2025 IMB ILLAWARRA business AWARDS

The Excellence in Tech Award recognises a business that is an industry leader and has made significant contributions to Tech.

Entry criteria
Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being a leader in Tech.

2025 Finalists 

AST Technologies, Wollongong  

Green Gravity, North Wollongong 

Propel Technologies, Unanderra 

Proudly Sponsored by

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.  It is open to businesses to nominate an employee.

Entry criteria

Employers are required to highlight their employees’ 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 employee must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 18 months, at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists 

Courtney Torresan – The Cram Foundation, Shellharbour City Centre 

Diesel Mitchell – Propel Technologies, Unanderra 

Jeremy Comans - Lone Fig Environmental, North Nowra 

Jessica Brodie – Edmen Community Staffing Solutions, Shellharbour City Centre 

Mikayla Hodges – Dignam Real Estate, Bulli 

Sarah Wilson – Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra, Wollongong 

Sarah Rebbeck – Kiama Leagues Club, Kiama 

Tiarna Snow – Housing Trust, Coniston 

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

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve successful outcomes and drive innovation over the past 18 months. To be eligible for this category, the individual must have held a senior management or executive-level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists 

Aaron Mulhall – Specialised Energy Solutions, Yallah 

Ariel Miners – MitchCap, Wollongong 

Daniel Licastro – Buckaroo Leatherworks, Bellambi 

Karlie Zec – Tiny Tins, Unanderra 

Leonard White - Lone Fig Environmental, North Nowra 

Sid Curran – Curran Plumbing Electrical Heating & Air, Albion Park Rail 

Trent Hilaire – Hill to Air, Gerringong  

Proudly Sponsored by

The Outstanding Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 36 years or over at the time of entry who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership, whilst providing mentorship to others.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve successful outcomes and drive innovation over the past 18 months. To be eligible for this category, the individual must have held a senior management or executive-level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists 

Amy Hall – Banksia Support Services, Wollongong 

Claire Carson – South Coast Therapy and Support Group, Nowra 

Heather Marciano – BCR Communities, Sanctuary Point 

John Lamont – Nowchem, Nowra 

Kate Dezarnaulds – Worklife, Berry 

Kylie Moffitt – PhysioHealth Corrimal, Corrimal 

Dr Laura Clarke – Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group, Wollongong 

Matthew Radnidge – Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh 

Sally Dillon – Revolution Consulting Group, Corrimal 

Proudly Sponsored by

The Excellence in Workplace Culture Award recognises a business that has developed a leading workplace culture through its commitment to inclusivity, people empowerment and being an employer of choice.

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of workplace culture. Category criteria are based on initiatives that have had a positive impact on both employees and the business.

2025 Finalists 

Active Health and Movement, Sanctuary Point  

Ava Maria Disability and Mental Health Services, Unanderra 

Big Fat Smile, Wollongong 

CareSouth, South Nowra 

Housing Trust, Coniston 

Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group, Wollongong 

Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh 

Proudly Sponsored By

The Excellence in International Business Award recognises a business that successfully operates in overseas markets, builds a positive reputation for Australian products and services, and creates opportunities for growth and success.

Entry criteria

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

2025 Finalists

Buckaroo Leatherworks, Bellambi 

Sicona Battery Technologies, Wollongong 

Proudly Sponsored by

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

Entry criteria

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

2025 Finalists 

Banksia Support Services, Wollongong 

Big Purple Phone, Gerringong 

Green Gravity, North Wollongong 

Hannah’s Beauty Clinic and Japanese Head Spar, Nowra 

Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group, Wollongong 

PhysioHealth Corrimal, Corrimal  

Proudly Sponsored by

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. 

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at time of entry 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.

2025 Finalists 

Green Gravity, North Wollongong 

Ozeano Eyewear, Kiama Downs 

Tiny Tins, Unanderra 

Warrigal, Oak Flats 

Proudly Sponsored by

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

Entry criteria

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 at time of entry.

2025 Finalists

BCR Communities, Sanctuary Point 

Dress for Success NSW & ACT – Illawarra, Warrawong 

Housing Trust, Coniston 

Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI), Wollongong 

Need a Feed, Corrimal 

The Cram Foundation, Shellharbour City Council 

The Flagstaff Group, Unanderra 

Proudly Sponsored by

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

Entry criteria

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 at time of entry.

2025 Finalists 

Blak Cede, Nowra 

Dharawal Distilling Co, Bellambi 

Professional Drone Imagery, Corrimal 

Saunaus, Wollongong 

Shellharbour Marina, Shell Cove 

Slow Dough, Kiama 

Workplace Advantage, Bulli 

Proudly Sponsored by 

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. 

