More than 400 commercial operators and industry leaders gathered in Pokolbin for the presentation of the 31st annual Hunter Regional Business Excellence Awards. Organised by the Hunter Region Business Hub, the event acknowledged corporate performance, workforce resilience, and structural contributions to the regional economy across diverse industry sectors.
The awards program evaluated over 190 entries from businesses operating across the Hunter Valley. Finalists underwent a comprehensive assessment framework scrutinising executive leadership, customer acquisition metrics, operational structures, and year-on-year business sustainability.
The major accolades of the evening spanned across baking, construction, and corporate leadership, with local member-owned institution The Mutual Bank securing the overall title of Business of the Year.
Chair of the Hunter Region Business Hub, Kavita Payall said the data submitted across the nomination pool demonstrated significant underlying commercial strength within the region despite current macroeconomic headwinds.
“This year, we received over 190 nominations, resulting in 135 exceptional finalists. Each has undergone a rigorous judging process – evaluated across leadership, innovation, customer experience, and overall business performance. That alone is an outstanding achievement,” Kavita said.
The industrial categories highlighted a growing focus on customer success metrics and targeted service diversification across both home-based startups and long-standing regional institutions.
General Manager of the Hunter Region Business Hub, Alena Pople said the awards serve as a key marker for measuring the operational health and local investment patterns of the Hunter’s small-to-medium enterprise (SME) sector.
“These awards are about recognising resilience, innovation, determination, and the extraordinary achievements of the successful businesses who invested in their business and achieved finalist status. It is about celebrating the people who continue to lead, create opportunities, employ others, and contribute so much to our region despite the challenges around us,” Alena said.
31st Hunter Regional Business Excellence Awards Official Winners
| Category | Winner | Highly Commended |
| Business of the Year | The Mutual Bank | N/A |
| Business Leader of the Year | Jeremy Brett (Morgan Engineering) | Xavier King, Lindsay Guy |
| Business Woman of the Year | Sarah-Jane Dunford (Riskology) | Tori Leeke |
| Young Entrepreneur | Jake Rooney & Lucas Dagg (Wick Boys) | Alice Farrelly, Alice May |
| Trades & Industry | Morgan Engineering | Precision Fencing Newcastle |
| Professional Services | Acrobat Removals and Storage | Tailored HQ |
| Financial & Real Estate | The Mutual Bank | Beam Bookkeeping |
| Hospitality & Tourism | McCaffrey’s Estate | Hunter Valley Wildlife Park |
| Not-For-Profit | Hume Community Housing | The Groundswell Collective |
| Health | MSK Podiatry Plus | Transformational Institute |
| New Start | Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Huntlee | Just ROLL with it Huntlee |
| Customer Service (Whole) | Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Huntlee | Hunter Valley Tours |
| Customer Service (Individual) | Pettina Smith (Hunter Valley Flooring Xtra) | Kim Whitehead |
| Personal Services | Evolution Hair Co | Bespoke Hair Artistry |
| Online Based | Springhill Beef Co | Jezweb |
| Home Based | Just ROLL with it Huntlee | Outback Jess |
| General | Dragonfly Cakes | Coal & Wine Creative, Kissofire |
| Access & Inclusion | 24/7 Care Disability Services | Zen Wellness Centre |
IMAGE | Regional excellence celebrated at 31st Hunter Regional Business Awards
