Birdsnest founder Jane Cay has been named as the number one online retailer in a recent top 50 in ecommerce report.

An early adopter of ecommerce, Cay has transformed her womenwear brand from a small bricks-and-mortar operation in Cooma, NSW to an ecommerce powerhouse with more than 140 employees.

You can view the entire list of Internet Retailing’s top 50 in ecommerce for free in a report here.

Birdsnest is now turning over $20 million each year, with 94 per cent of total sales coming from ecommerce.

“Its great fun, its all about the people and any industry is made up of little humans running around doing the best they can with the small amount of time they’re given,” Cay said.

“To be recognised in a room of people who I’ve found to be so incredibly generous, we’re all terrified on this journey and we’re helping each other out … thank you.”

Cay was in good company in this year’s top 50 list and joined by some of the industry’s most high-profile veterans.

John Winning Jr, CEO of Winning Group, claimed the number two spot this year for his impressive work maintaining and expanding his family’s multi-generational retail business.

Winning has a big 2018 planned, with work underway on a new network of company-owned trucks following an outstanding Christmas period for both Winning Appliances and Appliances Online.

“It’s an absolute honour to be part of the top people in e-commerce in Australia and to be recognised as Internet Retailing’s top two people on their list. I’m incredibly proud of the Appliances Online team and what we have been able to achieve together in our 13th year of business,” Winning said.

“When I began Appliances Online in 2005, online retailing was in its infancy and I was faced with a challenge to educate people about the opportunities of e-commerce and how you can offer traditional customer service in a modern context.

“And now look at how far we have come as an industry; we should feel proud of how many successful e-commerce companies Australia has produced that are doing well locally and internationally.

“I would like to congratulate everyone who made the list and a huge congratulations to Jane Cay, Founder and CEO of Birdsnest, for being the top person in e-commerce for 2018. You are a great inspiration,” he continued.

He was followed by Adorebeauty’s Kate Morris, who launched her pureplay business in 1999 when she was 21 and recently bought back a stake in her business from Woolworths. She expects her business to turn over more than $25 million this year.

Morris is also a tireless advocate for women in the retail industry and has called on the sector to re-assess its approach to gender equality.

Coming in at number four is Flora & Fauna founder Julie Mathers, who founded her own beauty and lifestyle brand in 2014 after stints with Coles, Masters Home Improvement, John Lewis and Aeon.

Mathers is a believer in ethical business and has built her Flora & Faua on a foundation of sustainability, in both the way that it sources its products and how in how it interacts with customers post-purchase.

Domino’s head of digital Michael Gillespie came fifth and was recognised for his efforts spearheading Domino’s digital leadership in the quick-service restaurant sector.

Gillespie has proven himself to be capable of keeping up with CEO Don Meij’s ever-changing vision for the pizza giant, overseeing drone delivery trials and new digital platforms such as voice-assistant D.R.U.