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Charlton Brown chief wins education acclaim

PRIVATE vocational education and training group, Charlton Brown, is a company that truly practises what it preaches – and Kay Ganley’s win in the 2016 Women in Business Awards proves the point.

The CEO behind one of the most successful private vocational education and training providers in Australia was recently named the Business Achiever of the Year at the 2016 Women in Business Awards of Australia. 

Ms Ganley’s view that education is more than just a business – that it’s about providing people with skills for life – has seen her turn a six-week training and placement college for nannies, into multimillion-dollar registered training organisation with more than 175 staff members, 2000 students and an international arm that exports training to more than 20 countries worldwide.

Ms Ganley said one of her greatest achievements to date has been expanding the Brisbane-based college’s operations into Asia.

“We saw an opportunity to improve the standard of vocational education and training in Asia and in 2003 expanded our training offering,” Ms Ganley said.

“At the time, quality vocational education and training in Asia was limited and Charlton Brown had the resources and skills to expand the company’s reach and grow the business.

“Australia is also recognised as a leader in the industry so there was an opportunity for us to set a higher standard of education across the Asia Pacific.” 

Ms Ganley said Charlton Brown’s success both in Australia and internationally has stemmed from maintaining a strong focus on quality training and education.

“Quality can easily be lost when you start expanding and growing rapidly and I wanted to ensure that we maintained a high standard across every country we operated in,” she said.

Charlton Brown was also named Queensland’s 2016 Small Training Provider of the Year.

www.charltonbrown.com.ay

 

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Families shake up Grove Juice

ONE OF THE two families owning Queensland-based Grove Juice has purchased the other’s shares, in a move aimed at driving growth, while keeping the original joint-founding family involved in the business into the future.

Mergers and acquisitions specialists InterFinancial helped the shareholders assess various shareholder options, including initiatives to grow earnings, and options for funding the growing demand for premium, fresh juice products. 

“Ultimately, the Estens family (a 50 percent shareholder) acquired the remaining 50 percent from the Willis family,” InterFinancial managing director Sharon Doyle said.

“The Estens family is ideally placed to continue growing the business, with complementary investments in Northern NSW orange orchards. The Willis family will remain involved in a consulting capacity, ensuring that the IP from their 30-plus years of involvement is retained.”

Grove, operating since 1969, has been a leading processor and distributor of juice products across Australia and selected export markets.

Grove currently employs more than 110 people and distributes over 500,000 litres of juice per week from its facilities in Warwick and the Mansfield suburb of Brisbane.

www.interfinancial.com.au

www.grovejuice.com.au

 

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SME financier Prospa wins Smart50 Awards

SMALL business finance specialist Prospa has capped off a successful 2016 by winning the top rank in the Australian Smart50 Awards in Melbourne recently.

The Smart50 Awards recognise Australia’s top 50 fastest growing small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). This year those awards were dominated by financial technology (fintech) companies and retailers.

Prospa was awarded first place, citing an astonishing growth of more than 1000 percent over the past three years. Prospa announced earlier that the company had hit the $200 million mark in loan originations and secured an additional $50 million in debt funding from a large institutional investor. 

“We are thrilled to be named number one in Australia,” Prospa joint CEO Beau Bertoli said. “Greg (Moshal, joint CEO) and I have very big goals – to change the way small businesses experience finance.

“Winning demonstrates that we understand the finance needs of small businesses. However this is just the beginning of our journey. We’ll continue to innovate and create ground breaking finance experiences to help Australian small businesses succeed.”

Recent milestones for Prospa include being named leading Australian fintech and number 31 globally in KPMG’s Top Fintech Innovators, the company reaching 100 staff, and this year being a finalist in the Telstra Business Awards 2016 NSW Medium Business category. In recent years, Prospa has won the 2015 Deloitte Technology Fast50 Australia award and been placed at number 20 in BRW’s Fast Starters 2015.

“We’re the leading online lender to small business in Australia and determined to stay there,” Mr Bertoli said. “We have quality partners that share our values and we put customers at the centre of everything we do.”

www.prospa.com

 

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Aussie ‘Gruntify’ takes mobile, cloud, geospatial tech to world

FROM a small pilot project, by securing one of Australia’s most successful transactions in the Middle East, Gruntify has catapulted itself from a small, innovative tasking and data management platform to an international disruptor of mobile, cloud and geospatial technologies.

