2023 Business Awards

Scroll down to see all the finalists and winners!

About

Local business is the spark and vital force that drives our own community and underpins our national economy.

Here in Lismore, the regional centre of the Northern Rivers, our business operators are known for their tenacity, innovation, strength, creativity, passion and above all adaptability in face of adversity. They not only defy but redefine the challenges they are thrown.

We believe they deserve to be celebrated! Inspired by the same spirit and energy, we welcome you to the 2023 Lismore Business Awards!

Created as a celebration to recognise the best in our business community and acknowledge the impact they have every day for our communities across the region. Creating your jobs, supporting your clubs, which in turn supports our community.

2023 Award Categories: Local to Regional

Winners of this category will go to Regionals but do not proceed to the State Business Awards.

Retail and Personal Services

The Excellence in Retail & Personal Services Award recognises a business that demonstrates outstanding service, has a point of difference in their marketplace and has made a significant contribution to the local economy.

This category is open to businesses selling food, fashion, homewares, hardware, home improvement, pharmacies, pet supplies, bottle shops and all other types of retail operations, plus hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, makeup artists, manicurists and other personal services.

  • Bolt+Buckle
  • Casino Travel Shoppe
  • WINNER: Dinner Is Served
  • Goolmangar Store
  • Lazuli and Co
  • PJs Fruit & Veg
  • Rainbow Earthlings
  • Resonator Music and Tuition
  • Santos Organics
  • The Two Ravens Antique and Vintage

Trade, Construction & Manufacturing

The Excellence in Trade, Construction & Manufacturing Award recognises a business that demonstrates outstanding achievements in their field and has made a significant contribution to the local economy.

This category is open to businesses providing services in architecture, design, engineering, and construction including builders, electricians, plumbers, tilers etc, automotive repairs, transport, logistics, distribution and manufacturing of products.

  • APRACS
  • Bennett Constructions
  • Highly Commended: Joel Jensen Constructions
  • Legacy of the Antipodes
  • Native Extracts
  • Pasta’Bah
  • SEE Civil
  • WINNER: SimplyClean

Business & Professional Services

The Excellence in Business & Professional Services Award recognises a business who demonstrates outstanding achievements in their field, and whose business has made a significant contribution to the local economy.

This category is open to businesses providing services such as accounting, legal, real estate and property, banking, investment, financial advisers, asset management and brokers, mortgage broking, marketing and publishing.

  • ENV Solutions
  • Heart Bookkeeping
  • New Beach Co
  • Parentshop
  • Planit Consulting
  • Resonator Music & Tuition
  • WINNER: Summerland Credit Union
  • Southern Cross Credit Union
  • The Northern Rivers Times
  • Vim & Zest Communications
  • Wild Honey Creative

Excellence in Health, Care & Wellness

The Excellence in Health, Care & Wellness Award recognises a business that demonstrates outstanding achievements in their field, and whose business has made a significant contribution to the local economy.

This category is open to businesses providing healthcare services such as general practitioners, pathology and diagnostic, residential care, optometry, dental, physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathic, naturopathic, massage, yoga, meditation, gyms and PTs, fitness equipment and wellness.

  • Better Breathing Sport
  • WINNER: HART Services
  • Honey Bee Homes
  • Native Extracts
  • Savvy Beverages
  • Highly Commended: Stepz Fitness Lismore
  • The Health Hub Chiro

Agriculture & Primary Industries

The Excellence in Agriculture & Primary Industries Awards recognises a business that demonstrates outstanding achievements in their field and whose business has made a significant contribution to the local economy.

This category is open to businesses involved in the production, processing and distribution of agricultural products and natural resources. 

  • WINNER: HoneyBee Hives
  • Southview Orchard

2023 Award Categories: Regional to State

Winners of these categories will go to from Local to Regionals and then on to the State Business Awards.

Outstanding Employee

The Outstanding Employee Award recognises an inspirational employee who has demonstrated a passion for their role and a commitment to their workplace and the community. 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to their workplace, the community and to being an outstanding employee. To be eligible to enter this category, the individual must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 18 months. 

