At a gala event in Sydney, we’ve just announced the national winners of our annual Telstra Best of Business Awards categories. Each winner is outstanding in their field and their recognition is well deserved. After over 25 years of rewarding exceptional leaders and small and medium businesses, this year’s cohort are among the best.
This year’s theme was Local Leadership, highlighting the businesses that are building thriving communities and contributing to their local neighbourhoods – a massive 96 per cent of consumers consider small businesses an integral part of their communities. We’ve also increased our focus on diversity and inclusion in the Best of Business Awards, both in the entry process and in creating new awards categories.
Pakko creates out of the box packaging. Since 2017, the dedicated team of designers and packaging specialists has produced custom solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. The judges said that Pakko recognised a lack of local manufacturing in its industry in Australia was making it difficult for businesses to grow.
She’s A Crowd makes cities safer for women. By collecting and mapping crowdsourced data about women’s unsafe experiences, She’s A Crowd aims to address unsafe areas in city planning and close the gender data gap. The judges said that strong social values and accelerating action against inequality was in She’s A Crowd’s DNA.
The West Australian Shalom Group runs Shalom House, a residential rehabilitation centre. The program focuses on restoration and reintegration, and everyone leaves 100% debt free, with a current drivers’ license, a car, and full-time work. The judges noted that Shalom House was a successful business that has grown through truly building and supporting the community it works with. The model that the team has developed has the potential to be scaled nationally and internationally and has a reach that ripples far wider than just the participants of its program.
With 1 in 6 Australians having some form of hearing loss, Ear Science Institute Australia works to raise awareness and enhance the lives of those living with ear and hearing disorders through innovative treatments. The judges said they were blown away by the huge impact this business was having, both in Australia and internationally.
Sea Forest cultivates a natural solution to climate change. The eco-tech company is among the first to commercially grow Asparagopsis, a native red seaweed with the ability to significantly reduce livestock methane emissions. In selecting Sea Forest, the judges highlighted the business’ world class innovation in science, manufacturing and supply-chain management making direct and measurable impact on a globally significant problem – climate change.
Killara (formerly GJK Indigenous Solutions) is an Aboriginal owned and operated cleaning company. Killara is Supply Nation certified and creates real pathways for Indigenous Australians to gain access to sustainable employment. Founded by Jasmine Newman, great granddaughter of Aboriginal activist Bert Groves, Killara aims to engage, employ and empower.
Complete Home Filtration designs, manufactures, and installs water filtration solutions to deliver premium in-home water. One hundred percent Australian, the company prides itself on helping fellow Australians access the best water possible. The judges noted that Complete Home Filtration has demonstrated that a clear vision and ingenuity can drive tremendous growth for Australian small businesses.
The judges said that Sea Forest was a remarkable business creating a new industry, delivering productivity benefit for the farming industry, in addition to making a significant, global impact on climate change through the reduction of methane gas.
These winners have made a meaningful and positive impact in the communities and industries that they operate in, and they should celebrate their success. 2021 was every bit as disruptive to normal business operations as the year before it, so we commend them for their resilience and their ability to survive, grow and thrive in difficult conditions.
The judging process included in-depth interviews with a range of senior business leaders, including Small Business Australia Director, Bill Lang, Thankyou’s co-founder and Managing Director, Daniel Flynn, SWIISH co-founder and media personality, Sally Obermeder and Qantas’ Group Executive Strategy, People and Technology, Rob Marcolina, among others.
We had an incredible inaugural year for the Telstra Best of Business Awards, and we’re looking forward to continuing to support small businesses around the country in the year ahead. Nominations for 2023 are now open.