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months at the time of entry 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.

2025 Finalists 

Bomaderry High School, Bomaderry 

Buckaroo Leatherworks, Bellambi  

Green Yakka, Port Kembla  

Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI), Wollongong  

The Flagstaff Group, Unanderra 

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. 

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at the time of entry 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 at time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Banksia Support Services, Wollongong 

Crime Story, Port Kembla 

Hill to Air, Gerringong 

Italian Cooking Experience with Stefano Marvello, Moss Vale 

Scribbly Gum Photography, Corrimal 

Supercalla Private Properties, Berry  

This Old House Studio, Kiama 

What’s on in Wollongong / Parent Guide Illawarra, Balgownie

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.

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at the time of entry 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 at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

BigPurplePhone, Gerringong 

Burnetts on Barney, Kiama 

Good Things Organic, Nowra 

Green Gravity, North Wollongong 

PhysioHealth & Sports Injury Clinic, Corrimal 

Shellharbour Marina, Shell Cove 

Tiny Tins, Unanderra 

Proudly Sponsored by

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.

Entry criteria

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 at time of entry.

2025 Finalists 

CareSouth, Berkeley 

Curran Plumbing Electrical Heating & Air, Albion Park Rail 

Encore Support, Worrigee 

Health Staff Australia, Kiama 

IOH Health, Wollongong 

Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group, Wollongong  

Produly Sponsored by 

The Outstanding Local Chamber Award recognises a local chamber’s impact on their community in the past 12 months, with a focus on improving economic, environmental, or social impacts.

Entry criteria

To be eligible to enter this category, Local Chambers must be a part of the Business NSW Chamber Local Chamber Alliance program.

2025 Finalists  

Berry Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Berry 

Kiama Business Network, Kiama 

Robertson Business Chamber, Robertson 

Shoalhaven Business Chamber, Nowra 

Proudly Sponsored by 

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. 

Entry criteria

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

2025 Finalists 

Cupitt’s Estate, Ulladulla 

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour, Barrach Heights 

Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh 

The Links Shell Cove, Shell Cove  

Proudly Sponsored by

The Excellence in Sustainable Tourism* Award recognises a tourism business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices both internally and in customer interactions. The award recognises efforts to minimise environmental impacts from its operations.   

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at time of entry across the key area of sustainable tourism*. Category criteria are based on initiatives and projects executed within the business not related to its core offering.

_{^{*Sustainable tourism is defined as "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environement and host communitites. (United Nations Environment Progrsm and World Toruism Organisation, Making tourism more sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers, 2005}}

2025 Finalists

Cupitt’s Estate, Ulladulla 

Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh 

Proudly sponsored by

The Outstanding Visitor Economy Collaboration Award recognises innovative projects undertaken in the past 12 months by a Local Government, Business Chamber, Visitor Information Centre, Tourism Industry Association, or groups of operators (two or more) that aims to maximise their economic impact on the local and/or regional visitor economy.

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate how their project showcases the region/ community including details of how collaboration and alignment of tourism operators, business and the community contributed to the project’s success.  

Projects may include but are not limited to:

• New product or innovative product development
• Upgrades or enhancements to tourism infrastructure or services
• Generating knowledge and/or insight to improve decision making
• Creating partnerships to advance industry performance
• A marketing or awareness campaign
• An initiative to address a sector specific challenge

_{*The visitor economy encompasses the direct and indirect contributions to the economy resulting from a person (a visitor) travelling outside their normal place of residence. (NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030).}

The Outstanding 24-hour Economy Collaboration Award recognises innovative projects undertaken in the past 12 months by a Local Government, Business Chamber, Visitor Information Centre, Tourism Industry Association, or groups of operators (two or more) that aims to maximise their economic impact on the local and/ or regional 24-hour economy.

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate how their 24-hour economy projects showcases the region/ community including details of how collaboration and alignment of tourism operators, business and the community contributed to the project’s success. 

Projects may include but are not limited to:

• Cultural festivals & night markets
• Technology integrations
• Late night retail activations
• Collaborative promotions, marketing campaigns or loyalty programmes
• Night entertainment zones
• Evening culinary experiences
• Safety & accessibility improvements
• Night-time art exhibitions
• Food & wine precinct creation

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

• Excellence in International Business
• Employer of Choice Under 20 Employees
• Employer of Choice Over 20 Employees
• Excellence in Innovation  
• Excellence in Sustainability
• Excellence in Diversity & 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. This award will be judged by a panel of three judges that have not judged any other entries in the awards.