Lake Mac’s best businesses rewarded

Businesses ranging from hair salons to high-tech virtual reality developers have been named finalists in the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards 2023. 

A panel of judges selected more than 50 across 14 categories from this year’s record field of almost 150 entries.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Belmont 16s on 21 July. 

Lake Macquarie City mayor Kay Fraser said the annual awards highlighted the strength and diversity of businesses in Lake Mac. 

“Our city is home to more than 13,500 businesses employing well over 73,000 people,” she said. 

“We have an economic output of more than $26 billion, making us one of the regional powerhouses of NSW. 

“These awards recognise our top performers, from micro-businesses employing just a few people to large companies turning over millions and providing significant employment opportunities.” 

Finalists this year include Mount Hutton’s Salon Ten beauty salon in the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion category, and Resonant Blue, a digital marketing agency that created a virtual reality coal mine for visitors to experience at the new Sugar Valley Library Museum, kirantakamyari, at Cameron Park. 

Resonant Blue will compete for the Excellence in Innovation Award. 

The Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards are proudly supported by gold sponsor Dantia. 

Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards 2023 finalists 

Outstanding Employee:

• Amy Savonov, Event Cinemas
• Isaac Brambley, SAPHI
• Kathryn Barker, Sensational Start Occupational Therapy
• Xin Li, Hewlett Packard Enterprise 

Outstanding Young Business Leader:

• Eric Johns, SAPHI
• Joshua Marks – Academy Sheetmetal
• Max Wroe, Jaegersoft
• Steven Georgalas, LJ Hooker Belmont 

Outstanding Business Leader:

• Heath Richardson, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Jane Beverley, Evolution Advisers
• Lauren Haskins, A Growing Understanding 
• Susan MacNeill, Swansea Community Cottage 

Employer of Choice – 20 or Less Employees:

• Dynamic Business Technologies
• SAPHI
• Sensational Start Occupational Therapy
• Solutions Management Services 

Employer of Choice – 21 or More Employees:

• Evolutions Advisors               
• Event Cinemas Glendale
• Lake Group Strata 

Excellence in Innovation:

• Fire Response
• Resonant Blue (West Wallsend Mining 1910 and 1979 VR Experience)     
• SAPHI (Critical Infrastructure Monitoring System)          
• The Wholesome Collective 

Excellence in Sustainability:

• Academy Sheetmetal 
• Imaginelle       
• OzHarvest      
• Swansea Community Cottage Inc 

Outstanding Community Organisation:

• Business Growth Centre       
• Survivors R Us
• Swansea Community Cottage Inc
• The Wholesome Collective 

Outstanding Visitor Experience – Tourism and Hospitality:

• CoastXP         
• Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine
• Lake Macquarie Sailing Tours           
• Lake Macquarie Yacht Club 

Outstanding Start-Up:

• Astalty
• Sunflower Strange     
• Trusted Socials
• When Financial Solutions       

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion:

• A Growing Understanding     
• Allambi Care
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise   
• Salon Ten 

Excellence in Micro Business:

• Fashion Fish Designs
• Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine
• psyborg  
• Stone Obsessions       

Excellence in Small Business:

• Fire Response
• Jaegersoft      
• Salon Ten
• SAPHI 

Excellence in Large Business:

• Academy Sheetmetal
• A Growing Understanding
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise   
• Lampson Australia      

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