CEO Jamie Leach recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Gruntify to provide maintenance and security software solutions for Duserve, the facilities management section of the Dubai Government. Duserve has been commissioned to help build and maintain Dubai South, one of the world’s largest satellite cities set to house one million residents, and home to the world’s largest airport.

Ms Leach said the opportunity was made possible after a trade agreement was signed on  October 1 between Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and the executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, Khalifa Al Zaffin. 

“The alliance with Duserve opens doors for a long-standing partnership moving forward, rolling out services in the Middle East and Africa,” Ms Leach said.

Ms Leach said this was just the beginning for Gruntify, with the company set to become the global authority in data management and reporting.

“Early in 2014, GIS People, the powerhouse team behind Gruntify, won the Pilot Open Innovation Challenge, which was organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in collaboration with the Queensland Government,” Ms Leach said.

“We were tasked to develop a solution for the Department of Transport and Main Roads to tackle civic issues around its facilities. That winning solution evolved into the product we know today, now supporting government, utility and environment officers and auditors in the field, where users can snap and tap to submit a photo, their location and other details through an app-based interface, making laborious paperwork redundant.”

In the last 12 months the company’s staffing has grown 500 percent, from a team of four to 24, but it is 2017 that is earmarked to be the brand’s biggest year yet for the entrepreneurs.

“With this week’s Dubai South announcement opening a pathway into the greater Middle East, increasing our revenue and global expansion are both unquestionable outcomes for the business,” Ms Leach said.

On home soil, Gruntify has struck an enviable alliance with Microsoft, which has accelerated the opportunities for the Brisbane start-up.

Gruntify will make its debut in the $77 billion app industry when it unveils a more streamlined platform on the app store sold through Microsoft’s offering. This version widens the market for Gruntify, which until now, has focused on tailored solutions for business.

 

While the Middle East and United States were the focal point for Ms Leach, she said Gruntify was not short on opportunities with China, Japan, Canada, South America and the United Kingdom all expressing interest in the product.

“We have the best problem in business…we are growing too quick! Scaling up quickly enough is our biggest challenge, before emergent start-ups develop a similar product.”

www.gruntify.com.

 

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Frosty Boy Australia acclaimed Burger King’s Asia Pac supplier of the year

FROSTY BOY Australia has been given what is regarded as one of the highest international endorsements in the food industry: the 2016 Burger King Asia Pacific Supplier of the Year.

The announcement was made at the 2016 Burger King Global Convention in Orlando, Florida by the organisation’s global president, Jose Cil, in November.

Frosty Boy general manager for sales and marketing Felipe Demartini, who is based at the company’s global headquarters at Yatala, Gold Coast, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Mr Demartini described it as “a huge achievement for the brand” which manufactures high quality and versatile frozen dessert and beverage powder bases.

Mr Demartini  said Frosty Boy began its relationship with Burger King 12 years ago and now distributes its products to outlets in 12 countries: Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia, Fiji, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Hong King, Maldives, Timor-Leste and Malaysia.

“This award is a great representation of what we’ve achieved since establishing a relationship with Burger King APAC 12 years ago,” Mr Demartini said.

“Frosty Boy offers more than just quality products – we provide solutions by maintaining a close relationship with every market, while recognising the synergies and aligning our strategies with each brand.

“Our team is extremely grateful for this recognition and are determined to continue to provide Burger King with enhanced solutions to meet and exceed the company’s expectations.”

www.frostyboy.com.au

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Beefing up Brisbane’s economy to win Lord Mayor’s Business Award

BRISBANE-BASED innovative beef producer, Australian Country Choice – a company whose products feed 7.1 million Australians a day – proved to be “a cut above the rest” in the 2016 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards on Friday evening, October 28.

The company that has developed one of the world’s largest beef supply chains won the overall Optus Business Platinum Award in the 2016 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards (LMBA), after earlier taking out the HSBC Doing Business in Asia award. The Platinum Award was the crowning announcement at the LMBA Gala staged at Brisbane City Hall and hosted by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. 

