The Hoodlum team has backed up its Primetime Emmy win with top honours in the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Business Awards.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said innovation, creativity and leadership were the hallmarks that underpinned the LMBA winners. He presented digital entertainment company Hoodlum as the Optus Platinum Award overall winner. Nine category award winners were also unveiled, revealing businesses and individuals who have significantly contributed to Brisbane's knowledge economy.

Cr Newman said although this year has tested most businesses and leaders in many ways, the 10 award winners are examples of Brisbane businesses that have adapted creatively to the new economic order and continue to find inspiration and create innovation. From mining technology and software development, to construction and ICT, the 2009 LMBA winners represented some of Brisbane's globally strong industries.

"The winners have been recognised not only for their economic contribution to Brisbane but their ability to enable innovation, create and attract talent, and connect to the national and international marketplace," Cr Newman said.

"The 10 winners also saw two repeat performances from the 2008 awards program, including Hoodlum and Australian Country Choice, however new winners certainly dominated the night adding new faces and depth of success to the awards program.

"This year also marked an exceptional line-up of 40 judges across the 10 award categories. Many of these leaders have made a national and global impact in their respective industries, and there is no doubt the awards program has benefitted from their experience and expertise.

"Together with Brisbane Marketing, I would like to thank the 133 nominees, the judges, sponsors and the 560 guests who collectively contributed to the enormous success of the 2009 LMBA. Amidst the global economic landscape, it's a timely reminder of the significant contribution local businesses play in Brisbane's future as Australia new world city," Cr Newman said.

Brisbane Marketing, the city's economic development agency, managed and delivered the LMBA program, as well as hosted the gala dinner with the Lord Mayor.

The annual awards program will continue in 2010, and nominations are expected to open in May.

Other categories in the LMBAs were Business Growth, New Investment, Business Creativity, Business Innovation, Corporate Citizenship, Sustainability in Business and Employer of Choice. Category judges of the Optus Platinum Award were Ross McLeish, state sales manager Queensland for Government at Optus, David Edwards the business development manager for government at GHD, Nicole Hollows the CEO and managing director of Macarthur Coal, and Jane Prentice the City Councillor for Walter Taylor at Brisbane City Council.

AWARD WINNERS

Andrew Jessett from MineWare received the Mercedes-Benz Young Business Person of the Year award for his commitment to building a strong Brisbane-based business and developing Queensland as a hub for mining innovation. MineWare founder and CEO, Mr Jessett, 33, was the creator of the company's innovative electrical and software technologies. Mr Jessett independently created and commercialised the world's most advanced dragline monitor system, Pegasys. Pegasys' market share grew to almost 50 percent of the Australian market within four years and won a preferred national supplier agreement with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance.

Cr Newman said MineWare's remote management mining software is the new direction for mining and MineWare is on the forefront. Before creating the software, Mr Jessett had no previous business ownerships or leadership experience.

Finalists in the sector were Nicole Hollows from Macarthur Coal and Phillip Di Bella from Di Bella Coffee. Category judges were Mercedes Benz Brisbane dealer principal Stephen Codd, iLab CEO Anne-Marie Birkill, and Clayton Utz partner-in-charge Michael Klug.

Channel 7 Business Person of the Year winner Adrian Di Marco from TechnologyOne was awarded for demonstrating great resilience in establishing and growing an internationally successful R&D software company. Mr Di Marco's success was cited for his ability to survive a period of two decades and establish an international reputation from Brisbane, contributing to the city's international profile and reputation.

Other finalists were Stefan Ackerie of Stefan Hair Fashions, John Lazarou of The Coffee Club and Paula Barrett of Pathways Health and Research Centre.

Category judges were Channel Seven Brisbane managing director Max Walters, Ernst & Young executive director Penny Flynn, Urbis regional director Peter Hyland, and QUT Faculty of Business regional director Peter Little.

Pipe and Civil Constructions received the Australia TradeCoast Award for Business Growth --  a remarkable achievement in the context of the global financial crisis. Pipe and Civil Constructions is an emerging leader in the Australian Civil Construction industry and has grown from an initial idea into a vibrant company that employs about 200 staff in less than three years.

The company's head office is located in Brisbane, with a number of site offices throughout Australia.

Other finalists were Di Bella Coffee, Emporium Hotel, Industrea Limited and TechnologyOne.

Category judges were Australia TradeCoast general maanger Brett Fraser, RB Recruitment managing director Raewyn Bailey, Australian Institute of Management CEO Carolyn Barker, and KPMG senior partner Peter Ball.

GBST Holdings received National Australia Bank Award for New Investment for its dynamic business, potential and for making an important contribution to the diversification of the Brisbane economy. GBST's large scale strategic investment was critical to the city and Queensland's long-term growth, allowing the company to move to the next tier.

