Leader of contaminated land consultants wins top Business Women's Award
The CEO of a fast-growing environmental consulting company that assesses and remediates contaminated land in SA, Queensland and the NT has been named the 2012 Telstra South Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Kylie Bishop, an accountant who founded LBW Environment with her environmental scientist husband Jarrod in 2007, has led the Norwood-based business to growth of more than 40 per cent every year. She also won the Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award at the Telstra SA Business Women’s Awards in Adelaide today.
A mother of five children with more than 20 years experience in financial and people management at legal and construction firms, Ms Bishop was treated for thyroid cancer soon after she established her business.
LBW Environment employs 15 people and specialises in contaminated land and water assessment, remediation and monitoring projects. With waste soils a factor on most construction sites, the business provides solutions and management plans for clients in the oil and gas, land development, mining and local and state government sectors.
Ms Bishop says: “I live the LBW values of teamwork, respect and delivery and believe that my leadership style encourages collaboration and open communication. Our value proposition has always been to deliver nimble and pragmatic solutions that meet the clients’ project objectives. The need for an environmental consultant is borne out of regulation in the interests of protecting public health and the environment.”
She is active in her local community as a member of the Glenunga International High School Governing Council, the North Eastern Community Hospital Board and the Behind Closed Doors Entrepreneurs Program.
Other Awards winners announced today were Serina Pace, owner of Adelaide legal practice Pace Lawyers, Sandy Pitcher, Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, SA, Angela Littleford, former Chief Operating Officer of the Royal District Nursing Service of SA, and Carmel Siciliano, owner of Stepney-based design business Stile Interiors.
Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director Telstra Innovation, Products & Marketing and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, said the South Australian winners were inspirational business women and leaders in their sectors. “They have displayed innovation in their business or community that influences and motivates others and their achievements are cause for celebration,” she said.
Ms McKenzie said: “Kylie Bishop has met the challenge of leading a business of technical experts without a technical background herself and has excelled due to her outstanding leadership and business management skills. The Telstra Awards judges highlighted a multi-million dollar, four-year contract she’d recently secured with Santos and said she successfully blends the challenges of her work, her passion for developing others through mentoring and participation on a number of boards, whilst raising five children.”
Mark Steyn, CEO of Hudson Australia/New Zealand said: “As sponsor of the Private & Corporate Sector Award, Hudson is passionate about profiling successful women in business such as Kylie Bishop and recognising the hugely valuable contribution they continue to make to corporate and community life. It is a privilege to be associated with an event that showcases the excellent calibre and quality of talented women working in South Australia and across Australia.”
Winners of the 2012 Telstra South Australian Business Women’s Awards are:
Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award
Serina Pace - Pace Lawyers, Adelaide
Serina Pace’s nine-member legal practice comprises Pace Lawyers, which provides commercial, dispute resolution and risk management advice to business, and Adelaide Legal, which advises individuals in injury, family and employment law and civil disputes. She is also a panel lawyer for pro bono services. Telstra Awards judges praised her high-level business sophistication, innovative strategy and proactive engagement with clients, staff and the community, adding she had built a successful business with a growth trajectory based on providing a quality service that differentiates herself and her practice.
Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award
Kylie Bishop - LBW Environment, Norwood
White Pages® Community & Government Award
Sandy Pitcher - Department of the Premier and Cabinet (SA), Adelaide
Following senior public sector roles in the Commonwealth, UK and SA governments, Sandy Pitcher was appointed Deputy Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet in SA in 2010. She provides high-level advice to the Premier and Cabinet about community well-being and economic prosperity and leads national reform work on behalf of SA. Telstra Judges said she takes big visions and ideas and translates them into strategic priorities, playing a key role in the transformation of the SA Strategic Plan, and she develops methods to achieve accountability in spending State revenue.
Nokia Business Innovation Award
Angela Littleford - Royal District Nursing Service of SA Ltd, Keswick
As the former Chief Operating Officer of the Royal District Nursing Service of SA, Angela Littleford was responsible for the organisation’s 790 staff in SA and Queensland and an annual budget of $52 million. She helped transform the health provider’s model of care into a one stop shop for services that enable people to get well and stay in their own homes longer. Telstra Judges said her healthcare model had the potential to radically change the Industry and deliver more economically viable and sustainable outcomes.
marie claire Young Business Woman's Award
Carmel Siciliano - Stile Interiors, Stepney
Launching Stile Interiors in 2007 after five years at one of Australia's largest architectural firms, Carmel Siciliano drove her business by offering a unique design service and tailored packages for new homes, renovations, developments and commercial spaces. Telstra Judges said she had grown her business with a dedicated team of professionals, adding she has strong relationships with key industry stakeholders and a passionate focus on exploring new trends and implementing innovative tailored design solutions.
2012 Telstra South Australian Business Woman of the Year
Kylie Bishop - LBW Environment, Norwood
The South Australian winners proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards that will be announced in Sydney on 21 November. The winners share in $200,000 in cash and prizes split among the state, territory and national winners and become part of an exclusive national business alumni with wide networking opportunities.
More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found at www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com