Annabelle Hickson: Founder and editor, Galah magazine

What does it take to start something from scratch? How do you get motivated when you feel disconnected from everything? And what do you do when you can’t do it all? 

Annabelle Hickson, founder of Galah magazine, picks it all apart with host Caroline Hugall, from her property in regional Queensland. 

It was living in the “middle of nowhere” that inspired Annabelle to create her greatest achievement yet, Galah – launched in 2020 when the print industry was being decimated, it’s become an award-winning cultural magazine celebrating regional Australia and the creative, diverse and innovative people who live there. 

“People said to me, ‘You cannot have a magazine without advertising. You cannot start a magazine these days. … And I feel really proud that I can say, well, actually, you can.”

The twist? The mother of three says she’s “not a natural entrepreneur.” Find out how she gets it done (spoiler: it takes a little help from a life motto she stumbled on while having a blood test – and some Lexapro).

The first series of Pep Talk recognises Fitted For Work, a not-for-profit that helps disadvantaged women get work and keep it through mentorship and other work readiness programmes.