Janet Holmes à Court

Janet Holmes à Court, AC, HonFAHA, HonFAIB (born Janet Lee Ranford on 29 November 1943 in Perth, Western Australia) is an Australian businesswoman and philanthropist. She was the Chairperson of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court in 1990. She retained full ownership of the Heytesbury Group of companies until 2008 when her son, Paul Holmes à Court, assumed ownership.

Life and career Holmes à Court attended Perth Modern School and the University of Western Australia, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in organic chemistry and a Diploma of Education in 1965. She then worked as a science teacher before marrying her husband in 1966 and having four children with him.

She currently lives in Perth. As her children left home, she developed interests in medical research, the arts and various charitable organisations.

After the death of her husband, she took over management of Heytesbury Pty Ltd, which was considerably in debt, rescuing and expanding it. The company operates cattle stations in remote Western Australia and has interests in vineyards, wine-making and engineering contracting.

Holmes à Court has one of the largest private art collections in Australia, with more than 3500 works and a value of $37 million in 2008. She owns the Holmes à Court Gallery with locations at the Vasse Felix winery in Cowaramup and in West Perth, displaying works from the Janet Holmes à Court Collection as well as other exhibitions in both venues.

As well as her business activities, Holmes à Court has been an active participant in progressive social issues, such as an advocate for the Australian Republican Movement at the 1998 constitutional convention, the Patron of Private Giving at the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, chair of the Art Gallery of Western Australia and deputy chairperson of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA. From 1986 to 2022, she was the chair of the Australian Children's Television Foundation.

Honours and awards She was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 and promoted to a Companion of the Order (AC) on Australia Day 2007 for service to business, particularly as a leader in the construction, wine and cattle industries, to the advancement of Western Australia's musical and theatre culture, to the visual arts, and to the community. In 2001, she was awarded the Centenary Medal for her service to the arts as Chair of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Black Swan Theatre Company. The National Trust of Australia has included her on its list of 100 Australian Living Treasures.

Her other honours and awards include: United Kingdom Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, 1995 Institute of Engineers Medal, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 1997 Inducted into the Leading Business Entrepreneurs of the World (USA), 1997 International Business Council of Western Australia Business Award, 1998 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, 2001 AbaF Richard Pratt Business Leadership Award, 2003 Lifetime Commitment Award, WA State Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards, 2003 Champion Award for the Year of the Built Environment (Western Australia), State Steering Committee, 2004 WA Gold Medal Award, Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2007 Companion of Engineers Australia, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 2007 United Way Philanthropist of the Year Award, 2008 The Woodrow Wilson Corporate Citizenship Award, 2009 Inducted into the International Women's Day WA Women's Hall of Fame, 2011 Elected Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, 2011 Australian Achievement in Architecture National President's Prize, 2011 Champion of Entrepreneurship Award, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, 2012 John Shaw Medal, 2014

She holds a number of honorary doctorates including: Doctor of the University, Central Queensland University, 1994 Doctor of the University, Murdoch University, 1997 Doctor of Letters, University of Western Australia, 1997 Doctor of Business, University of Ballarat, 2007 Doctor of Business, Charles Sturt University, 2008 Doctor of Arts, Edith Cowan University, 2011