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Entrepreneurs 101: Australia’s most driven business leaders in EY awards
THE most respected business awards program for Australian entrepreneurs has named a crop of 101 to contest the finals of the 15th annual Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards.
EY – formerly Ernst and Young – has announced the 101 entrepreneurs from across the nation (see below) who are in the running to be crowned the 2015 Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and they are an outstanding mix of energy creativity and innovation. 
EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Leader for Oceania, Bryan Zekulich, said this year’s nominee field included some of Australia’s best entrepreneurial businesses across a diverse range of fields including property, fitness, technology, food and beverage, kids toys, health and education.
“In our 15th anniversary year of celebrating the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in Australia, it’s inspiring to see such an abundance of talented and successful home grown entrepreneurs making a significant difference to the local and global economy,” Mr Zekulich said.
“At EY, we believe the new wave of Australian businesses is critical to the next generation of job seekers and to maintaining our nation’s high standard of living. The Federal Treasurer has also recognised the significant value entrepreneurs bring to the economy and, through the recent budget initiatives, is helping promote further innovation and enabling more people to chase their business dreams.
“Recognising and promoting success stories is another way we can encourage future entrepreneurs and EY is proud to have now celebrated 15 years of entrepreneurial excellence in Australia.
“Each of the nominees in this year’s program has the courage and conviction to make their business dreams a reality and, in the process, they are helping build a better working world by creating new jobs, driving innovation and productivity, boosting the economy and inspiring others.
“Being selected to take part in the Entrepreneur Of The Year program is a significant achievement and we congratulate all of this year’s nominees on reaching this milestone. We look forward to following their progress through the regional and national awards, and to crowning one of them as our 15th Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year later this year.”
Commonwealth Bank business and private banking group executive, Adam Bennett said entrepreneurs “are a critical part of the Australian economy and we are proud to be the principal sponsor of a program that recognises the exceptional standard of entrepreneurial achievement in Australia”.
“Australia continues to be fertile ground for outstanding and diverse entrepreneurial talent, and this year’s nominees are a world-class representation of business leadership,” Mr Bennett said.
“At the Commonwealth Bank, innovation is part of our DNA and we are honoured to be associated with some of Australia’s top business innovators, who continue to inspire and motivate others in their pursuit of high calibre enterprise.
“I would like to congratulate all the nominees and wish them the best in their pursuit of this accolade.”
The nominees will first vie for regional honours at award ceremonies across the country during July and August, with the regional category winners going on to compete at the national awards ceremony in Sydney in October.
The overall Australian winner will then continue on in the global program, travelling to Monte Carlo in June 2016 to compete against other national winners from more than 60 countries for the chance to be crowned the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Nominees are assessed by a panel of independent judges, including previous Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners and other successful Australian business leaders according to six core criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, personal integrity and influence, financial performance, strategic direction, and national and global impact. 
The Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year – linked with the global program – began in 2001 and now has alumni of more than 1,400 entrepreneurs who have participated. Since the program’s inception more than 15,000 people have attended Entrepreneur Of The Year events and award ceremonies in Australia. EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognising them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
Regional nominees in the 2015 Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are:
Central Region (SA & NT) nominees:
Kylie Bishop – LBW Environmental Projects
Tony Ceravolo and Joe Ceravolo – Ceravolo Orchards Pty Ltd
Chris Christopher – Sunfresh Salads Pty Ltd
John Eastwood – U-Store-It Pty Ltd
Phil Harris - Harris Real Estate
Kayla Itsines and Tobias Pearce – The Bikini Body Training Company
Kelly Keates – Zonge Engineering and Research Organization (Australia) Pty Ltd
Kivi Kuet Vi Lay – Lay Group
Andrew Nunn – JBS&G
Toby Strong – PODiSTA
Sheree Sullivan and Saul Sullivan – Udder Delights Group & Cheese Cellar
Jason Valentine – CPR Pharma Services Pty Ltd
Paul Vinton – Vintek
Jim Whalley – Nova Systems
Central Region award recipients:
Social entrepreneur – Dr James Muecke – Sight For All
Champion of Entrepreneurship – Peter Hurley – Hurley Hotel Group
The Central Region awards ceremony will be held in Adelaide on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
Eastern Region (NSW & ACT) nominees:
Jeff Board – JAX Quickfit Franchising Systems Pty Ltd
Greg Boorer – Canberra Data Centres
Paul Chan – Pureprofile
Evan Clark – ClickView
Marc De Stoop – Climatech Group
Aurora Fonte – Assetlink
Michael Frizell – Pet Circle
Rodney Grunseit – Sunshades Eyewear Pty Ltd
Jason A Gunn – Oliver’s Real Food
Stephane Ibos – Maestrano Pty Ltd
Connie Mckeage – OneVue
Hamish Petrie – Ingogo
Timothy Power – 3P Learning Limited
Nadia Taylor and Alf Taylor – TNA Australia Pty Ltd
Andy Taylor – Yatango
Dean Willemsen – Prime Build
Eastern Region award recipients:
Listed award – James Spenceley – Vocus Communications Limited
Social entrepreneur – Robert de Castella AO MBE – Indigenous Marathon Project and SmartStart for Kids
The Eastern Region awards ceremony will be held in Sydney on Thursday, August 13, 2015.
