Businesses ranging from hair salons to high-tech virtual reality developers have been named finalists in the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards 2023.
A panel of judges selected more than 50 finalists across 14 categories from this year’s record field of almost 150 entries.
Winners of each category is set to be announced at a gala dinner, held at Belmont 16s on 21 July.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the annual awards highlighted the strength and diversity of businesses in Lake Macquarie.
“Our city is home to more than 13,500 businesses employing well over 73,000 people,” Kay said.
“We have an economic output of more than $26 billion, making us one of the regional powerhouses of NSW.
“These awards recognise our top performers, from micro-businesses employing just a few people to large companies turning over millions and providing significant employment opportunities.”
Finalists this year include Mount Hutton’s Salon Ten beauty salon in the ‘Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion category, and Resonant Blue, a digital marketing agency that created a virtual reality coal mine for visitors to experience at the new Sugar Valley Library Museum, kirantakamyari, at Cameron Park.
Resonant Blue will compete for the Excellence in Innovation Award. The Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards are proudly supported by gold sponsor Dantia.
Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards 2023 finalists include:
Outstanding Employee
- Amy Savonov, Event Cinemas
- Isaac Brambley, SAPHI
- Kathryn Barker, Sensational Start Occupational Therapy
- Xin Li, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Outstanding Young Business Leader
- Eric Johns, SAPHI
- Joshua Marks – Academy Sheetmetal
- Max Wroe, Jaegersoft
- Steven Georgalas, LJ Hooker Belmont
Outstanding Business Leader
- Heath Richardson, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Jane Beverley, Evolution Advisers
- Lauren Haskins, A Growing Understanding
- Susan MacNeill, Swansea Community Cottage
Employer of choice – 20 or less employees
- Dynamic Business Technologies
- SAPHI
- Sensational Start Occupational Therapy
- Solutions Management Services
Employer of choice – 21 or more employees
- Evolutions Advisors
- Event Cinemas Glendale
- Lake Group Strata
Excellence in Innovation
- Fire Response
- Resonant Blue (West Wallsend Mining 1910 and 1979 VR Experience)
- SAPHI (Critical Infrastructure Monitoring System)
- The Wholesome Collective
Excellence in Sustainability
- Academy Sheetmetal
- Imaginelle
- OzHarvest
- Swansea Community Cottage Inc
Outstanding Community Organisation
- Business Growth Centre
- Survivors R Us
- Swansea Community Cottage Inc
- The Wholesome Collective
Outstanding Visitor Experience – Tourism and Hospitality
- CoastXP
- Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine
- Lake Macquarie Sailing Tours
- Lake Macquarie Yacht Club
Outstanding Start-up
- Astalty
- Sunflower Strange
- Trusted Socials
- When Financial Solutions
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
- A Growing Understanding
- Allambi Care
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Salon Ten
Excellence in Micro Business
- Fashion Fish Designs
- Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine
- psyborg
- Stone Obsessions
Excellence in Small Business
- Fire Response
- Jaegersoft
- Salon Ten
- SAPHI
Excellence in Large Business
- Academy Sheetmetal
- A Growing Understanding
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Lampson Australia