Particular recognition was given to the company's ability to identify acquisitions that were needed to fill gaps and negotiate these acquisitions during the downturn. GBST managed to strengthen the local operation, purchase another local firm and make it stronger, and then acquire a company with a new technology and bringing in that technology to Brisbane.

Other finalists were Brisbane City YHA, Cloudland, Digital Sense Hosting and Tennis Queensland.

Category judges were National Australia Bank state general manager Julian Pearce, entepriseSeattle executive vice president and COO Jeff Marcell, Brisbane Marketing and QIC board director Bronwyn Morris, and  Austrade state manager for Queensland Cheryl Stanilewicz.

Hoodlum also won the Nova 106.9 Award for Business Creativity.

Other finalists were CumminsNitro, Jean Brown Group, The Prop House and Urban Circus.

Category judges were Nova 106.9 general manager Sean Ryan, Creative Economy managing director Helene George, QUT Creative Enterprise Australia CEO Anna Rooke, and  Goa Billboards managing director Chris Tyquin.

Australian Country Choice won the IBM Award for Business Innovation.  Australian Country Choice is a fourth generation privately owned Queensland family company and part of Lee Group Pty Ltd. The company's agribusiness operations include cattle properties and feedlots in south and south west Queensland supplying over 130,000 head of cattle to the company's processing facility annually.

The Murarrie complex produces over 55,000 tones of value-added and shelf ready products for Coles Supermarkets and export customers per year. The company is one of the first in Australia to achieve ISO accreditation across its supply chain for food safety, occupational health and safety, management systems, HACCP and environmental management.

Other finalists were Australian Innovative Systems, TechnologyOne, Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education and University of Queensland.

Category judges were IBM general manager Queensland Bob Morton, Stockwell and Implicit Bioscience director Rose-Anne Kelso, Longhaus managing director Peter Carr, and Griffith Enterprise managing director Nicholas Mathiou.

McCullough Robertson received the Brisbane City Council Award for Corporate Citizenship for its strong and diverse home-grown community programs. McCullough Robertson was specifically acknowledged for its Workplace Giving Program and the sponsorship of indigenous high school students. In 2008 the firm developed a Community Partnership Program, supporting a variety of charities and nonprofit organisations through its pro bono activities, staff volunteering projects and financial contributions.

McCullough Robertson, established in Barcaldine in 1926, is a full service commercial law firm focused on complex legal issues facing business. The head office is based in Brisbane where the majority of its 350 staff are based. In early 2009 McCullough Robertson opened an office in Newcastle, supporting a growing resources practice expanding into New South Wales.  McCullough Robertson is ranked as Queensland's largest law firm, listed in the BRW Top 20 law firms in Australia and named Brisbane Law Firm of the Year and Employer of Choice for 2009 by Australasian Legal Business. 

Other finalists were BoysTown, Clayton Utz and The Coffee Club.

Category judges were Brisbane City Council Chairman for Families and Community Services, Cr Geraldine Knapp, Singapore Airlines Queensland manager Alastair Lindsay, Youngcare executive chairman David Conry, and  Rowland managing director Helen Besly.

Hassell received the Energex Award for Sustainability in Business for achieving a trifecta of sustainable projects, internal culture of sustainability and a clear impact on Brisbane. Clear sustainable measures and external recognition from industry peek bodies were further recognised by the judging panel.

Founded in Australia in 1938, Hassell is a single, privately owned international network of design studios. A multidisciplinary design practice, Hassell is structured around the key disciplines of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning, with integrated sustainability and urban design capabilities.

Other finalists were Leighton Properties, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Sinclair Knight Merz. Category judges were Energex CEO Terry Effeney, Green Cross Australia CEO Mara Bun, Brisbane City Council Chairman for Environment, Parks and Sustainability Cr Peter Matic, and EC3 Global CEO Steward Moore.

Conics received the Davidson Recruitment Award for Employer of Choice accolade.  The judging panel identified Conics' serious approach to putting its people at the foundation of business and the way it embodied the new Brisbane brand - Australia's new world city. The judging panel further accentuated the company's personalised career plan - which was recognition that staff are individuals and need individual plans.

Conics is a leading development consultancy focused on urban growth and infrastructure. Its growing team - currently at 600 employees - is based in 15 metropolitan and regional offices primarily along Australia's eastern seaboard, utilizing a multidisciplinary team of designers, planners, surveyors, property economists, analysts, project managers and environment specialists, combining to service a diverse mix of private and public sector clients.

Other finalists were BMD Group, Carter Newell Lawyers and Holiday Inn Brisbane. Category judges were Davidson Recruitment CEO Rob Davidson, ReAgent Employer Marketing CEO Mike Beeley, UQ Business School Management Cluster Leader Victor Callan, and Seek Queensland sales manager Narelle Stefanac.

ENDS

About LMBA

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