Northern Region (QLD) nominees:
Carl Amor – Aqualuma LED Lighting
Michael Bell and Nic Blair – Search Factory
Stephen Donnelly – Blue Ribbon Group
Greg Dower and Darren Stewart – my FootDr podiatry centres
Kate Farrar – QEnergy
Mark Fletcher and Paul Jones – Cohort Solutions
James Freestun – Solutions Group of Companies
Marlies Hobbs – Paleo Café
Mark James – The GJI Group
Dwayne Martens – Amazonia
Fred Mohammed – Crane Trucks R Us Pty Ltd
Dr Mark Perissinotto – VetShopAustralia
Dean Robertson – Mexia
Robert Rowe – Tú Projects Pty Ltd
Katie Schloman – Miktysh
Sarah Timmerman – Beginning Boutique
Michael Trusler – PlantMiner
Paul Woosley – Australian Prime Fibre
Peter Wyatt – Record Holdings
Northern Region award recipients:
Listed award – Mark Sowerby – Blue Sky Alternative Investments Limited
Social entrepreneur – Juliette Wright – GIVIT Listed Ltd
Champion of Entrepreneurship – John Van Lieshout – Unison Projects
The Northern Region awards ceremony will be held in Brisbane on Thursday, July 30, 2015.
Southern Region (VIC & TAS) nominees:
Nicki Bowers – Kloud Solutions
Suren Chandrajit – LEDified
Daniel Flynn – Thankyou
Josiah Humphrey and Mark McDonald – Appster
Tolga Kumova – Syrah Resources Limited
Craig McDonald – MailGuard Pty Ltd
Dr Kia Pajouhesh – Smile Solutions
Michael Schreiber – Strike Entertainment
Manny Stul – Moose Enterprise Holdings & Controlled Entities
Cyan Ta’eed and Collis Ta’eed – Envato
Emma Welsh and Tom Griffith – Emma & Tom’s
Southern Region award recipients:
Listed award – Andrew Sudholz – Japara Aged Care and Retirement
Social entrepreneur – Ian Carson – SecondBite
Champion of Entrepreneurship – Richard Smith – PFD Food Services
The Southern Region awards ceremony will be held in Melbourne on Thursday, August 6, 2015.
Western Region (WA) nominees:
Matthew Allen – Subcon Technologies Pty Ltd
Russell Baskerville – Empired Limited
Paul Bitdorf – Nicheliving
Maurice Brand – Liquefied Natural Gas Limited
Damian Collins – Momentum Wealth
Suzanne Daubney – Bannister Downs Dairy
Ayman Haydar – Haydar Pty Ltd
Scott Houston – Executive Risk Solutions
Torsten Ketelsen – GMA Garnet Group
Lauren Knee – Silk
Veronica Macpherson – MACRO Realty Developments
Rick Musarra – CraneCorp Australia Pty Ltd
Petra Nelson – Bright People Technologies Pty Ltd
Savvas Papadopoulos – Aerison Pty Ltd
Prof Tim St Pierre – Resonance Health Limited
Dr Marcus Tan – HealthEngine
Craig Thompson – Sea Corporation Pty Ltd
Benjamin Trinh – Life Ready Health Group
Western Region award recipients:
Listed award – Peter Botten – Oil Search
Social entrepreneur – Lockie Cooke – ICEA Foundation
Champion of Entrepreneurship – Dale Alcock – ABN Group
The Western Region awards ceremony will be held in Perth on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
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