Record entries in Illawarra Business Awards narrowed down to finalists in 15 categories

Finalists in this year’s Illawarra Business Awards will be hoping Friday the 13th brings good luck rather than its superstitious unlucky label.

The awards, which attracted a record number of entrants this year, will be held on Friday, 13 October, at WIN Entertainment Centre.

Business Illawarra executive director Adam Zarth said the standard of submissions was incredibly high overall.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response to this year’s awards program, and I’ll take this opportunity to congratulate everybody who entered and particularly our finalists on their strong submissions,” he said.

The 2023 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards celebrated the achievements of the region’s businesses and business professionals and shone a light on the best of our business community, Adam said.

Entries were assessed by a panel of independent judges, which, following a rigorous assessment of written entries, decided on the finalists in 15 categories.

“Our finalists are a terrific reflection of the diversity of the talent and expertise in our business community, ranging from sole traders to large-scale employers, and a wide range of industries and sectors across the region,” Adam said.

Category winners will go on to compete against the best in the NSW State Business Awards hosted by Business NSW later in the year.

The black-tie gala ceremony will be held at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

The finalists are:
Excellence in Customer Service
Aceit Sportswear Pty Ltd
Banksia Support Services
Big Fat Smile Group Ltd
Birdblack Design
Highlands Drivesafe
Jamberoo Action Park
Netstrata – Wollongong
Peoplecare Health Insurance
RMB Lawyers
Tiny Tins

Excellence in Tech
Business Valuations Online
Hysata
Novigi
Sicona Battery Technologies
Virtual IT Group

Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality
Coal Coast Magazine
Cupitt’s Estate
Jamberoo Action Park
Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour
Wollongong Charters

Excellence in Workplace Culture
Adcraft Studio
IPAR Rehabilitation
Novigi
The Illawarra Hotel
Medicine in Motion Health Group

Excellence in Innovation
Business Valuations Online
Hysata
Port Authority of NSW
Sicona Battery Technologies
The Flagstaff Group
Virtual IT Group
Shoalhaven Recovery into Resilience Project

Excellence in Sustainability
SOILCO
The Illawarra Hotel
Port Authority of NSW
Bomo Bulk

Excellence in International Business
Aceit Sportswear Pty Ltd
Buckaroo Export
Sicona Battery Technologies

Outstanding Employee
Jade Stewart, Greenacres Disability Services
Christine Cross, The Cram Foundation
Joshua Allen, Symbio Wildlife Park
Callan Cuthbert, KJ Scaffolding
Paul Bartholomew, RMB Lawyers
Natalie Allen, MMJ Real Estate

Outstanding Young Business Leader
Hayley Rodd, Easy Agile
Jane Curran, Curran Plumbing and Electrical
Karlie Zec, Tiny Tins
Rachelle Crilly, IPAR Rehabilitation
Sarah Nolen, Birdblack Design
Morgan Holt-Kean, DanceWorks South Coast

Outstanding Business Leader
Amy Hall, Banksia Support Services
Chris Christodoulou, Greenacres Disability Services
Chris Stolk, Peoplecare Health Limited
Darren Frame, D.Frame Electrical
Mandy Drain, Taylor Made Outcomes
Jemma Tribe, Nowra Community Food Store Inc
Tracy Mayo, CareSouth

Outstanding Community Organisation
CareSouth
Community Gateway
Greenacres Disability Services
Lifeline South Coast
Lighthouse Community Care
Nowra Community Food Store
Southern Youth and Family Services
The Flagstaff Group
BCR Communities

Outstanding Start-up
Green Gravity
Torqn
Be You Ballroom

Excellence in Micro Business
Adcraft Studio
Mrs Oldbucks Pantry
Wollongong Charters
TrusTel

Excellence in Small Business
Aceit Sportswear Pty Ltd
Banksia Support Services
Birdblack Design
Burnetts On Barney
DXC Medical Recruitment
Innovatus Projects
PepperGreen Estate
Sprout Scientific
Tiny Tins
South Coast Brides

Excellence in Large Business
Curran Plumbing & Electrical
D.Frame Electrical
Easy Agile
Jamberoo Action Park
RMB Lawyers
Symbio Wildlife Park
DanceWorks South Coast