The new Business Transformation Award recognises companies that have re-imagined their business, through new initiatives, innovation, or technology, to grow their impact for customers and communities.

Now, businesses have just one week left to enter this year’s competition, which includes 11 categories including Investment in Brisbane, International Business and High Growth. Nominations close on Friday, 7 July.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the awards were an opportunity to celebrate the creativity, entrepreneurship and determination of Brisbane’s business community.

“As businesses battle rising inflation and cost-of-living, we want to shine a light on the organisations trailblazing real innovation and having a positive impact on the lives of people in Brisbane and around the world,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Brisbane has undergone major transformation since these awards first launched in 2006, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the grit, determination, and innovative spirit of our business community.

“Being recognised as a finalist or winner in the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards gives nominees an opportunity to share their story, inspire other business owners and innovators, and accelerate business growth through new networks and connections.

“With one week to go, there’s still time to get involved and we encourage businesses of all sizes, from all sectors, to make an entry.”

One business transforming lives and solving skills shortages is winner of the Outstanding Social Enterprise category, Australian Spatial Analytics.

CEO Geoffrey Smith said the companya is helping to champion neurodiversity in the workplace by recruiting young people with autism in data analytics jobs where their talents can shine.

“We back young autistic and neurodiverse people, bring them on with no experience and provide them on the job training to be data analysts,” Smith said.

“The coolest thing about that is Brisbane has a very high demand for this and we can pay them really well. There are really awesome neurodiverse people who can be great in this space, however 55% of people who are under 30 and autistic are sitting at home unemployed, which is crazy with this skills shortage.

“Our growth has been a whirlwind in the last 12 months. Brisbane’s my home and will always be the HQ of Australian Spatial Analytics.”

Meanwhile, winner of the Urban Utilities Award for Environmental Sustainability in Business, Save Our Supplies has salvaged millions of dollars in medical waste by shipping usable items to countries in need.

Founder Claire Lane, said the awards had been a boost for the company’s credibility, opening new opportunities.

“How much we’ve grown in the last year speaks volumes to how much this award means,” Lane said.

“The award has been absolutely amazing…people are starting to take us seriously and we’re starting to get a bit more credibility, which has just been awesome.”

Nominations for this year’s awards close on Friday, 7 July 2023 with winners to be announced at the gala dinner ceremony at City Hall on Friday, 20 October 2023.

Media Enquiries: Michelle Fowler | M: +61 (0)452 297 387 | E: [email protected]

Notes on the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards

Nine categories are open to businesses: 

• Business Chamber Queensland Small Business Award
• Virgin Australia Micro Business Award
• Accenture Australia Product Innovation Award
• Australia Pacific LNG Business Transformation Award
• Hutchinson Builders Social Enterprise Award
• ANZ High-Growth Business Award
• Urban Utilities Environmental Sustainability in Business Award
• Cisco International Business Award 
• ISPT Investment in Brisbane Award 

Two categories open to individuals: 

• Port of Brisbane Young Business Person of the Year Award
• The Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year Award

 A final category will recognize an outstanding overall winner (not open to nominations): 

• Optus Platinum Award

The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards are possible thanks to partners: Accenture Australia, ANZ, Australia Pacific LNG, BDO, Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Business Chamber Queensland, Channel 7, Cisco, Epicure, Hutchinson Builders, ISPT, NW Group, Optus, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, Sirromet, The Courier-Mail, Urban Utilities and Virgin Australia.

For more information, or to make a submission, visit the website.