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Inside The CEO Magazine’s exclusive cocktail party

Hundreds of industry leaders gathered at The Mint, Sydney, amid striking Maseratis, glittering diamonds, free-flowing Veuve and an oyster bar, to celebrate the nominees for the 2018 Executive of the Year Awards. Take a look behind the scenes.

Cocktail Party 2018

Sydney’s oldest public building, The Mint, was decked out with striking Maserati Quattroporte GTS and Levante, free-flowing French champagne and decadent Dalmore cocktails for guests to celebrate Australia’s most prestigious business award nominees.

About 200 exclusive attendees – with a Veuve or Dalmore in hand – enjoyed a string quartet, oyster bar and roaming canapes at the prestigious 202-year-old venue at The CEO Magazine’s cocktail event, a prequel to the 2018 Executive of the Year Awards.

The train of an elegant black gown, which was worn by a model donning stunning diamonds from Matthew Ely, formed the live black carpet that greeted guests from around the country – many being Australia’s best leading executives.

The CEO Magazine’s founder and CEO, Chris Dutton, welcomed the large audience in the heritage building styled with sleek white tables topped with radiant white moth orchids and lavish cheese platters.

“Judging our awards this year, to be completely honest, has been crazy,” Dutton said. “We’ve had so many applications and the standards keep getting higher every year.”

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Chris Dutton (left) and Daniel Di Loreto
Chris Dutton (left) and Daniel Di Loreto

Helen Lennie
Helen Lennie

Jake Nolan, David Jakic and Michael Vlassis
Jake Nolan, David Jakic and Michael Vlassis

Nicole and Matthew Ely
Nicole and Matthew Ely

Jessica Stone and guest
Jessica Stone and guest

Jane Devaney (left) and guest
Jane Devaney (left) and guest

Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron

 Pierre Leung (right) and guests
Pierre Leung (right) and guests

Stephen Sun, Vanessa Yang and Isaac Huo
Stephen Sun, Vanessa Yang and Isaac Huo

Trent Millane and guests
Trent Millane and guests

Chris Dutton and Ali Bramson
Chris Dutton and Ali Bramson

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“So yes, while it’s been a mammoth task with many sleepless nights, we obviously wouldn’t have it any other way. The Executive Awards this year will be another great night. Congratulations to the finalists once more.”

The cocktail evening was an exciting networking opportunity for nominees to mingle with each other or with some of the judges including Steve Baxter who buzzed around the room.

The hum of conversation flooded the historic building, which was once a rum hospital for early settler convict patients, while the charming string quartet thrummed in the background.

Four guests won luxurious ‘lucky door’ prizes of a $3,960 New Zealand Secret gift box, a $1,000 Maserati Levante and Pilu experience, a $700 private tour of the Masters of Modern Art at the Art Gallery of NSW, and a $500 The Dalmore pack. In a spontaneous move, Matthew Ely Jewellers donated a surprise $3,000 jewellery voucher prize.

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Dalmore Old-Fashioned cocktails were served
Dalmore Old-Fashioned cocktails were served

The Maserati Levante
The Maserati Levante

Matthew Ely
Multi-Coloured Tourmaline, South Sea Pearl and White Diamond Necklace $98,200, and Diamond and Tourmaline Drop Earrings $24,780, both Matthew Ely

The perfect little mixer

Cheese, please

Steve Baxter
Steve Baxter

Jacob Waks
Jacob Waks

Jake Nolan and Michael Vlassis
Jake Nolan and Michael Vlassis

Lachlann MacDonald and Peter Cox
Lachlann MacDonald and Peter Cox

 Perry Nelson Short and Katie Tholo
Perry Nelson Short and Katie Tholo

Delicious canapes
Delicious canapes

Matthew Ely
Matthew Ely Tanzanian Garnet dress ring with Rosecut Diamond Halo $24,500

Music courtesy of Luxe String Quartet
Music courtesy of Luxe String Quartet

Oysters by the bucketload
Oysters by the bucketload

Major sponsor Maserati
Major sponsor Maserati

The coaster with the, er, moster
The coaster with the, er, moster

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The opulent evening oozing surprise and luxury was just a taste of what is to come at the 2018 Executive of the Year Awards.

The winners of the 23 categories, which was created to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s leading executives, will be announced at the extravagant awards night on November 21 at the ICC Sydney.

2018 Executive of the Year Awards

Major Award: CEO of the Year nominees

  • Rob Atkinson, CEO of ARN
  • Stephen Canning, CEO of JCurve Solutions
  • Rob Goudswaard, CEO of Credit Union Australia
  • Mark Nielsen, CEO of APAC and Executive Director of Talent International
  • Giuseppe Porcelli, CEO and Founder of Lakeba Group
  • Shelley Sullivan, CEO and Founder ModelCo
  • James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Group
  • Justin Wang, Founder and Managing Director of Property Investors Alliance
  • John Winning, CEO of Winning Group
  • Steven Wright, CEO of BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia

View the full list of 2018 Executive of the Year Awards finalists.

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