Karen Lebsanft

Karen Lebsanft is the CEO and Co-Founding Director of The Kurrajong Kitchen Group, and a respected Australian manufacturing leader recognised for building a family business into a nationally distributed food brand.

An inspiring and sought-after speaker, Karen regularly shares the hard-won lessons learned on her journey from start-up founder to CEO of an iconic Western Sydney manufacturer. Her insights are grounded in real-world experience, addressing leadership under pressure, navigating economic uncertainty, scaling sustainably and overcoming the hurdles faced by emerging businesses and first-time CEOs.

Founded in 1993 by Karen and her husband Ben as a small restaurant in Kurrajong, NSW, Kurrajong Kitchen has grown into an established manufacturing business based in Windsor, NSW. Today, the company employs close to 50 people and is best known for its flagship product, Kurrajong Kitchen Lavosh — a nationally stocked flatbread popular across major supermarkets and the foodservice sector. The brand is widely regarded as a leader in flatbread products.

Family remains at the heart of the business, with Karen, Ben and their children Jack and Lorna deeply connected to its values. Kurrajong Kitchen is a long-standing institution in Greater Western Sydney, providing employment, career pathways, training and mentorship within the local community.

Karen holds an Advanced Diploma of Business Management and is an active participant in business networking groups. She is also a committed community advocate, supporting the charity Feel the Magic as a mentor. In 2017, she raised over $5,000 for the organisation by completing the New York Marathon.

Karen’s leadership has been widely recognised. In 2017, she was named Hawkesbury Business Person of the Year. In 2018, Kurrajong Kitchen received the Champion Manufacturing Award at the Australian Small Business Champion Gala Dinner, along with the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence in Manufacturing. That same year, Karen was named one of 50 Unsung Business Heroes in 50 Unsung Business Heroes 2.

In 2019, Karen was invited to share the Kurrajong Kitchen story on Foxtel’s Industry Leaders TV series. Later that year, she achieved international recognition, winning the Gold Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in New York. Karen was the only Australian finalist — and the overall winner — in the Lifetime Achievement category.

In 2020, Karen again received Stevie Awards recognition, earning the Silver Award for Woman of the Year – Manufacturing.

Karen Lebsanft is widely regarded as a leader who combines commercial discipline with values-driven leadership — and as a powerful voice for Australian manufacturing, family business and resilient entrepreneurship.