing it tough and people are doing it tough," says Belinda.

"It's a great feeling to be able to give back. If you can, why wouldn't you?"

Belinda has also championed the next generation of entrepreneurs, stepping in to support the University of Newcastle's FLIP Program after government funding was withdrawn. Her contribution not only ensured the program's continuation but helped unlock matched government investment, creating opportunities for aspiring women entrepreneurs across New South Wales to bring their ideas to life.

"It's something I've been very proud of and something that I love doing," says Belinda. "There are so many people out there that just need someone to believe in them or give them a bit of a hand or show that they care about them. For me, giving back is probably the most enriching thing that I've been able to take out from this business."

The MacDougalls' leadership is defined not only by entrepreneurial success, but by a belief that business should be a force for good. Through their national influence in the health and wellbeing sector, advocacy for consumers, and commitment to giving back, they have demonstrated how purpose-driven leadership can create meaningful impact both across Australia and within their local community.

"I'm proud of the fact that as a business, we've shown you can operate by putting people first and profit second," Adam says.

"It really comes down to motivation, and you can't really get motivation if you're not doing things for the right reasons. I've never been driven by money, I've been driven by a sense of purpose, working hard, and giving back to others. I think if you go into a business with good intentions, good things will happen."