Riverina Murray

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.

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.

2026 Finalists

Alishia Carswell, SWS Bank, Young

Dr Harold Gretton, Riverina Conservatorium of Music, Wagga Wagga

Jake Eady, Pearl Home Care Murrumbidgee, Wagga Wagga

Jasmin Pearce, Olivette,  Wagga Wagga

Katrina Taylor, Deni SPOT, Deniliquin

Lynne Kelly, SWS Bank , Young

Matthew Hall, SWS Bank , Young

Megan Narsamma, SWS Bank, Young

Mick Levett, Conqueror Milling Company, Cootamundra

Rebecca Eastlake, SWS Bank , Young

Tahlia Johnson, SWS Bank, Young

Tahnee Spencer, Sureway Employment and Training Services , Cootamundra

Therese White, Pearl Home Care Murrumbidgee, Wagga Wagga

Tony O'Halloran, ESI, Wagga Wagga

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 and strategic decision-making, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve strong organisational outcomes, drive innovation, and deliver measurable success over the past 18 months.

Entrants must also demonstrate financial responsibility and success, outlining how their leadership has contributed to the organisation’s financial stability, performance, or growth. This may include evidence of responsible financial management, improved financial outcomes, or initiatives that have strengthened the organisation’s overall financial position.

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.

2026 Finalists

Alana Villata, Collectiv.Accounting, Griffith

Kirsten Sargeant, Frankk, Albury

Kristian Hopwood, Stean Nicholls, Albury

Laura Atkins, SWS Bank, Young

Malik Abdur Rehman, Daimler Trucks, Wagga Wagga

Marion Geltinger, Halocell Energy, Wagga Wagga

Matthew Lewington, Enhance Physiotherapy,  Albury

Nicholas Ashe, Flemings, Cootamundra

Samuel Hartwig, SWS Bank, Young

Sophie Mitchell, FORGED Fitness, Lavington

Tania Neilson, The Crossing Café, Deniliquin

Taylah Cramp, Macarthur Real Estate Agency, Wagga Wagga

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, while also providing mentorship to others.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills and strategic decision-making, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve strong organisational outcomes, drive innovation, and deliver measurable success over the past 18 months.

Entrants must also demonstrate financial responsibility and success, outlining how their leadership has contributed to the organisation’s financial stability, performance, or growth. This may include evidence of responsible financial management, improved financial outcomes, or initiatives that have strengthened the organisation’s overall financial position.

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.

2026 Finalists

Akhil Sigtia, Global Airspace Group, Thurgoona

Bee Bowman, Digital Marketer Bee, Albury

Farhad Nabavi, Technocrete, Thurgoona

Iain Goodway, Deni Golf Resort, Deniliquin

Keryn Craw, Cootamundra Preschool , Cootamundra

Leanne Dyer, The Art Factory, Wagga Wagga

Michael Beaumont, First Scaff, Ettamogah

Miriam Agar, Charles Stuurt Campus Services Limited, Wagga Wagga

Nehma Vitols, Unary, Myall Park

Vicky Lowry, Deni Play on the Plains Festival Ltd, Deniliquin

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, while providing mentorship to others.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills and strategic decision-making, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve strong organisational outcomes, drive innovation, and deliver measurable success over the past 18 months.

Entrants must also demonstrate financial responsibility and success, outlining how their leadership has contributed to the organisation’s financial stability, performance, or growth. This may include evidence of responsible financial management, improved financial outcomes, or initiatives that have strengthened the organisation’s overall financial position.

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.

2026 Finalists

Amanda Ward, Priceline Pharmacy Albury, Albury

Christopher McGlynn, SWS Bank, Young

David Warren, Daimler Trucks, Wagga Wagga

Jamie Hicks, Deni RSL Club,  Deniliquin

Jayson Smith, SWS Bank, Young

Matt Watts, Pearl Home Care Murrumbidgee, Wagga Wagga

Nicole Killen, Boyce, Wagga Wagga

Robert Boschetti, BOSCHETTI, Thurgoona

Serena Sullivan, SWS Bank,  Young

This award celebrates the NSW businesses taking Australian excellence to the world whether through exporting, technology, partnerships, international expansion, global trade, or digital service delivery. It recognises the businesses shaping Australia's global reputation and creating opportunities for growth, innovation, and influence overseas.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate achievements over the past 12 months in at least one of the following areas:

• Exporting products or services

• International market expansion or market entry

• Cross-border digital trade

• International partnerships or alliances

• Licensing, franchising, or distribution overseas

• International brand or reputation building

2026 Finalists

Flavourtech, Griffith

Global Airspace Group, Thurgoona

Surfbee, Albury

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.  

