Kate Morris

Co-founder, Director & Chief of Innovation (former CEO), Adore Beauty

FounderE-commerceVIC

Kate Morris is an Australian entrepreneur, co-founder of Adore Beauty, Australia's first online beauty retailer. She founded the business from a Melbourne garage in 1999 with about A$12,000, and later led it to a landmark ASX listing in 2020.

Fast facts

Role	Co-founder, Director & Chief of Innovation (former CEO)
Company	Adore Beauty
Sector	E-commerce / beauty retail
Headquarters	VIC
In role since	1999
Education	Monash University (Bachelor of Business)
Other roles	Investor and mentor; author

Background

Founded Adore Beauty (Australia's first beauty e-commerce site) in a Melbourne garage in 1999/2000 with A$12,000; led the largest-ever Australian IPO by a female founder/CEO (2020); Telstra Business Women's Award (Victoria) 2014

Career timeline

1999Co-founded Adore Beauty from a Melbourne garage with James Height
2020Led Adore Beauty's initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange

Notable

Grew up in Launceston, Tasmania, frustrated that leading beauty products were hard to obtain outside big cities
Started Adore Beauty at age 21 with about A$12,000, initially stocking only two small Australian brands
Built Adore Beauty into Australia's leading online beauty retailer with thousands of products and brands
Led one of the largest Australian IPOs by a female founder when Adore Beauty listed in 2020
A prominent advocate for women in business and entrepreneurship

Frequently asked questions

What is Kate Morris known for?

She co-founded Adore Beauty, Australia's first online beauty retailer, in 1999.

How did Kate Morris start Adore Beauty?

She started it from a Melbourne garage with about A$12,000, partly funded by a loan from her co-founder's parents.

When did Adore Beauty list on the ASX?

Adore Beauty listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2020.

Public profiles

Sources

Last verified 2026-07-13. Professionally-public, sourced information only.