Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards

2015 August Winners

Mayor's Innovation GC Award: Transit Australia Group Robina-headquartered Transit Australia Group designs, engineers and builds buses for the Australian public transport industry as well as running Surfside Buslines. Employing 1400 people, Transit Australia Group Bustech have recently launched Australias first fully electric bus and has also been selected as the lead design and manufacture partner in a $176 million dollar electric bus project with the Malaysian government.
Environment and Sustainability Award: Natura Pacific Natura Pacific, which was set up in 2005, has two main business pillars: environmental education and environmental consulting. In 2014 more than 31,000 students participated in Natura Pacific's environmental education programs while the company now provides ongoing environmental consulting services for 46 individual projects in six nations.
Family Business Award: Bentleys Camera House Robina Camera retailer Bentley's Camera House has what is arguably the best range of Digital Cameras and photography accessories on the Gold Coast, all backed by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Members of the Bentley family have been selling cameras on the Gold Coast since the 1980s and the Bentleys now have two stores on the Gold Coast, Pacific Fair which opened in November 2005 and Robina Town Centre, which opened in May 2010.
Health and Wellbeing Award: Australian Fitness Supplies Australian Fitness Supplies (AFS) is the designer, manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer and exporter of more than 350 types of fitness industry products. The company, which was established seven years ago, now has more than 100 employees. AFS sells products under 11 different brand names, has six retail stores and its customers range from large chain gyms such as YMCA and Snap Fitness through to consumers.
Trades, Professions and Services Award: John Henderson Professionals Mermaid Beach John Henderson Professionals Mermaid Beach is family owned real estate that has been operating on the Gold Coast for 42 years. Originally started by John Henderson, it is now run by two of his sons, Andrew and Luke Henderson. The business dominates the Mermaid Beach property market with a market share of close to 50 per cent. The agency now employs 26 people, has average annual property sales of more than $100 million and manages close to 700 properties.
Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award: Crema Espresso Crema Espresso Franchising is a Gold Coast headquartered franchisor of high quality coffee shops. Crema Espresso was initially set up as a single store in Tedder Avenue, Main Beach in 2005. The first franchise was sold in 2007 and the company now has 12 franchisees and one company-owned outlet. The company is now expanding into Brisbane, Toowoomba and Sydney.
Manufacturing and Construction Award: Condev Construction Condev Constructions is one of the most prominent and prolific construction companies in South East Queensland and northern New South Wales. The mid-tier construction company undertakes projects in the $1m to $35m range. Condev, which was founded in 2002 by Steve and Tracy Marais, now employs 115 people.
Knowledge Management and IT Award: Opmantek Opmantek is a world-leading software company, developing internationally recognised software products including Network Management Information Systems and Open-AudIT software. Opmantek products are used by over 60,000 organisations globally. Every 6 minutes somewhere in the world a new organization implements an Opmantek product.
Tourism, Hospitality and Events Award: RACV Royal Pines Resort RACV Royal Pines is one of Australia's largest fully integrated five-star business, lifestyle and sporting resorts. The RACV Royal Pines Resort has 331 guest rooms, a day spa, a conference centre and a 27-hole composite golf course that is home to the Australian PGA Championship and the Gold Coast RACV Ladies Masters. RACV Royal Pines Resort's state-of-the-art conference centre hosted 500 events during 2014-15.
Emerging Business Award: Gold Coast Organic Meats Gold Coast Organic Meats is one of only a handful Certified organic butcher shops in Australia. Launched in 2011, the business now has three stores on the Gold Coast, serves buying groups in seven cities, has numerous wholesale and corporate accounts throughout Australia and is now exporting to Hong Kong. Gold Coast Organic Meats is the first company in Australia to export Certified Organic Pork on a commercial level.