  • Belinda Dinsey – RBR Property Consultants
  • Cianan Carroll – Native Extracts
  • Courtney Gill – Summerland Credit Union
  • Kaitlyn Studders – The Health Hub Chiro
  • WINNER: Michael Alvey – Resonator Music & Tuition
  • Highly Commended: Pauline Fowler – Virtus Heritage

Outstanding Young Business Leader (35 and under)

The Outstanding Young Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 35 or under who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry and the community through leadership. 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to creating a smarter and more inclusive future and to being an outstanding business leader.  To be eligible to enter this category, the individual must have held a management position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

  • Jackson Whitney – JW Media
  • Jacob Stone – President, The Channon Craft Market
  • Jess Ambridge – Rainbow Earthlings
  • Highly Commended: Joel Jensen – Joel Jensen Constructions
  • WINNER: Josh Northeast, Jnortheast Films
  • Kelly Kent – Virtus Heritage
  • Monique Rutene – Elements of Byron

Outstanding Business Leader (36 and over)

The Outstanding Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 36 years or over who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry and the community through leadership, whilst providing mentorship to others. Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to creating a smarter and more inclusive future and to being an outstanding mentor and business leader.  To be eligible to enter this category, the individual must have held senior management or executive level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

  • WINNER: Chris Jewell – Zepto
  • Claire Harding – Barefruit Marketing
  • Jeff Gibbs – The Northern Rivers Times
  • Mark Ryan – LRG Lawyers
  • Theresa Mitchell – Agape Outreach Inc

Excellence in Micro Business (less than 5 employees)

The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience. 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of business excellence.  This category is open to businesses with less than 5 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for a period of over 24 months.

  • Charlie & Fox
  • Fetch Pet Resort
  • HoneyBee Hives
  • Jim’s Termite and Pest Control Lismore
  • Legacy of the Antipodes
  • Man Cave Creative
  • Mayumi‘s Kitchen
  • Northern Rivers Dog Walking
  • Ocean Air Electrical
  • WINNER: Off The Rails, Byron Bay
  • On Point Bus Hire
  • Paris in The Strand
  • Rainbow Earthlings
  • Skye Park Pet Resort
  • The Health Hub Chiro
  • Highly Commended: The Professional Writer

Excellence in Small Business (5-20 employees)

The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of business excellence.  This category is open to businesses with 5 to 20 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for a period of over 24 months.

  • Casino Travel Shoppe
  • Curves Ballina
  • Joel Jensen Constructions
  • Lazuli and Co
  • Parentshop Pty Ltd
  • PJs Fruit & Veg
  • Highly Commended: Potager
  • WINNER: SimplyClean
  • Sistability
  • The Northern Rivers Times
  • Tweed Real Food
  • Virtus Heritage

Excellence in Large Business (21+ employees)

The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of business excellence.  This category is open to businesses with 21 or more employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for a period of over 24 months.

  • Elements of Byron
  • Kimberley Kampers
  • WINNER: Norco Co-operative Limited
  • Planit Consulting
  • Summerland Credit Union

Outstanding Start Up

The Outstanding Start-up Award recognises a start-up business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the potential to achieve future success.

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being an outstanding start-up.  This category is open to new businesses trading for a period of less than 24 months.

  • WINNER: Contained in Nimbin Accommodation
  • From Caravan to The Hair Lounge Goonellabah
  • Locale Magazine
  • Highly Commended: NatureScapes Byron Bay
  • The Levee Lounge and Bar
  • Wild Soul Bakehouse

Excellence in Innovation

The Excellence in Innovation Award recognises a business that has implemented innovative solutions for new and existing business needs through the introduction or improvement of an idea product, method, technology, process or application. 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of innovation.

  • AURORA XR
  • WINNER: Australian Bay Lobster Producers
  • Highly Commended: ENV Solutions
  • Joel Jensen Constructions
  • Local Sounds Radio
  • Native Extracts
  • Resonator Music and Tuition
  • Savvy Brain Boost Nootropics

Excellence in Sustainability

The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognises a business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices and is working to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment. Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of environmental sustainability.  Category criteria are based on initiatives and projects executed within the business not related to its core offering.