Entry criteria 

Entrants must 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.

2026 Finalists

First Scaff, Ettamogah

Olivette, Wagga Wagga

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.

Entry criteria

Entrants must 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.

2026 Finalists

BOSCHETTI, Thurgoona

Centacare South West NSW, Wagga Wagga

Charles Sturt Campus Services Limited, Wagga Wagga

Intereach, Deniliquin

Macarthur Real Estate Agency, Wagga Wagga

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, Wagga Wagga

Pearl Home Care Murrumbidgee, Wagga Wagga

Priceline Pharmacy Albury, Albury

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 must demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at the time of entry across the key area of innovation.

2026 Finalists

AOF Solutions, Albury

Digital Marketer Bee, Albury

First Scaff, Ettamogah

Global Airspace Group, Thurgoona

Halocell Energy,  Wagga Wagga

Priceline Pharmacy Albury, Albury

Surfbee, Albury

SWSbank, Young

TECHNOCRETE Pty. Ltd.,  Thurgoona

Transgrid, Wagga Wagga

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 must demonstrate their achievements in environmental sustainability over the past 12 months at time of entry. The category criteria are based on initiatives and projects within the business that are not related to its core offering.

2026 Finalists 

BOSCHETTI , Thurgoona 

Deni Golf Resort, Deniliquin 

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, Wagga Wagga 

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

Entry criteria

Entrants must 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 the time of entry.

2026 Finalists 

Centacare South West NSW, Wagga Wagga

Deniliquin Can Assist, Deniliquin

Intereach, Deniliquin

LIONS CLUB OF COOTAMUNDRA, Cootamundra

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, Wagga Wagga

Wagga Women's Health Centre, Wagga Wagga

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

Entry criteria 

Entrants must demonstrate their commitment to being an outstanding start-up over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses that have been trading for less than 24 months at the time of entry.

2026 Finalists

Albury Wodonga Counselling and Therapies, Lavington

Border Radiology Specialists, Albury

Kate Powell Finance, Wagga Wagga

Maneki Neko Grocers, Cootamundra

Recover-DP, Darlington Point

Switched On Mobiles, Deniliquin

The Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award recognises businesses that champion inclusivity for diverse communities, such as older people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and people with disability. An inclusive business facilitates the needs of all its employees and customers.

Entry Criteria

Entrants must 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 continuously for two or more years.

2026 Finalists

Bliss Cleaning Co,  Albury

ESI, Wagga Wagga

Intereach, Deniliquin

Kurrajong, Turvey Park

Priceline Pharmacy Albury, Albury

The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business with 5 employees and under that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria 

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months at the time of entry. This category is open to businesses with fewer than five employees at the time of entry, that have been trading for more than 24 months.

2026 Finalists

Acre Town Planning, Barham

Cherrywood Emporium, Deniliquin

Collectiv. Accounting, Griffith

Dance with Miss Em, Cootamundra

Deni Golf Resort, Deniliquin

FORGED Fitness, Lavington

Huntsman Recruiting, Wagga Wagga

Lightning IP,  Albury

The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business with 6 to 20 employees that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses with 6 to 20 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for more than 24 months at the time of entry.

2026 Finalists 

AOF Solutions, Albury

Deni Play on the Plains Festival Ltd, Deniliquin

Digital Marketer Bee, Albury

First Scaff, Ettamogah

Formulae Albury, Albury

Global Airspace Group, Thurgoona

Olivette, Wagga Wagga

TECHNOCRETE Pty. Ltd., Albury

The Apple Thief Cider House, Batlow

The Excellence in Medium Business Award recognises a business with 21-99 employees that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses with 21 to 99 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for more than 24 months at the time of entry.

2026 Finalists 

BOSCHETTI, Thurgoona

Dahlsens Deniliquin Mitre 10, Deniliquin

Enhance Physio, Albury

ESI, Wagga Wagga

Macarthur Real Estate Agency, Wagga Wagga

Navigate Advisors, Wagga Wagga

Pearl Home Care Murrumbidgee, Wagga Wagga

Priceline Pharmacy Albury, Albury

SWSbank, Young

Whitton Malt House, Whitton

The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business with 100 plus employees that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria 

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses with 100 or more employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for more than 24 months at the time of entry.

