This year, Australia’s executive elite gathered together at Crown Melbourne to celebrate some truly outstanding personal achievements in business.
The winners were announced by host Eddie McGuire, back for his sixth year as MC, at the glittering black-tie event attended by 550 of the nation’s business luminaries.
Finalists were judged by a 10-person panel including: Janine Allis, Founder of Boost Juice & Retail Zoo; Larry Kestelman, Executive Group Chairman at LK Group; Libby Roy, Vice-President & Managing Director of PayPal Australia; Shelly Park, Chief Executive & Executive Board Member of The Australian Red Cross Blood Service; Stephen Cornelissen, Group CEO of Mercy Health; Michael Derin, Azure Group’s CEO & Founding Partner; Holly Ransom, CEO of Emergent; John Karagounis, CEO & Managing Director of The CEO Circle; as well as The CEO Magazine’s Founder & CEO Chris Dutton and Managing Director Daniel Di Loreto.
More information about the Awards can be found at executiveawards.com.au.
Congratulations to all the 2017 winners
CEO of the Year
Sponsored by
CEO of the Year – Winner
Michael Ebeid
CEO and Managing Director
SBS
Michael has achieved growth across all areas of business: employee engagement, operational efficiency, championing diversity, confidence in leadership and commercial revenue.
At SBS, he not only engages and influences his staff, but all the different communities around Australia, enriching the lives of others on a daily basis.
CEO of the Year – Runner Up
Jason Dooris
CEO
Atomic 212°
Outstanding revenue and profits, as well as high levels of client and staff retention are just some of the things Jason has achieved at Atomic 212°over the past year. His business model transformation saw a phenomenal revenue increase of more than 100%.
CEO of the Year – Highly Commended
Barry Fitzgerald
CEO
Roy Hill
With a mix of innovation and determination, Barry has successfully established a strategic framework to ensure aligned, long-term direction for Roy Hill as it matures. He has invested in technology and people, and encouraged out-of-the-box thinking to futureproof the organisation.
Managing Director of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Trent Innes
Managing Director
Xero Australia
Trent has steered Xero’s yearly growth rate to more than 40% in both revenue and customers, which has elevated it into the ranks of Australia’s largest listed tech companies.
Managing Director of the Year – Runner Up
Alistair Venn
Managing Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand
As well as running a genuine, sustainable and profitable business, Alistair has implemented strategies to transform Menulog’s team culture to one of high collaboration, efficiency and passion.
Chairperson of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Mrs. Gina Rinehart
Executive Chairman
Hancock Prospecting Group
Gina has turned around a company that overcame considerable adversity, bringing Hancock Prospecting Group into a position of success today. She is committed to upholding the company’s responsibilities, and has worked as an unwavering advocate for business in Australia.
Chairperson of the Year – Runner Up
Ann Sherry AO
Executive Chairman
Carnival Australia
Ann has totally refreshed Carnival Australia’s product lines and forged strategic alliances to succeed in a regulation-heavy field. She’s also been credited with restoring the image of an ailing industry and steering it back to year-on-year growth. And every ambitious target she set for the company has been exceeded.
CFO of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Morten Belling
Finance Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand
Morten has successfully juggled the difficult balance of his role – ensuring stakeholder requirements are met while at the same time building a solid foundation for the future of Menulog. Through a significant investment in people and technology, he has been able to drive incredible business growth year-on-year.
CFO of the Year – Runner Up
Magdalena Kosior-Molloy
Magdalena has implemented strategic initiatives focused on growth and innovation, while empowering her finance team at Holman Webb Lawyers to become champions of change. Her initiatives have reduced costs, improved productivity, and increased efficiencies, allowing the business to achieve its strategic goals.
CIO of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Peter Auhl
CIO
City of Adelaide
Peter has harnessed technology and information in a way that will allow the City of Adelaide to compete internationally, as well as make businesses rethink the way they operate and deliver key initiatives. He has changed public perceptions of the City of Adelaide with bold programs that can more effectively solve problems big and small.
CIO of the Year – Runner Up
Andrea Walsh
CIO
Isentia
An experienced technology and digital solutions leader, Andrea inspires continuous learning and development at Isentia. She has enhanced the company’s product offering, optimised platforms for growth and capitalised on high-growth markets.
HR Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Mari Ruiz
Chief People and Culture Officer
BankVic
Mari has gone above and beyond in transforming staff culture and engagement at BankVic, through a fresh vision that espouses the highest of values and performance. Through a combination of versatility and forward-thinking commercial acumen, she has redefined the HR role into one that is unique and impactful.