  • Byron Fermentary Pty Ltd
  • Exploring Eden Media
  • Frigid air
  • Hanging Rock Flowers
  • Lazuli and Co
  • Man Cave Creative
  • Off The Rails, Byron Bay
  • SimplyClean
  • WINNER: Summerland Credit Union
  • Vision Walks – Eco Tours

Excellence in International Business

The Excellence in International Business Award recognises a business that exports its products or services internationally, in order to build a positive reputation for Australian products and services and to deliver opportunities for business growth and success.

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of export. 

  • WINNER Kimberley Kampers

Excellence in Tourism, Recreation and Visitor Experience

The Outstanding Visitor Experience award recognises a business that understands the importance of visitor engagement for a region’s economy* and reputation. The business needs to articulate how they promote the region as well as offering an exceptional visitor experience.

Entrants are required to demonstrate how their business showcases the region/community and how their offering is unique within their industry.

  • Casino Beef Week
  • Potager
  • The Channon Craft Market Inc
  • WINNER: Vision Walks – Eco Tours

Employer of Choice (20 employees and under)

The Employer of Choice Award – 20 Employees and under, recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key areas of employee recruitment, engagement and retention.  Category criteria are based on initiatives that have had a positive impact on both employees and the business.

  • Barefruit Marketing
  • WINNER: Joel Jensen Constructions
  • Resonator Music & Tuition
  • Vim & Zest Communications

Employer of Choice (21 employees and over)

The Employer of Choice Award – 21 Employees and over, recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key areas of employee recruitment, engagement and retention.  Category criteria are based on initiatives that have had a positive impact on both employees and the business.

  • Casino Returned Servicemen’s Memorial Club
  • Crowley Care – Catholic Care of the Aged
  • Elements of Byron
  • WINNER: ENV Solutions
  • Santos Organics

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

This Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award recognises businesses that address the needs of a diverse community, including seniors, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and people with disability. An inclusive business facilitates the needs of all its employees and customers.  

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to address the needs of a diverse community. This category is open to businesses that have been trading for a continuous period of two or more years.

  • Casino Returned Servicemen‘s Memorial Club
  • WINNER: Sistability
  • Your Plan Manager

Outstanding Community Organisation

The Outstanding Community Organisation Award recognises an organisation that works to improve the social, cultural or environmental well-being of the community. 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being an outstanding community organisation.  This category is open to social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations that have been trading for a period of over 24 months.

  • Highly Commended: Byron Community Centre
  • CASPA Services Ltd
  • WINNER: Cherry Street Sports Group
  • HART Services
  • Human Nature Adventure Therapy
  • NMR SERVICES (Nightmare Restoration Services)
  • REDinc (Realising Every Dream)
  • Shaping Outcomes – Early Childhood Intervention Services
  • The Channon Craft Market Inc

Award eligibility:

  • The organisation has been trading for a continuous period of two or more years and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry.
  • The organisation has not entered the categories of Outstanding Start-up, Excellence in Micro Business, Excellence in Small Business or Excellence in Business.
  • A representative of this business has not been a judge in this category in 2022.
  • A representative of this business is not a judge in the 2023 Business Awards program.

Outstanding Local Chamber

  • Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce
  • WINNER: Tweed Chamber of Commerce

Business of the Year

The 2023  Business of the Year is Summerland Credit Union.

Business of the Year is open to all winners of the following categories: 

  • Excellence in Interntational Business

  • Employer of Choice 

  • Excellence in Innovation 

  • Excellence in Sustainability 

  • Outstanding Community Organisation 

  • Outstanding Start-up  

  • Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

  • Excellence in Micro Business  

  • Excellence in Small Business  

  • Excellence in Large Business 

This award is awarded to a Business that has been judged to be an outstanding business, that has provided an entry that demonstrates achievements and excellence over and above all other entrants.