2026 Finalists

MEDLOG, Griffith

TriStar Truck and Bus Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga

Wagga RSL Club, Wagga Wagga

The Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing Award recognises a business that demonstrates an outstanding and holistic commitment to protecting and enhancing the health and wellbeing of its people. This award celebrates organisations that create physically and psychologically safe workplaces, reduce incidents and risks, support mental health, promote respectful behaviour, and embed a strong culture of proactive health & wellbeing leadership.

This award acknowledges businesses that go beyond compliance, those that integrate modern best practice across mental health, wellbeing, and respectful workplace conduct to ensure every employee feels safe, supported, valued and able to thrive.

Entry Criteria

Entrants must demonstrate: 

• A clear and effective workplace health, safety and wellbeing strategy, with policies, training, reporting mechanisms, and demonstrated actions that foster a safe workplace culture.
• Innovation or best practice in safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, leadership capability, technology, training or cultural initiatives that enhance physical and psychological safety.
• Evidence of employee engagement in safety and wellbeing programs, such as participation in safety improvement activities, mental health initiatives, and respectful-workplace training.
• Measurable improvements in workplace outcomes, such as reductions in physical incidents, injuries, near-misses, hazards, psychological injuries, workers compensation claims or absenteeism.

2026 Finalists

Boots Civil Pty Ltd, Leeton

Centacare South West NSW, Wagga Wagga

Edward River Council, Deniliquin

Intereach, Deniliquin

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, Wagga Wagga

Priceline Pharmacy Albury, Albury

The Outstanding Local Chamber Award recognises a chamber that has made a meaningful and measurable impact on its local business community over the past 12 months. This category celebrates chambers that champion local economic growth, strengthen business capability, foster collaboration, and deliver initiatives that create positive economic, environmental, or social outcomes.

Entrants must demonstrate how their chamber has identified community or business needs, delivered purposeful projects or advocacy, and contributed to a stronger, more connected, and more resilient local business ecosystem. Whether through events, programs, advocacy, partnerships, or community engagement.

Examples of Eligible Chamber Activities but not limited to:

• Business networking or training workshops
• Mentoring or training programs
• Local advocacy wins or policy influence
• Events that supported local operators or industries
• Community business collaboration initiatives
• Campaigns that lifted local business visibility
• Initiatives improving business resilience after natural disasters
• Projects that strengthened business confidence or resilience 

Entry criteria

To be eligible for this category, local chambers must be a part of the Business NSW Chamber Local Chamber Alliance program.

2026 Finalists: 

Albury Business Connect, Albury 

Wagga Wagga Business Chamber, Wagga Wagga 

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 while as well an offering an exceptional visitor experience.

The Outstanding Visitor & 24-Hour Economy Collaboration Award recognises a collaborative project, initiative, or partnership that has strengthened and enhanced the visitor economy including the 24-hour economy over the past 12 months.

This category celebrates efforts led by Local Business Chambers, Local Government, Visitor Information Centres, Tourism Industry Associations, and groups of two or more operators who have worked together to deliver exceptional visitor experiences and increase the economic, social, and cultural value of their region.

Entry criteria

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

2026 Finalists

Deni Play On The Plains Festival , Deni

FORGED Fitness , Lavington

Olivette, Wagga Wagga

The Depot, Deniliquin

Vortex Entertainment, Wagga Wagga

Whitton Malt House, Whitton

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 must demonstrate their achievements in sustainable tourism* over the past 12 months. The category criteria are based on initiatives and projects within the business that are not related to its core offering.

2026 Finalists 

Johansen Wines, Tumbarumba 

Mantra Albury, Albury 

This award recognises the outstanding contribution by an individual to the NSW tourism industry, honouring those who go over and above their own commercial focus to contribute to the broader industry. 

Entry criteria

Nominations are accepted from any party except the nominee.
 
Note: The emphasis should be on personal and professional commitment and contribution beyond what would be deemed part of their job. Their tourism contribution outside of their normal work should be emphasised.

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

• Excellence in International Business
• Employer of Choice - 20 Employees and Under
• Employer of Choice - 21 Employees and Over
• Excellence in Innovation
• Excellence in Sustainability
• Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
• Excellence in Micro Business
• Excellence in Small Business
• Excellence in Medium Business 
• Excellence in Large Business  

This award recognises a business that demonstrates achievements and excellence over and above all other entrants. This award will be judged by a panel of three judges, each of whom has not judged any other award entries.