In a gala event held in Melbourne on 23 March the winners of the 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards were announced.
Leading the winners’ list is Winyama Digital Solutions, an Indigenous-owned-and-operated IT business from Western Australia, which snagged the Business of the Year award and the Indigenous Excellence award for its work in helping develop digital skills for Indigenous rangers by equipping them with cloud-based geographic information systems to manage country and preserve traditional knowledge and culture and for being a strong supporter of Indigenous talent seeking careers in technology.
National winners were also honoured across seven categories, each chosen for excellence in their respective fields, namely:
- BW Gynaecology Plus (SA) won the Accelerating Women and Championing Health awards, recognised for its work on offering expert knowledge and treatment in women’s health, fertility, and wellness, with an approach that goes beyond treatment and towards quality of life.
- Region Group (ACT) won the Building Communities award for its for-purpose news technology platform that is committed to local news and community information.
- The Mullion Group (ACT) won the Embracing Innovation award for developing software that specialises in the measurement and modelling of land-based greenhouse gas emissions and removals, taking data from satellites, ground measurements and models to convert into actionable information for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Valenhold (QLD) won the Outstanding Growth award, offering offers end-to-end solutions supporting mobile fleet operations. particularly for mining services.
- FONZ (NSW) won the Promoting Sustainability award for designing and manufacturing quality two-wheel electric motorcycles and scooters.
“It has been an honour to recognise and applaud the excellence of Australia’s small-business community in the 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards,” Telstra Group Executive, Consumer and Small Business, Brad Whitcomb said. “Hearing the incredible stories and witnessing the exceptional talent of the winning businesses has been nothing short of amazing, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate these winners today.
“Carefully chosen from more than 20,000 nominated small and medium businesses nationwide, the National Winners have demonstrated remarkable excellence in their respective categories and are a testament to the incredible business owners driving Australia forward,” Whitcomb added. “The winners have shown an immense amount of dedication to get to this stage, and we are delighted to recognise and support their continued contribution to Australia’s thriving small business community.”
The national winners went through a thorough judging process, which included in-depth interviews with a range of senior business leaders, including MindTribes CEO Div Pillay, Salvos Stores CEO and National Director Matt Davis, Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman, Indigenous Allied Health Australia CEO Donna Murray, Sonder Co-Founder and CCO Chris Marr, and Frank Green Founder and CEO Benjamin Young, among others.
“In speaking to the judges, it was clear that Winyama Digital Solutions is a trailblazing business in its field that is empowering Indigenous communities in the digital world,” Whitcomb enthused. “The team’s efforts in preserving and protecting cultural knowledge through modern technology is driving change from the ground up, not only through the work the business does, but through the team’s commitment to educating the next generation of changemakers. They’re an incredibly deserving winner and we look forward to witnessing the evolution and growth of their business as they continue to undertake important work across the country.”
