2024 State Winners - South Australia

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Accelerating Women Award.

Audio – presenter: The winner is FBW Gynaecology Plus.

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds.

Footage: The recipient, Dr Fariba Willison, walks past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award.

Text: Accelerating Women Award SA Winner. FBW Gynaecology Plus.

Audio – Dr Fariba Willison: Wow. I am so touched. Thank you. Thank you to the Telstra organising committee for putting on such a beautiful event.

Reflecting back on my journey here when I was 12 years old. The Islamic Republic took control of my beautiful country, Iran, and everything changed. When it appeared that my father would be executed, I witnessed, as a 12 year old, my mother overcome with despair. And that was a life changing moment for me. It was then that I decided to be the woman I am tonight.

I wanted to do medicine, but I was on the wrong side of politics, so I had to go to Germany to study medicine. Eight years later, I came to Australia for love. And Australia gave me the opportunities and that made me the woman I am today.

Having lived through four different countries, diverse countries, I realised that women's health issues are a taboo subject everywhere. So that inspired me to become a gynaecologist and establish a centre of excellence in minimally invasive surgery and regenerative medicine. I also created a device that may help women in prolapse and incontinence, which affects 50% of women over age 50. 

I always kept my values, my Persian values through Persian philosophy of think well, talk well, behave well. In other words: with focus, with kindness, and with hard work, there is nothing beyond our reach.

I like to thank my husband, John, my colleague Tran, my daughter Nadia, for helping me also to be a voice for women with female genital mutilation.

Footage: Dr Fariba points to each person mentioned individually.

Audio – Fr Fariba Willison: We all established a desert flower Australia right here in Australia, and that is the biggest honour that I have, that I am a voice for women, every woman.

I also want to thank my mentors, my friends, my colleagues, and above all my patients and my staff. Without their help, I would be nothing because they are instrumental in everything that I do every day.

Lastly, as you may know, my country is going through another revolution, but this time it is led by women. It is the biggest movement in the world and I am one of them and I stand with them. And I'm proud to say that their motto of movement reflects the ethos of FBW Gynecology plus, Zan, Zendegi, Azadi. Woman, Life, Freedom.

Thank you.

Footage: The audience applauds and cheers as the video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo.

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays.

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Building Communities Award. 

Audio – presenter: The 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards, South Australian Building Communities Award winner is… BET Group. 

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds. 

Footage: The recipients stand up from their table to hug each other, and walk past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award. The footage cuts to show the recipients posing in front of a media wall with their award certificate. 

Text: Building Communities Award SA Winner. BET Group. 

Audio – recipient: Oh, wow. This is unbelievable. Thank you so much, Telstra and the Telstra judges for hearing our story. Thank you so much.  

This is a business that started out of a tragedy in 2012. I had a stroke while I was on life support. They told my husband I would never walk, talk, read or write again. I was in ICU for a month at the old Royal Adelaide and three months at the stroke ward, and after about two years of rehabilitation at the Hampstead Centre, they needed to come and see our home to make sure I was being discharged to a safe environment.  

And when they came to the house, they looked at it and they came up with their recommendation, the O.T., and it was going to be very expensive. My amazing husband came up with an amazing idea that we should just go out and rent an accessible house and we rent our house to someone else. And when you get better, we come back home. We started looking for an accessible house to rent, we couldn't find one, and he came up with another amazing idea. He thought, let's sell our house and buy an accessible house. We couldn't find one to buy, and that became the business. We now build accessible housing for people with disabilities. Stylish, classy homes in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales with an amazing team of 250 now, and we cannot stop the referrals. We want people with disabilities to have choice when it comes to housing because they deserve it.  

This award goes to my team; a team that came, saw the vision, believed in the purpose and they've stood by us. We are grateful. And to the families that have trusted us with their children's desires and hopes, and continue to send referrals, we are grateful. We are grateful to Australia, to the NDIS scheme for giving us this opportunity, and we hope to change the narrative for people with disabilities. Thank you, Telstra. 

Footage: The video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo. 

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays as the audience cheers. 

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Building Communities Award. 

Audio – presenter: The 2023 Telstra Business – sorry, Best of Business Awards, South Australian Championing Health Award winner is…FBW Gynaecology Plus. 

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds. 

Footage: The recipient walks past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award. The footage cuts to show the recipients posing in front of a media wall with their award and certificate. The audience stands to cheer and applaud. 

Text: Championing Health Award SA Winner. FBW Gynaecology Plus. 

Audio – recipient: Wow. I didn't prepare a second speech, did I?  

Audio: the audience laughs. 

Audio – recipient: I wanted to thank my patients who have placed their trust and confidence in me, and I want to thank my father and my mother, my brothers and sisters for their unfailing love. We never will be able to see each other ever again. 

