One of the Illawarra’s most significant success stories, Sicona, was named Business of the Year at the 2025 IMB Bank Business Illawarra Awards. Photo: Trent Hilaire/Hill to Air.
Entries are now open for the Illawarra’s most prestigious business awards.
The IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards, now in its 32nd year, recognises the outstanding businesses, leaders, employees and organisations driving economic growth, innovation and community impact across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands.
The awards are open to businesses of all sizes, from emerging enterprises and micro businesses through to large employers and globally connected firms.
Business Illawarra director Coralie McCarthy said the awards played a critical role in recognising business leadership at a time of ongoing economic pressure.
“Our businesses are navigating rising costs, skills shortages and ongoing uncertainty, yet they continue to invest, innovate and support their communities,” Ms McCarthy said.
“These awards are about recognising that effort and celebrating the people and organisations who are helping shape the future of our region. It’s about taking time to congratulate teams and leaders in our region.”
The categories recognise excellence across leadership, workplace culture, innovation, sustainability, inclusion and the visitor economy, as well as awards tailored by business size to ensure fair recognition at every stage of growth.
“Whether you are a sole trader, a fast-growing employer or a long-established organisation, there is a category that reflects your contribution,” Ms McCarthy said.
“We strongly encourage first-time entrants and businesses of all sizes to put themselves forward.”
Last year’s Business of the Year was Sicona Battery Technologies, which also picked up the International Business of the Year for the third year running, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.
In accepting the award, Sicona co-founder and CTO Andrew Minett praised the standard of businesses in the Illawarra.
“Everybody in this room that backs start-ups, backs companies, businesses out of the Illawarra … everybody that does stuff for companies like us, born in the Illawarra, scaling globally – this is recognition of what companies like us, companies like all of you, can do in the Illawarra. We’re all special,” he said.
“Everyone in this room is what the Illawarra is about, and now is the time for the Illawarra to show the world what we can do.”
Ms McCarthy said the awards also celebrated strong collaboration across the region’s chamber network, with Kiama and Shoalhaven both operating local business awards programs aligned to the regional awards framework.
Winners from those local awards will progress through to the Illawarra regional awards, ensuring businesses at a local level are recognised, supported and encouraged to take the next step in showcasing their success.
Ms McCarthy said the approach reflected a shared commitment to strengthening the region’s business ecosystem.
“Our local chambers play a critical role in recognising business excellence at a community level,” she said.
“By creating clear pathways from local awards through to regional and state recognition, we’re backing collaboration, consistency and pride in local business achievement.”
Winners from the Illawarra Business Awards will represent the region at the NSW Business Awards, with Business NSW providing an opportunity for local success stories to be recognised at a state level.
This year’s categories are Outstanding Employee, Outstanding Young Business Leader, Outstanding Business Leader (20 employees and under), Outstanding Business Leader (21 employees and over), Excellence in International Business, Employer of Choice (20 employees and under), Employer of Choice (21 employees and over), Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Sustainability, Outstanding Community Organisation, Outstanding New Business, Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion, Excellence in Micro Business (5 employees and under), Excellence in Small Business (6–20 employees), Excellence in Medium Business (21–99 employees), Excellence in Large Business (100+ employees), Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing, Outstanding Local Chamber, Outstanding Visitor Experience, Outstanding Visitor & 24-Hour Economy Collaboration, Excellence in Sustainable Tourism.
Entries close on 10 June and the awards ceremony will be held in September.
For more information or to enter, visit Business Illawarra.