Australian Country Choice CEO David Foote summed it up as he accepted the award. Mr Foote noted that the traditional company in a ‘traditional industry’ – one of the country’s major food exporters and the prime beef supplier for Coles supermarkets across Australia – may have developed in a traditional way through “one owner, one bank and one city” but it has done so by innovating as constantly and furiously as any technology start-up.

Australian Country Choice is part of the Lee Group Pty Ltd, a private family owned enterprise which commenced in Queensland as H.J. Lee and Sons in 1958. It now has headquarters in Brisbane’s Australia Trade Coast precinct under the stewardship of Trevor Lee and fourth generation family members. 

Employing more than 1400 staff, Australian Country Choice has more than 270,000 beef cattle grazing on 2.5 million hectares of land across 15 Queensland locations. Stock is transported to one of the company’s three feedlots before being processed at Australian Country Choice’s world-leading Cannon Hill beef processing facility. 

The company’s various products can be found at major supermarkets on Australia’s east coast as well as the retail and food service sectors across the major cities of north Asia.

Cr Quirk said the 10 winners of the 2016 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards ranged from small to medium business to some of Brisbane’s largest companies.

“I congratulate all of the winners tonight. They highlight the amazing depth and entrepreneurial spirit of Brisbane's business community,” Cr Quirk said.

“The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards have become a benchmark for the excellence, success, innovation and entrepreneurial flair that are the hallmarks of Brisbane’s business community.

“The achievements and contributions of this year’s recipients and Brisbane’s business community over the past decade have been integral to the continued growth of our $146 billion economy.

“These are the businesses and individuals that play a critical role in fostering Brisbane’s reputation as a hub for innovation, investment, education, conventions and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.” 

The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards are staged by Brisbane Marketing and are the only awards in Brisbane to include businesses and individuals across all industries and sectors.

Cr Quirk said award sponsors this year included Optus, ANZ, Australia TradeCoast, Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Times, Clayton Utz, Channel Seven, Energex, 4BC, HSBC, BDO, Singapore Airlines, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, Staging Connections, ISPT and Sirromet Winest.

 

Other award winners and finalists in the 2016 Brisbane Lord Mayor Business Awards were:

 

ANZ Made in Brisbane Award for High-Growth Business Start-up

Winner: RedEye.

Finalists:

  • Conweigh
  • Entersoft
  • Happen
  • Haystack Australia
  • Like a Photon Creative
  • PetCloud
  • Prettygreat
  • RedEye

HSBC Award for Doing Business in Asia

Winner: Australian Country Choice

Finalists:

  • Brisbane Airport Corporation
  • Charlton Brown
  • Domino’s Pizza Enterprises

Brisbane Times Award for Business Innovation

Winner: EM Solutions

Finalists:

  • Domino’s Pizza Enterprises
  • Like a Photon Creative
  • Scooter Tutor
  • Shelter Management
  • Vuly
  • Watkins Steel

Australia TradeCoast Award for Small Business Growth

Winner: FivePointFour Holdings

Finalists:

  • Global Sourcing Services
  • Point to Point Education
  • Tritium

Port of Brisbane Award for New Investment

Winner: Tritium

Finalists:

  • Daisho Co
  • DEXUS Property Group
  • Iglu
  • Richmont Hospitality

Clayton Utz Award for Corporate Citizenship

Winner: Stephen Dibb Jewellery

Finalists:

  • Datacom Systems
  • Queensland Rugby Union
  • Treasury Casino & Hotel

Energex Award for Sustainability in Business

Winner: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Finalists:

  • Daisho Co
  • The University of Queensland
  • UnitingCare Queensland

ISPT Award for Digital Strategy

Winner: Tow.com.au

Finalists:

  • PetCloud
  • Shelter Management
  • Travel Money Group

Singapore Airlines Award for Young Business Person of the Year

Winner: Jock Fairweather – Little Tokyo Two

Finalists:

  • Edda Hamar – Undress Runways
  • Joe Andon – Vuly Trampolines
  • Jordan Duffy – Buckham & Duffy Consultants
  • Jordan Grives – Fonebox Australia
  • Penelope Twemlow – Energy Skills Queensland

Channel 7 Award for Business Person of the Year

Winner: Joe Andon, Vuly Trampolines

Finalists:

  • Andrew Gourley – Red Frogs
  • Ben Bradshaw – SponsoredLinX
  • Godfrey Mantle – Mantle Group
  • Jess Huddart – Josephmark

www.lmba.com.au

 

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Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards finalists line up

BRISBANE Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has announced one of the most versatile lists of business innovators in the country as finalists in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.