Footage: The recipient puts a hand to their chest and begins to cry. 

Audio – recipient: I know that they are very proud. But if you allow me, last but not least, as Snoop Dogg says, I want to thank me.  

Audio: the audience laughs and cheers. 

Footage: the audience laughs and claps with smiles. 

Audio – recipient: For believing in myself. For not giving up. For working hard every single weekend. And for not having much, giving a lot, and not expecting much in return. I hope that I made my 12-year-old proud tonight. Thank you. 

Footage: The audience applauds and cheers as the video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo. 

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays. 

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Embracing Innovation Award.

Audio – presenter:

2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards, South Australian Embracing Innovation Award winner is: Silentium Defence.

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds.

Footage: The recipient walks past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award.

Audio – recipient: So what an honour to be recognised in this way. Genuinely surprised and just take a moment.

Probably the thing I wish the most, actually, is that my co-founder, Simon Palumbo, could be here this evening to enjoy this award and celebrate as well. Unfortunately, he's actually in the US at the moment, but I'm sure he would agree that this is an enormous accolade.

And as with everything like this, and I'm sure of those who have already won an award tonight, understand, it goes first and foremost to our wonderful team who lean in every day and are the absolute engine of our success in this innovation space.

Also, to the many partners, stakeholders, customers and advisors who have joined and supported us along the way. They say innovation is a team sport and our experience has been absolutely nothing short of that.

Biggest thanks of all actually goes to my wife Chanel, who is here tonight, and also to Simon's wife, Lisa, both of whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude for their patience and support on this crazy journey.

When we founded Silentium Defence just over six years ago, we did it with actually a very clear vision to change the way the world does surveillance and to help protect what matters. Little did we know at the time just how quickly our world would change and how critical our products and services would become.

As the world continues to barrel forward and uncertainty increases around new and emerging industries, we see our role as providing the critical data needed to informed decision making. Expand safely these new industries and make sure we maintain responsibility to unlock new opportunities and progress.

Thank you to Telstra, to all the judges involved in this incredibly rigorous - and I've heard that word quite a few times tonight - and rewarding process. And I say that sincerely and congratulations also to all the other nominees. It's been a thrill to come this far. And this award is recognition of our team's courage and commitment to building something new, something the world needs, and something that puts Australia at the forefront of global innovation.

Thank you very much.

Footage: The audience applauds and cheers as the video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo.

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays.

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Indigenous Excellence Award. 

Audio – presenter: The 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards South Australian Indigenous 

Excellence Award winner is...Print Junction.

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds.

Footage: The recipients walk past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award. The footage cuts to show the recipients posing in front of a media wall with their award certificate, with cameras flashing as photographers take their photo.

Audio – recipient: Big surprise, big surprise. We're very grateful for this, thank you to Telstra, the Best of Business Awards for 2023 - truly an honour.

I also congratulate all the other people in the room tonight, whether they're award winners or not. Businesses in South Australia are fantastic. We know that because we do quite a bit of print for some of them. We're fortunate tonight, I even have some clients in the room tonight and it's good to see them.

So, I'm really overwhelmed by it all – so much so I've left my glasses on the table. So, firstly, we are where we are today because of two groups of people that I want to mention. Firstly, our young team of people that work for us and have been for many, many years now. 

Footage: A staff member passes the recipient their glasses.

Audio – recipient: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

We've got young people that did their apprenticeships with us that are still with us today. Some of them in almost round two of long service, given that we've been going for 26 years now. Also, the other group of people that I need to acknowledge is our fantastic loyal customers. We've been loyal to them, we deliver on time, on budget and with the quality that they require - and we've been punching that out since day one. We're in business because of this lady. 

Footage: The recipient gestures to a woman standing beside him.

Audio – recipient: My partner, my wife. She's my partner in business for 26 years, and she's my partner in life because we've been married now - this year - for 52 years.

Footage: The well-dressed crowd cheers and applauds while smiling.

Audio – recipient: We started because Sheila had a vision. Sheila comes from a small Aboriginal community on Yorke Peninsula called Point Pearce. Opportunities there were slim and slender. She came into the city aged 16 when her parents left here to go to school, she went to Muirden Business College. Her parents went back home, left her here, and unfortunately, she bumped into me. So we were amazed that what - the Telstra Best of Business Awards can do for us. Already, when we were told that we were state finalists and we were allowed to use the footer on our emails and letters.

So as Nathan, who is our general manager now, because our son is going to take control of the business as we step back and retire soon, we started punching out quotations and emails, and almost instantly came back the recognition of the Telstra Best of Business Awards, and people were mentioning how good it is and congratulate us on achieving just the state award.

We appreciate this. We thank you all very much for - for being here tonight and for Telstra turning on such a brilliant night.

Once again, thank you.

Footage: The audience applauds and cheers as the video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo.

