Emerging Business:
Dairy-Free Down Under
Dairy Free Down Under is a Gold Coast-based, family-owned business that is the only large-scale manufacturer and distributor of gluten free, dairy-free vegan-friendly cheese substitutes throughout Australia. After three years of development and market testing, the products are now sold nationally through Pizza Hut, Retail Food Group, IGA, Stella Rossa, Melbourne Zoo and ALH Group. |  |
Family Business:
GCD Exhibitions
GCD Exhibitions is a 40-year-old family owned company that designs, builds and installs custom exhibition displays and company fitouts. GCD's exhibition displays are used throughout the world with clients including Swisse, Louis Vuitton and Canon. In the past year GCD designed and built the Trolls attraction at Dreamworld, completed works for the Commonwealth Games and for the Jamaica Olympic Association. |  |
Retail, Wholesale and Distribution:
HiSmile
HiSmile is a teeth whitening company that has quickly grown to dominate the market. Launched four years ago by Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic using $20,000 of their savings, the business uses social media channels and social media influencers to target customers in the 15-to-25 age bracket. The company now employs 50 people, has annual revenue of $30 million and has sold products to more than 100,000 customers throughout the world. |  |
Manufacturing:
Timbertone Garage Doors
Timbertone Garage Doors produces and distributes timber-look Garage Doors throughout Australia through major door manufacturers, re-sellers and builders. Their process creates garage doors with the look of timber at a fraction of the cost of an actual timber door and without the associated costs of maintenance. Based at West Burleigh, Timbertone has also expanded its product range into cladding, fencing and gates. |  |
Construction and Trades:
Dynamic Hydro Excavations
Dynamic Hydro Excavations provides specialist digging services using highly pressurised water and industrial-strength vacuums to excavate and evacuate soil. The company's other services include CCTV pipe Inspections, utility location services, road maintenance, road sweeping, disaster recovery and traffic control. Established in 2003, Dynamic Hydro Excavations now has 50 employees and has multiple locations throughout Australia. |  |
Professions and Business Services:
Burchills Engineering Solutions
Burchills Engineering Solutions is an iconic company that literally has helped shape the Gold Established in 1974. the company has changed its name and its ownership structure several times but has consistently held its reputation for being a leader in its field. Projects the company has been involved include the Gold Coast Light Rail, Broadwater Parklands, Hope Island Resort, Ephraim Island, Sanctuary Cove, Marriot Surfers Paradise and Q1. |  |
Health and Wellbeing:
POGO Physio
POGO Physio is a provider of physiotherapy and related services. The POGO approach differs from the physiotherapy industry because they offer 'fixed-price unlimited access'. These programs are designed to achieve long lasting results, ultimately saving clients' money, reducing frustration and the amount of time clients are "side-lined". The business provides between 300 and 500 health care treatments to Gold Coasters each week and between 150 to 250 new clients attend the practice each month. |  |
IT and Digital Business:
onPlatinum ICT
onPlatinum ICT services clients' information technology, communication and creative needs. Its services include cloud computing, hosted business phone systems, backup and disaster recovery, managed IT services, business grade internet connectivity, print solutions, multimedia and marketing services, website creation, and search engine optimisation. The Robina-based company has 30 employees. |  |
Tourism, Hospitality and Events:
Global Tour Specialists
Global Tour Specialists is an Inbound Tour Operator that provides a complete touring package for Australian travelling experiences. Established in 2013 by Tyler Wood and Jay McKenzie, Global Tour Specialists works closely with one of the top five luxury travel agents in China and are in negotiation with several others. They are also developing relationships with agencies in Korea, Japan, Malaysia and India. | 
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Student Employability:
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is landmark tourism destination annually attracting more than 500,000 guests. It has an extensive internship program, hosting 80 students each week. The interns include students from universities and TAFE Colleges studying anything from Veterinary Science through to HR and PR. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary also operates a School Based Traineeship program, which enabled the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to host 50 trainees in 2017. |  |
Mayor's Innovation GC Award:
ISR Training and Recruitment
ISR Training and Recruitment offers one of the Gold Coast's most innovative staffing solutions with a free-of-charge employee recruitment and placement service. Founded in February 2014 by Jack Corbett and Ryan Tuckwood, ISR Training and Recruitment utilises a digital recruitment portal that allows businesses to interview high volumes of candidates at any time of the day or night. |  |
