25 March 2026

She means business - 52 finalists unveiled for 2026 IWIB Awards

25 March 2026 | By Dione David

Sue Wright from White Lady Funerals speaks at IWIB 2026 awards finalists lunch

With a fitting address on “heart-centred leadership”, White Lady Funerals’ Sue Wright was the guest speaker at the IWIB 2026 awards finalists lunch. Photos: NEG Photography.

In the most eclectic line-up in the awards’ 18-year history, 52 powerhouse finalists have been named for the region’s premier women in business awards.

From household to financial services, arts to education, entertainment, hospitality, health, sustainable fashion and everything in between, it seemed every industry would be represented in the 2026 Illawarra Women in Business (IWIB) Awards.

“What a fabulous line-up of finalists we have this year. It’s quite amazing the variation of businesses, all outstanding in their own fields,” IWIB director Glenda Papac said. “Each finalist has put forward a fabulous application, and I congratulate you. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee making a difference, you’re all powering through and once again enduring difficult times.”

Some businesses and individuals were up for multiple awards, including Indigenous-owned traffic control services provider Wallawa Traffic Group, animal wellness and preventative health centre Water Walkies and last year’s five-time winners Physiohealth Pty Ltd.

IWIB award first timers Webb Financial came in hot, with four categories.

CEO Lisa Krueger was up for two of the company’s four award categories, including the prestigious Small Business of the Year, but was equally excited to be a finalist in the Customer Focus category.

“We’ve worked hard to be more customer-focused than service-focused, and take a tailored approach,” she said.

“Part of that is our umbrella approach in the financial services industry. We cover people’s accounting, which is in the past, lending, which is in the present and financial planning for their future. So we can look after any aspect of finances at any stage of life for all family types and all business types.”

Lisa was joined by her senior manager of accounting Yingying Cao, who was up for Executive Employee of the Year, and client services manager Caroline Merton, who was up for Employee of the Year.

“Even if we don’t win, I’m grateful we’ve come this far,” she said. “I just want the business and team to be recognised for what they do. Every day, they show up and give it their all, taking on the ideas I’m constantly throwing at them.”

Speaking from experience, PhysioHealth Corrimal principal Kylie Moffitt said the awards had the potential to signal a turning point for a business.

With PhysioHealth having claimed five categories last year, and up for four again this year, including Best Business and top gong, Business Woman of the Year, she said the team has no intention of resting on its laurels.

“Winning five awards threw us into the spotlight. Suddenly, everyone was curious — what was so good about us?” she said.

“We became more publicly visible. For us, that didn’t bring complacency. It was an impetus to step into the momentum and get stronger.

“There has been rapid growth in our team, and an improvement in everything we touch.

“This year we’re going for an even greater voice, a bigger platform, more advocacy.”

The IWIB winners across 13 categories will be selected by an interviewing panel of almost two dozen judges, including Sue Wright (White Lady Funerals), Jenny Hirst (Apprenticeship Careers Australia), Bec Woods (Wallawa Traffic Group), Narelle Hawken (Dovida), Margaret Biggs, Maralyn Young (CasaMia Lingerie), Virginia Wren (ITeC Academy), Leanne Smith (Regional Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), Delyse Del Turco and Anthony Wise Better Business Accounting), James Welch (Access Law Group), Maree Kerr (Wollongong Private Hospital), Graham Lancaster (Lancaster Law & Mediation), John Kerr (iAccelerate, UOW), Di and Tony Chalk (Fiducian Illawarra), Diana Foye and Clair Hardy (Foye Legal), Lisa McCosker and Ben Harrison (Commonwealth Business Banking Wollongong), Karlie Zec and Adrian Lamacchia (Tiny Tins) and Vi Blazevska and Adele Fiene (ANZ Business Banking Wollongong).

The 2026 awards day, to be held next month at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow, will also be the official celebration of 20 years of IWIB.

Ms Moffitt said she hoped her team and fellow finalists would enjoy the process and the awards day itself.

“We set out with the intention, as everyone does when they apply, to gain personal growth. The hope was that the confidence stemming from this process would ripple out into the team and then the business. And it has done,” she said.

“Regardless of whether you win or not, you discover a lot about yourselves along the way. It’s a chance to unpack your business, your inspiration, your values, and whilst looking in the rearview mirror at where you’ve come from, a chance to look ahead. That process is invaluable.

“And if nothing else, it’s a joy on the day to be surrounded by so many other amazing businesswomen. It’s that law of attraction — that simply mixing with wonderful, inspiring women, you can only continue to grow yourself.”