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays.

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Outstanding Growth Award.

Audio – presenter: The Telstra 2023 Best of Business Awards South Australian Outstanding Growth Award winner is...Incredible Smiles.

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds.

Footage: The recipients stand up from their table to hug each other, and walk past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award. The footage cuts to show the recipients posing in front of a media wall with their award certificate.

Audio – recipient 1: This is surreal. Miracles do happen, they say, and dreams do come true. And the starting point of any success, I think, is an inbuilt desire or dream that needs to be cherished and nurtured.

We moved to Australia about 14 years ago and all we had in our eyes was a small dream - was to provide a level of dental service that was digitally driven. And having come here, licensing to practice in Australia as a dentist was the journey itself - but all it did was make us more resilient in our approach, and brought us more closer to achieving our dream. We started our business about ten years ago, absolutely clueless about how to run a business. All we knew was to do dentistry - had no idea about management. But with our heart on our sleeve, with two children under two and only a few cents - probably should say dollars - in our pocket, we started our business with - with a goal to achieve our dream.

Our mission is always to champion technology and connect it to dentistry, make it affordable for all.

To create a brand that enables people to be confident, puts them back in front of cameras like this so that they can smile confidently and most importantly, create an incredible smile for life.

Footage: The recipient moves aside for the other recipient beside him to step up to the podium and also speak.

Audio – recipient 2: No one loves coming to the dentist. Our aim has always been to provide a patient journey that's outstanding. We focused all our energy in the last ten years and mindset to fulfill this, and there has been no looking back. Our vision has been to grow our business and to inspire our team, our young team and our young dentists to grow with us.

We grew from a team of three people to 55. Our vision has been to be at the forefront of dentistry. This, here, right now, is - is kind of believable, and it fills the heart with a lot of gratitude. It's made up for all the hours of toil, trials and tribulations which my family, Mitesh and my children, are very familiar with. It makes us believe we are on the right path and that we can dream and desire to achieve our goals. As everyone in this room can attest, running a business is not an easy task. It's not an easy feat. And a big round of applause to everyone here - to be in the journey, to be here today and be in the proximity that's so powerful with like-minded people.

Footage: The speaker moves aside for the other recipient to step back up to the podium and speak again.

Audio – recipient 1: Finally, heartiest congratulations to all the state winners in the preceding categories, and best of luck to all in the next category, as well as all the nominees who are here. Thank you, Telstra, for organising and creating such an amazing platform and showing appreciation to business owners like us in such a flamboyant manner. The journey albeit, is a tough one, which has been repeated many times

Earlier, but is a brilliant one in my opinion for introspection and certainly thought-provoking. So thank you, Telstra.

Finally, I would like to thank our team who abide by all our idiosyncrasies and believe in our vision. Our friends and family, some of who are here who continue to encourage and motivate us at every step. We believe success is not final, failure is not fatal., but the courage to be resilient is the most important of all. Thank you.

Footage: The audience applauds and cheers as the video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo.

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays.

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video moves from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the presenter for the Promoting Sustainability Award.

Audio – presenter: It gives me great pleasure to announce the 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards South Australian Promoting Sustainability Award winner is...Succession Ecology.

Audio – music: Upbeat music plays as the audience cheers and applauds.

Footage: The recipients stand up from their table to hug each other, and walk past tables of well-dressed people and onto the stage to accept their award. The footage cuts to show the recipients posing in front of a media wall with their award certificate.

Audio – recipient: Exciting, the last one for the night. We had three, three to prepare for tonight and speeches wise. Telstra, thank you. This is an amazing recognition of a little business that started in our house and has grown with an amazing team. A few years ago we hit rapid growth and that was scary, we're both scientists and business management isn't - isn't part of that, part of that training. So we were fortunate to have an amazing mentor on our team already, Mark Wiley, who pushed us in the direction of UNISA's Business Growth program, which some of you probably have, have had some experience with, and the development of a mission and vision and values through building a culture in our organisation has made it feel like a family in the way we work together and the collaborative nature. 

So we're all passionate. Environment is a space for passion and enthusiasm, but beyond that, we have a team who have - so we've not just grown as a business, but we've grown as people and as individuals and as leaders in our business, and that's really exciting. 

We are challenging the status quo when it comes to environmental management, looking at what nature can do on its own. We have such a big issue in climate change, deforestation and degradation. And I think as a business, we bring hope. Hope that we can have a future for our children, that we can see this planet being something that our children can celebrate and walk in the bush the way we have been able to. And that's an exciting thing to do every day, and it makes us want to get up and come to work. So that's really exciting. So thank you, team. You deserve this.

Footage: The audience applauds and cheers as the video transitions to a blue end screen with the words ‘Best of Business Awards’ next to the Telstra logo.

Audio – music: The Telstra jingle plays.