31 years of excellence

Past winners

Every winner we've celebrated, back to 2012. Recent years carry the full category list; earlier years show the major awards.

31st Awards 202618 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Jeremy Brett, Morgan Engineering
Highly Commended: Xavier King, Earth and Elm Studio; Lindsay Guy, Guy's Karate School
Business Woman of the Year
Sarah-Jane Dunford, Riskology
Highly Commended: Tori Leeke, Newcastle Counselling Service
Business of the Year
The Mutual Bank
Customer Service (Individual)
Pettina Smith, Hunter Valley Flooring Xtra
Highly Commended: Kim Whitehead, Flamingos Live
Customer Service (Whole Business)
Bridgestone Select Tyre and Auto Huntlee
Highly Commended: Hunter Valley Tours
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Jake Rooney and Lucas Dagg, Wick Boys
Highly Commended: Alice Farrelly, Reformed Bookkeeper
Access & Inclusion
24/7 Care Disability Services and Activity Hub
Highly Commended: Zen Wellness Centre
Financial & Real Estate Services
The Mutual Bank
Highly Commended: Beam Bookkeeping
General Business
Dragonfly Cakes
Highly Commended: Coal & Wine Creative; Kissofire Hunter Valley Butterscotch
Health Services
MSK Podiatry Plus
Highly Commended: Transformational Institute
Home Based
Just ROLL with it Huntlee
Highly Commended: Outback Jess
Hospitality & Tourism
McCaffrey's Estate
Highly Commended: Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
New Start
Bridgestone Select Tyre and Auto Huntlee
Highly Commended: Just ROLL with it Huntlee
Not-For-Profit
Hume Community Housing
Highly Commended: The Groundswell Collective
Online Based
Springhill Beef Co
Highly Commended: Jezweb
Personal Services
Evolution Hair Co
Highly Commended: Bespoke Hair Artistry
Professional Services
Acrobat Removals and Storage
Highly Commended: Tailored HQ
Trades & Industry
Morgan Engineering
Highly Commended: Precision Fencing Newcastle
30th Awards 202518 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Shane Meister, Network ICT
Highly Commended: Steven Georgalas, LJ Hooker Belmont
Business Woman of the Year
Lee-Anne McAllister, McAllister Legal Services
Highly Commended: Julie Newman, Hunter Valley Tours
Business of the Year
Earth & Elm Studio and Wellness Services
Customer Service (Individual)
Ben Sams, McDonald's Cessnock
Highly Commended: Terrie-Ann Lepisto, Perfect Sense Counselling
Customer Service (Whole Business)
Evolution Hair Co
Highly Commended: I Am Here; OzPest Solutions
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Alice Farrelly, Reformed Bookkeeper
Highly Commended: Aleesha Hardie, OAR Holistic Beauty & Wellness
Access & Inclusion
Hunter Valley Tours
Highly Commended: The Mai-Wel Group
Financial & Real Estate Services
LJ Hooker Cessnock
Highly Commended: LJ Hooker Belmont
General Business
Dragonfly Cakes
Highly Commended: Maitland Business Central
Health Services
Initial Response Group
Home Based
Newcastle Lymphoedema, Lipoedema, Pre & Post Surgery Clinic
Highly Commended: Outback Jess
Hospitality & Tourism
FLAMINGOS Live
Highly Commended: Newy Tour Co.
New Start
Elements Morpeth
Highly Commended: All Event Cruises
Not-For-Profit
Carrie's Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Service
Highly Commended: Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation
Online Based
Network ICT
Highly Commended: Jezweb
Personal Services
Earth & Elm Studio and Wellness Services
Highly Commended: Evolution Hair Co
Professional Services
The Marketing GP
Highly Commended: Heart HR
Trades & Industry
Banana Bathrooms and Red Insight
Highly Commended: Tailored HQ
29th Awards 20249 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Steven Georgalas, LJ Hooker Belmont
Highly Commended: Shane Meister, Network ICT
Business Woman of the Year
Laxmi Nahar, Morpeth Family Medical Practice
Highly Commended: Clara Riddle, Supreme Sandstone
Business of the Year
Dynamic Business Technologies
Customer Service (Individual)
Mikayla Deans, LJ Hooker Belmont
Customer Service (Whole Business)
Balanced Beans
Highly Commended: Picture This! Custom Framing
Young Entrepreneur
Scott Papas, Pursue Ability
Hospitality & Tourism
McCaffrey's Estate
Not-For-Profit
The Mai-Wel Group
Highly Commended: Dungog District Chamber of Commerce
Professional Services
Dynamic Business Technologies
Highly Commended: Balanced Beans
28th Awards 20235 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Scott Player
Highly Commended: Michael Maffey
Business Woman of the Year
Brodie White
Business of the Year
UAINE Candles
Young Entrepreneur
Amy Foster
Highly Commended: Jahluvi Anashe Mtanda
Hospitality and Tourism
McCaffrey's Estate
Highly Commended: Vines Restaurant at Hollydene Estate
27th Awards 20214 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Shane Hamilton
Business Woman of the Year
Joplin Higgins
Business of the Year
Gymnastics 21
Young Entrepreneur
Amy Foster
Highly Commended: Josh Vought
26th Awards 20194 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Peter Kirkwood
Highly Commended: Ian Jones
Business Woman of the Year
Sarah-Jane Dunford
Business of the Year
Palfreyman Chartered Accountants
Young Entrepreneur
Jessica Rodgers
25th Awards 20184 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Andrew Beattie
Business Woman of the Year
Simone Palfreyman
Highly Commended: Ann-Maria Martin
Business of the Year
Genea Newcastle Pty Ltd
Young Entrepreneur
Samantha Nicholls
24th Awards 20174 awards
Business Leader of the Year
Shane Fox, Merchant Business Brokers
Business Woman of the Year
Natalie Mason, Conveyancing Service
Business of the Year
Remington Motor Inn
Young Entrepreneur
Luke Ahearn, Thread and Ink
23rd Awards 20164 awards
Business Leader
Bryce Gibson
Business Woman
Christine Atkins
Business of the Year
Taste of the Country
Young Entrepreneur
Brendan Hughes
22nd Awards 20154 awards
Business Leader
Tony Mortel
Business Woman
Stephanie Mortel
Highly Commended: Mellissa Gibson; Christine Atkins
Business of the Year
Deltawater Pty Ltd
Young Entrepreneur
Bryce Gibson
21st Awards 20144 awards
Business Leader
Norman Ballard, Hummingbird Electronics
Business Woman
Amanda Gascoigne, Gascoigne Consulting
Business of the Year
Hummingbird Electronics
Young Entrepreneur
Courtney Turton, Oxygen Allstars
20th Awards 20133 awards
Business Woman of the Year
Stephanie Mortel
Highly Commended: Ann Bartlett, Lifestyle Cleaning Services
Business of the Year
Banjo's Bushland Retreat
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Bryce Gibson
19th Awards 20122 awards
Business Woman of the Year
Lee Galloway
Business of the Year
Break Thru People Solutions
Highly Commended: (Not For Profit category winner; overall major)