The iconic Business Hunter Awards seek to highlight the important contributions businesses make to the local, national and global business communities. Held annually for more than 40 years, the program is known for celebrating the achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of our region's most inspiring organisations and individuals. Entering your business is a rewarding experience.
It provides an opportunity to reflect on the goals, strategies and vision which have shaped your success, and the insights you gain help drive growth and the longevity of your business.
Congratulations to all the winners from the 2023 Business Hunter Awards.
CHECK OUT THE WINNERS BELOW!
Kristen Keegan Young Business Leader
Kiraley Martin of Lake Macquarie City Council
Proudly sponsored by Quarry Mining
Outstanding Employee
Dean Reid of Aussie Ark
Proudly sponsored by Port Authority of NSW
Contribution of the Region
PKF Sydney & Newcastle
Proudly sponsored by Whitley
Employer of Choice Under 20 Employees
The Marketing GP
Proudly sponsored by Maxim Business Advisors
Employer of Choice Over 21 Employees
Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator
Proudly sponsored by Spirit Super
Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
MGA Thermal
Proudly sponsored by Skildare
Excellence in International Business
Camplify
Proudly presented by Port of Newcastle
Outstanding Local Chamber
Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Proudly sponsored by AGL
Outstanding Start Up
Hey Zomi
Proudly sponsored by Enigma
Outstanding Community Organisation
Singleton Neighbourhood Centre
Proudly sponsored by EDF Renewables
Excellence in Sustainability
Imaginelle
Proudly presented by Umwelt
Excellence in Sustainability
Imaginelle
Proudly presented by Umwelt
Hunter Water Love Water
Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group
Proudly sponsored by Hunter Water
Excellence in Small Business
SAPHI
Proudly sponsored by Newcastle Herald
Excellence in Large Business
Hi-Vis Group
Proudly presented by NSW Minerals Council
President's Award
Richard Jones OAM of Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service
Proudly sponsored by Newcastle Permanent
Outstanding Business Leader
Justin Hales of Camplify
Proudly sponsored by CPA Australia
Business of the Year
Camplify
Proudly sponsored by IMB Bank
Excellence in Micro Business
LH Agenda
Proudly presented by Glencore
Outstanding Business Leader
Proudly sponsored by CPA Australia.
The Outstanding Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 36 years or over who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership, whilst providing mentorship to others.
FINALISTS
Dane Crawford - CEO - Commercial Collective |
Gavin Heydon - Managing Director - Projence |
Jackie Spiteri - Managing Director - Sustainable ESG |
Justin Hales - CEO & Founder - Camplify |
Lauren Haskins - Owner & Practice Director - A Growing Understanding |
Lavinia Hutchison - Managing Director - LIVMEDIA |
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thapthimthong - Commanding Officer, School of Infantry - Lone Pine Barracks |
Robyn Hopper - General Manager- SafetyLink |
Stacey Kelly - Founder & Principal Consultant - Seed People Consulting |
Tim Faulkner - Managing Director - Aussie Ark |
Kristen Keegan Young Business Leader
Proudly sponsored by Quarry Mining.
The Outstanding Young Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 35 or under who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership.
FINALISTS
Alexander Slade - CEO & Founder - A Corp Computers |
Chelsea Pearson - Fundraising and Marketing Manager - Aussie Ark |
Eric Johns - Co-Founder & CTO - SAPHI |
James Sneddon - CEO & Co-Founder - Hyphen Health |
Jessica Stewart -Director, Office Manager - HSV Heaven |
Jordan Petersen - Owner Operator - Acrobat Removals and Storage |
Joshua Marks - General Manager - Academy Sheetmetal |
Kiraley Martin - Chief Information Officer - LMCC |
Scott Lynch - Founder and Managing Director - Community Therapy |
Steph Loadsman - Lead Partner - Hunter & Newcastle - KPMG |
Contribution to the Region
Proudly sponsored by Whiteley.
The Contribution to the Region award recognises an organisation that has made a significant contribution to the ongoing prosperity and growth of the Hunter Region outside its core business activity. Entrants will be asked to provide evidence of how this contribution has benefited people and/or organisations outside the core business activities of their client/customer base.
FINALISTS
Daracon Group |
Hunter Medical Research Institute |
KPMG |
LJ Hooker Belmont |
LJ Hooker Cessnock |
Morgan Engineering |
Out of the Square Media |
PKF Sydney and Newcastle |
Port of Newcastle |
President's Award
Proudly sponsored by Newcastle Permanent.
The President’s Award is selected by the Hunter Business Chamber President and recognises an organisation or individual that has added substantial value to business efforts in the Hunter Region.
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
Proudly sponsored by Skildare.
This Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award recognises businesses that address the needs of a diverse community, including seniors, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and people with disability. An inclusive business facilitates the needs of all its employees and customers.
FINALISTS
A Growing Understanding |
KPMG |
MGA Thermal |
Star Club Equestrian Program Inc |
Sunflower Services |
Outstanding Employee
Proudly sponsored by Port Authority of NSW.
The Outstanding Employee Award recognises an inspirational employee who has demonstrated a passion for their role and a commitment to their workplace and the community.