The list of finalists in the Channel 7 Business Person of the Year category illustrates the case. It includes Red Frogs founder and director Andrew Gourley, Mantle Group managing director Godfrey Mantle, digital startup entrepreneur and Josephmark CEO Jess Huddart, SponsoredLinX CEO Ben Bradshaw and CEO and founder of Australia’s leading trampoline manufacturer, Vuly Trampolines, Joe Andon. 

Cr Quirk said the 51 finalists from 10 categories recognised in the prestigious awards ranged from small to medium business to some of Brisbane’s largest companies. Cr Quirk said the calibre and diversity of this year’s nominees was impressive and demonstrated the vibrancy of Brisbane’s business economy.

"The 2016 LMBA finalists highlight the amazing depth of Brisbane's business community. They cover areas including hospitality, tourism, law, health services, transport, IT, digital, food, education and manufacturing," Cr Quirk said. 

“The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards continue to demonstrate why decision-makers worldwide are choosing Brisbane for business, investment, study and conventions.

“Every year these awards have highlighted some of the city’s greatest success stories, and this year’s awards will be no different.”

“The finalists are raising the bar when it comes to innovation, collaboration, research and development. They are also representing Brisbane on the world stage.”

 

The winners will be chosen by independent judging panels for each of the 10 categories, with the finalists announced at a Gala Dinner at City Hall on Friday October 28, where they will join past winners.

The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards are staged by Brisbane Marketing and are the only awards in Brisbane to include businesses and individuals across all industries and sectors.

2016 LORD MAYOR'S BUSINESS AWARDS FINALISTS

 

ANZ Made in Brisbane Award for High-Growth Business Start-up

  • Conweigh
  • Entersoft
  • Happen
  • Haystack Australia
  • Like a Photon Creative
  • PetCloud
  • Prettygreat
  • RedEye

 

HSBC Award for Doing Business in Asia

  • Australian Country Choice
  • Brisbane Airport Corporation
  • Charlton Brown
  • Domino’s Pizza Enterprises

 

Brisbane Times Award for Business Innovation

  • Domino’s Pizza Enterprises
  • EM Solutions
  • Like a Photon Creative
  • Scooter Tutor
  • Shelter Management
  • Vuly
  • Watkins Steel

 

Australia TradeCoast Award for Small Business Growth

  • FivePointFour Holdings
  • Global Sourcing Services
  • Point to Point Education
  • Tritium

 

Port of Brisbane Award for New Investment

  • Daisho Co
  • DEXUS Property Group
  • Iglu
  • Richmont Hospitality
  • Tritium

 

Clayton Utz Award for Corporate Citizenship

  • Datacom Systems
  • Queensland Rugby Union
  • Stephen Dibb Jewellery
  • Treasury Casino & Hotel

 

 

Energex Award for Sustainability in Business

  • Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
  • Daisho Co
  • The University of Queensland
  • UnitingCare Queensland

 

ISPT Award for Digital Strategy

  • PetCloud
  • Shelter Management
  • Tow.com.au
  • Travel Money Group

 

Singapore airlines Award for Young Business Person of the Year

  • Edda Hamar – Undress Runways
  • Jock Fairweather – Little Tokyo Two
  • Joe Andon – Vuly Trampolines
  • Jordan Duffy – Buckham & Duffy Consultants
  • Jordan Grives – Fonebox Australia
  • Penelope Twemlow – Energy Skills Queensland

 

Channel 7 Award for Business Person of the Year

  • Andrew Gourley – Red Frogs
  • Ben Bradshaw – SponsoredLinX
  • Godfrey Mantle – Mantle Group
  • Jess Huddart – Josephmark
  • Joe Andon – Vuly Trampolines


www.lmba.com.au

 

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