Toni Joel (Silver ’82) is a successful business woman who has been inducted into the Australian Business Women’s Network Hall of Fame.

Without one cent of investment, Toni and her business partner, Nikki Horovitz, created Tonic Australia, which began supplying and developing personal care gifts in the early 1990s. It is now a thriving international business supplying over 1,000 outlets in Australia, including Sussan, Peter Alexander and Bed Bath ‘n’ Table, and outlets in the USA, Paris, Hong Kong and China.

For the first 20 years its products were one hundred percent Australian-made. Due to demand, Tonic Australia now engages factories in China to help meet this need. Australian-made items still include their best selling heat pillows, eye pillows and fabric wrapped soaps. Development in China has enabled the launch of a sub brand, The Gift of Wellness, which will be available in Target and thousands of outlets internationally with T.J.Maxx.

A business partnership lasting over 23 years, Toni and Nikki were winners of the Australian Mumpreneur Award 2012–2014.

Toni combined her entrepreneurial spirit with her charitable interest to dream up off your back, a coat drive that started in 2003. Without any money changing hands, it has managed to collect coats off the backs of many, and distribute them to those in need…so far 50,000 and counting!

Toni also works to support the Jewish Museum, Mercy Care, Jewish Care and the Epworth Hospital.

Pursuing her passion for racehorses, Toni has had a runner in two Melbourne Cups, two Caulfield Cups and a winner in the Australian Cup, the Ranvet Stakes and the BMW with her first horse, Manighar.

A mother of two sons, Brandon and Andrew, Toni has still managed to continue her acting hobby, and played a leading stage role in Chaim’s Love Song in 2012.

Updated January 2016