Jesinta Franklin on a New Chapter Rooted in Family, Purpose and the Power of Nature

Words by Courtney McIntosh | Photography by Josephine Clough

There are moments in life that feel less like a pivot and more like a quiet, natural unfolding, a path you’ve been walking toward without even realising it. For Jesinta Franklin, this moment is now.

This week, Honey For Life officially welcomes its newest co-owners: Jesinta and her husband, Lance “Buddy” Franklin, a partnership years in the making yet somehow entirely organic. What began as a simple dinner conversation with a family friend half a decade ago has evolved into a deeply meaningful venture rooted in wellness, heritage, and the shared values that shape the Franklin family.

For the couple, who are expecting their third child and navigating the beautiful chaos of raising young children, this new chapter is more than a business move. It’s a continuation of their commitment to creating a life and legacy grounded in family, integrity, and connection to the land.

“It feels incredibly full-circle,” Jesinta tells THE INARRA. “What started as a casual chat about Manuka honey with our best friend’s dad has grown into something so much bigger. Now we’re officially part of the company alongside people we love and it just feels right.”

In an industry driven by rapid-fire trends and endless “newness,” Honey For Life stands in quiet contrast: a leader in scientifically verified bioactive and medicinal honeys sourced exclusively from Western Australia’s pristine ancient forests and Manuka plantations. Some varieties are so rare they exist nowhere else in the world.

This profound sense of ecology is what first captured Jesinta and Lance’s attention.

“There’s a beautiful ecology to this brand that feels incredibly rare,” she explains. “In most commercial models, growth means taking more; more resources, more waste, more impact. With Honey For Life, it’s the opposite. The more successful we become, the more land we’re able to protect and the more bees we nurture.”

For the Franklins, wellness isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life. A commitment to raising their children with connection to nature. A belief in products that genuinely serve the health of families. And a growing passion for sustainability, especially through the lens of Lance’s Western Australian roots.

“WA is part of who we are,” Jesinta says. “We take the kids back to Dowerin to see where Lance grew up. To stand on the oval where he first played footy. Those moments anchor us.”

That same land is what gives Honey For Life its extraordinary potency, untouched biodiversity, rare flora, and some of the world’s most pristine ecosystems.

“We’re proud to showcase the purity of Western Australia. It’s a privilege to be part of something so deeply connected to place, heritage, and nature.”

Despite its immense therapeutic value, Jesinta believes raw, bioactive honey remains one of the most underrated wellness tools.

“Bioactive honey doesn’t fit the mould of what the wellness industry gravitates toward,” she says. “It’s not flashy. It’s ancient, proven, and quietly powerful.”

Her family uses it daily with Jarrah and Manuka in winter, honey snaps tucked into the kids’ lunchboxes, and homemade masks for skin and hair. Cuts, burns, immunity, gut health, there is a honey remedy for almost everything.

“It’s one of those rare products that belongs in every family home,” she says. “Whole, potent, natural. No fillers, no processing. Just nature at its best.”

With a third baby arriving any moment and a move to their dream rural property underway, life for the Franklins is full, yet beautifully aligned.

“Our whole team is raising young families. We understand the juggle because we’re all living it,” Jesinta shares. “Some of our best work happens outside traditional office hours simply because that’s when life allows it. It’s what a true family business looks like with trust, flexibility, and working toward something we all believe in.”

Her partnership with Lance, both professionally and personally, is deeply intuitive.

“We work incredibly well together. Lance backs me 110%. He gives me the space to lead with confidence. That trust means everything.”

It’s a dynamic built on respect, shared values, and an unwavering commitment to keeping family at the centre.

“Family always comes first,” she says. “We’re aligned, so the load naturally shifts depending on who’s under the pump. It’s a real partnership.”

Motherhood, Jesinta admits, changed everything,  especially her relationship with work.

“The hours I have while the kids are at school are fewer, and that’s changed how I value my time. I’m much more intentional. I ask myself: Is this worth the time away from my children? Does it light me up? If it’s not meaningful or aligned, it doesn’t make the cut.”

This intentionality led her to Honey For Life which is a role that feels like the culmination of years of experience across fashion, media, wellness, and brand partnerships.

“Co-owning a company is completely different from being an ambassador,” she says. “We’re deeply involved with decision-making, strategy and product development. I get to have a genuine seat at the table. It’s incredibly fulfilling.”

Next year, once she has settled into life as a mum of three, Jesinta will officially join the Honey For Life board which will be a milestone she calls “a natural next step.”

This pregnancy, she shares, has been her most challenging. “I’m running after a four- and five-year-old… there’s very little rest,” she says. “Little waves of anxiety creep in wondering how I’ll juggle everyone’s needs.”

But she knows the rhythm will find itself. “With Rocky, those worries melted away the moment he arrived. The love expands. It always expands.”

The company’s next chapter is shaping up to be its biggest yet. “We’re developing new products, exploring exciting projects, stepping into new spaces,” Jesinta says. “Our plates and minds are full, but in the best way.”

And there’s a surprise in the works for the Franklin kids too. “They’ll have a little involvement in the business early next year,” she says. “It’s a fun part of the journey.”

As they prepare to welcome their new baby, move onto their property, and launch this new venture, Jesinta and Lance are standing on the cusp of a season unlike any other. “Within the next four weeks, we’ll have launched Honey For Life, moved onto our dream block of land, and welcomed a new baby,” she says. “It’s a lot… but it feels like all of our dreams are coming true at once.”

Honey For Life has found its new chapter. And so, too, have the Franklins.

To learn more about Honey For Life, explore their full story and product range via their website and Instagram.