Marketing Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Trisca Scott-Branagan
Executive Director, Marketing
Deakin University
Trisca spearheaded a major national marketing campaign, repositioning Deakin University as an ambitious and exciting challenger brand. She also introduced new analytical tools and innovations in the digital space.
Sales Executive of the Year – Joint Winners
Sponsored by
Andrea Ingham
Director of Sales ANZ
Spotify
Andrea has collaborated productively with rival firms, advised and mentored others in her field and overseen industry-leading staff satisfaction ratings at Spotify.
Steven Hoyle
Commercial Director
Employsure
Steven has created and implemented a new sales strategy at Employsure, a company recognised as one of Australia’s fastest-growing and best places to work.
Young Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Sara Kahlau
General Manager, Office of the CEO
icare
At icare, Sara has driven disruptive change, creating exciting opportunities for collaboration and innovation. She also helped rework and update the customer experience, in the process changing the way people think about the insurance industry.
Start-Up Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Anthony Svirskis
CEO
TRIBE
Over the past 12 months, Anthony has strengthened TRIBE’s position in Australia, while taking the brand international and increasing revenue by a massive 390%.
Not for Profit Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Caitlin Pearson
General Manager of Marketing and Engagement
Macarthur Disability Services
Caitlin has navigated MDS through a massive rebranding, overhauled its customer service strategies and increased fundraising revenue by more than 50%.
Executive Assistant Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Simone Koolloos
Executive Assistant to Group CEO
Blackmores
A hard worker who overcame numerous obstacles by building strong relationships, being flexible and developing a trusted support group, Simone has helped her boss at Blackmores succeed in more ways than one.
Professional Services Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Scott Stavretis
CEO
Acquire BPO
Scott is a driven leader who places strong focus on inspiring loyalty and developing human capital. As a result, he secured exceptional long-term growth for Acquire BPO both in Australia and globally.
Financial Services Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Stephen Capello
CEO
BankVic
Stephen has implemented a range of strategies at BankVic that have positively transformed the business, its culture and its values. Under Stephen’s leadership, staff engagement has jumped significantly, digital sales have increased and the customer experience continues to improve.
Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Ann Sherry AO
Executive Chairman
Carnival Australia
With determination and a customer-centric attitude, Ann has worked hard to ensure Carnival Australia stays ahead of the competition. Her objective for the past year was further growth, which she has emphatically delivered.
Energy and Resources Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Barry Fitzgerald
CEO
Roy Hill
Barry’s emphasis on employee empowerment, his welcoming approach to innovation and his exceptional project-planning skills have optimised Roy Hill’s operations in a billion-dollar industry.
Manufacturing Executive of the Year – Winner
Dr Aniss G.E. Chami
Aniss has worked tirelessly to promote innovation in Australia’s manufacturing industry. He is committed to supporting the local economy. At Vitex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, he’s proving that profitability and integrity can go hand in hand.
Building and Construction Executive of the Year – Winner
George Boumoussa
CEO and Managing Director
GJ Building and Contracting
George’s buzzwords are: fast, efficient and effective. So, it’s no surprise that by its fourth birthday, GJ Building and Contracting Pty Ltd was already celebrating more than A$50 million worth of projects. And it’s upping the ante to a target of A$200 million within the next year.
Health and Pharmaceutical Executive of the Year – Winner
In partnership with our charity partner
Nathan Cheong
Managing Director
BioCeuticals
Under Nathan’s leadership, Bioceuticals achieved its 10-year growth target in less than half that time. Plus, a 100% vote of support for the company’s Enterprise Agreement is further evidence of employee engagement and commitment.
IT and Telecommunications Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Trent Innes
Managing Director
Xero Australia
By investing in artificial intelligence for higher-order tasks, Trent has potentially done away with mundane data entry altogether. His biggest priority over the past year has been to expand the Xero Australia’s customer base while maintaining a high level of service and a culture of excellence.
Transport and Logistics Executive of the Year – Winner
Bob Black
CEO / COO
StarTrack / Australia Post
In an industry that is undergoing major disruption, Bob has embraced innovation to help StarTrack and Australia Post thrive and prosper. He has strengthened alliances with key strategic partners and overseen a major change journey.
Retail Executive of the Year – Winner
Shelley Sullivan
Founder and CEO
ModelCo
With Shelley’s proven star-pulling power, she recently landed a lucrative collaboration contract that will take ModelCo to global heights. In a highly competitive market, her multi-channel marketing and embrace of innovation has driven impressive growth.
Media Executive of the Year – Winner
Sponsored by
Michael Ebeid
CEO and Managing Director
SBS
By embracing diverse media channels, Michael has managed to grow SBS’s audience share and brand awareness in a highly competitive market.