FINALISTS
Dean Reid - Operations Manager - Aussie Ark |
Emma Hyde - Clinical Director - A Growing Understanding |
Isaac Brambley- Mechatronics Engineer - SAPHI |
Jane Hill - Senior Manager of Employment Services - The Mai-Wel Group |
Jonathan Milgate - CTO - Camplify |
Josh Devon - General Manager - BU Happiness College |
Kathryn Barker - Practice Manager - Sensational Start Occupational Therapy |
Mary-Anne Alice Holland - Commanding Officer - School of Infantry |
Liam Buxton - Principal Environmental Planner - AECOM |
Olivia Soars - Operations Manager - CHD Partners |
Sangeetha Ravisankar - Senior Data Analyst - PKF |
Outstanding Local Chamber
Proudly sponsored by AGL.
The Outstanding Local Chamber Award recognises the achievements of a Local Chamber of Commerce in supporting its members to maximise their business potential.
FINALISTS
Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Inc |
Business Singleton |
Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
Outstanding Community Organisation
Proudly sponsored by EDF Renewables.
The Outstanding Community Organisation Award recognises an organisation that works to improve the social, cultural, or environmental wellbeing of the community.
FINALISTS
Business Growth Centre |
Early Links |
Home in Place |
Hunter Medical Research Institute |
Hunter Melanoma Foundation |
REACH for Training |
Singleton Neighbourhood Centre |
Sunflower Services |
The Mai-Wel Group |
Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music |
Employer of Choice - Under 20 Employees
Proudly sponsored by Maxim Business Advisors.
The Employer of Choice Award – Under 20 Employees, recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.
FINALISTS
BU Happiness College |
Hunter Pet Motel |
LJ Hooker Belmont |
SAPHI |
Telford Engineering Solutions |
The Marketing GP |
Employer of Choice - Over 20 Employees
Proudly sponsored by Spirit Super.
The Employer of Choice Award – Over 20 Employees, recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.
FINALISTS
AECOM Australia |
Camplify |
Community Therapy |
Evolution Advisers |
Hall & Wilcox |
Hicksons Lawyers Newcastle |
Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network |
HVCCC |
KPMG |
Projence |
Excellence in International Business
Proudly sponsored by Port of Newcastle.
The Excellence in International Business Award recognises a business that exports its products or services internationally, in order to build a positive reputation for Australian products and services and to deliver opportunities for business growth and success.
FINALISTS
Camplify |
SafetyLink |
Excellence in Innovation
The Excellence in Innovation Award recognises a business that has implemented innovative solutions for new and existing needs through the introduction or improvement of a product, technology, or application that impacts the wider community.
FINALISTS
Community Therapy |
Ekulpoint |
Fire Response |
Hi-Vis Group |
Morgan Engineering |
Port Authority of NSW |
Robotic Systems |
SafetyLink |
SAPHI |
Whiteley |
Excellence in Sustainability
Proudly sponsored by Umwelt.
The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognises a business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices and is working to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment.
FINALISTS
Hunter Pet Motel |
Imaginelle |
Loop Organics |
Orica |
Port of Newcastle |
Resourceful Living |
Excellence in Micro Business
Proudly sponsored by Glencore.
The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
FINALISTS
Being More Human |
CHD Partners |
Ekulpoint |
Heart HR |
Hunter Valley Elite Window Tinting |
JT Creative |
LH Agenda |
psyborg |
Pulp Agency |
Excellence in Small Business
Proudly sponsored by Newcastle Herald.
The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
FINALISTS
A CORP COMPUTERS |
Aussie Ark |
Fire Response |
Hunter Pet Motel |
Jaegersoft |
Newcastle and Hunter Community Health |
SAPHI |
Seed People Consulting |
Sportspower Singleton |
Supreme Sandstone |
Excellence in Large Business
Proudly sponsored by NSW Minerals Council.
The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
FINALISTS
A Growing Understanding |
Commercial Collective |
Community Therapy |
Hall & Wilcox |
Hi-Vis Group |
Lampson Australia |
Morgan Engineering |
NGM Group |
PKF |
The Royal Hotel Muswellbrook |
Toronto Private Hospital |
Outstanding Start Up
Proudly sponsored by Enigma.
The Outstanding Start-up Award recognises a start-up business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the potential to achieve future success.
FINALISTS
Astalty |
Heal Specialist Urgent Care |
Hey Zomi |
Kid Biz Academy |
Peter Hodder |
Telford Electrical Solutions |
Think.Do.Speak |
Hunter Water Love Water
Proudly sponsored by Hunter Water
Entrants for this Award are Hunter Water customers who have undertaken a water efficiency management plan to reduce their use of potable water, delivering cost savings to their business and reducing the demand on the region’s drinking water supply.
Business of the Year
Proudly sponsored by IMB Bank.
Business of the Year is open to all winners of the following categories:
· Excellence in International Business
· Employer of Choice Under 20 Employees
· Employer of Choice Over 20 Employees
· Excellence in Innovation
· Outstanding Sustainability
· Outstanding Community Organisation
· Outstanding Start-up
· Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
· Excellence in Micro Business
· Excellence in Small Business
· Excellence in Large Business
This award is awarded to a Business that has been judged to be an outstanding business, that has provided an entry that demonstrates achievements and excellence over and above all other entrants. This award will be judged by a panel of three judges that have not judged any other entries in the awards.