Central Entrepreneurs Honoured
30 July 2012 at 12:10 pm
South Australia and the Northern Territory’s top entrepreneurs have been acknowledged at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Central region awards ceremony in Adelaide.
Ernst & Young Adelaide Office Managing Partner, Chris Sharpley said this year’s Central region winners were well-deserving of the awards, showing vision, passion and determination to succeed.
“Entrepreneurs inspire others with their innovative approach. By challenging the status quo they create significant economic benefit and social change,” Sharpley said.
“The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are a celebration of the successes of these individuals, each of whom play a vital role in creating jobs, boosting economies and improving communities, both locally and on a national and global stage.”
The overall Australian winner will then go on to compete in the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in Monte Carlo next year.
Winners of the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Central region awards, by category, were:
Emerging – Stephan Knoll, Barossa Fine Foods
Barossa Fine Foods is a family owned company in the meat and smallgoods business. The company supplies products to Coles and Woolworths, and independent delis and supermarkets across Australia. About 60% of its products are sold in South Australia. By buying over 90% of its pork directly from farms, Barossa Fine Foods has reduced annual costs by $200,000 and improved product quality. Stephan aims to continue with 25%-30% annual growth, and expand interstate.
Industry – Mark Laucke, Laucke Flour Mills
Laucke Flour Mills provides specialty flours and mixes for the food industry and home bakers through the core milling of wheat, rye, spelt and triticale. It has a special focus on human health and certified organic artisan flours. The business is strong enough to warrant reinvestment and Mark is building an industry best-practice mill at Bridgewater, Victoria.
Services – Ben Lucas, Lucas Earthmovers
Ben has grown what was a small family business to one with over 450 full time employees and 40 contractors. Lucas Earthmovers currently has projects underway across Australia with large resource companies and industry partners.
Technology – Patrick Power, PowerHealth Solutions
PHS began in 1995 as a small consulting firm providing Australian hospitals with expertise centred on decision support. In 2000, Patrick transformed PHS into a software development firm in order to exploit a gap in the marketplace. PHS, based in South Australia, now employs 62 staff and is a market leader in its field in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Hong Kong.
Also recognised in the non-competitive regional award categories were:
Social entrepreneur – Geraldine Cox AM, Sunrise Children’s Villages, Cambodia
Champion of Entrepreneurship – Dr Tim Cooper AM and Glenn Cooper AM,
Coopers Brewery Ltd
For more information on the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program
go to www.eoy.ey.com.au.
