Seventeen Western Australian business people have been nominated as finalists in the 2014 round of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award.
Seventeen Western Australian business people have been nominated as finalists in the 2014 round of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award.
EY has also named the winners of three special categories, with Aurora Oil & Gas managing director Jonathan Stewart winning the listed company award and Competitive Foods Australia founder Jack Cowin being named as Champion of Entrepreneurship.
PetRescue founders John Bishop and Vickie Davy won the social entrepreneur award.
The nominees in the main award include Northern Star Resources managing director Bill Beament, whose past awards include being named 40under40 First Amongst Equals winner in 2013.
The EY nominees include several other people who have featured in Business News’ 40under40 awards, such as Saleem Technologies’ Kashif Saleem, 360 Environmental's Michelle Rhodes and OTOC’s Adam Lamond.
PetRescue's Mr Bishop os also a 40under40 winner.
Other nominees for EY's main award are Richard Johnson of DTI Group, Sharon Kais of Kais Contractors, Sam Mangione of Instant Waste Management, Michael Ottaviano of Carnegie Wave Energy, Bernie Pummell of Vesco Foods, Sarah Thomas of Lawley’s Bakery Café, Paul Thompson of Killarnée, Graeme Wallis of Wallis Drilling and Declan White of Monford Group.
The 17 WA people join the list of 84 entrepreneurs from across the country nominated for this year’s Australian awards.
Four WA winners have gone on to win the national award - Austal's John Rothwell, Navitas' Rod Jones, iiNet's Michael Malone and Karma Resorts' John Spence.
EY’s Perth Managing Partner Michael Anghie said it was inspiring to see such an impressive and diverse group of candidates taking part.
“The kind of innovative thinking we are witnessing amongst this group of entrepreneurs defines their success,” he said.
“Entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to Western Australia’s business community – creating jobs, driving innovation and productivity, boosting the economy and inspiring others to act on opportunities.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award program runs in 60 countries, culminating in the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ awards in Monte Carlo.