It’s our pleasure to announce the 105 finalists of the much-anticipated 2017 Executive of the Year Awards, which celebrate the success, innovation and business acumen of individuals in corporate Australia. With thousands of entries, our 10 experienced judges from a range of industries have had another mighty challenge to determine the finalists in each of the 23 categories, including the pinnacle: CEO of the Year.
This year, the ceremony – hosted again by Eddie McGuire – takes place in the Palladium at Crown Melbourne, Victoria, on 15 November, where more than 550 guests will gather to cheer on their industry peers in a celebration of another year of outstanding personal achievements in business.
Last year’s winner of the highly sought-after CEO of the Year award, Stephen Cornelissen – who is back as a judge for 2017 – said: “To be acknowledged by The CEO Magazine allows me to talk about the amazing work Mercy Health does each and every day. It allows me to highlight the new initiatives we’re embarking on to improve the lives of others.”
Christine Holgate, the 2015 recipient of the accolade as CEO for Blackmores, also shared a positive reaction: “I met the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and one of the first things he said to me was, ‘Christine, I believe you were CEO of the Year in Australia. How fantastic is that?’ What a great way to start a conversation with a member of government from another country!”
Chris Dutton, founder and CEO of The CEO Magazine, states that the calibre of applicants is always impressive. “Wading and choosing your way through the finalists to pick a winner proves so difficult every year. The quality, excellence and ability is outstanding. They are all deserving recipients of these awards and we congratulate all of them.”
Click on a category below to see the finalists:
- Media Executive of the Year
- Retail Executive of the Year
- Transport and Logistics Executive of the Year
- IT and Telecommunications Executive of the Year
- Health and Pharmaceuticals Executive of the Year
- Building and Construction Executive of the Year
- Manufacturing Executive of the Year
- Energy and Resources Executive of the Year
- Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year
- Professional Services Executive of the Year
- Financial Services Executive of the Year
- Sport and Recreation Executive of the Year
- Executive Assistant Executive of the Year
- Not for Profit Executive of the Year
- Start-up Executive of the Year
- Young Executive of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year
- HR Executive of the Year
- CIO of the Year
- CFO of the Year
- Chairperson of the Year
- Managing Director of the Year
- CEO of the Year
More information about the Awards can be found at executiveawards.com.au.
Media Executive of the Year – Finalists


Peter Bosilkovski
CEO
Leo Burnett Sydney


Jason Dooris
CEO
Atomic 212° Group


Michael Ebeid
CEO and Managing Director
SBS


Jaimes Leggett
Group CEO
M&C Saatchi Group


Sean Seamer
CEO
MediaCom Australia and New Zealand
Retail Executive of the Year – Finalists


Paula Mitchell
General Manager eCommerce
General Pants Co.




Sean Senvirtne
Founder and CEO
MyDeal.com.au


Shelley Sullivan
Founder and CEO
ModelCo



Alistair Venn
Managing Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand
Transport and Logistics Executive of the Year – Finalists


Bob Black
CEO / COO
StarTrack / Australia Post


René Lalande
CEO
Transdev Australasia


Tony Mellick
CEO
Kings Transportation and Logistics


Neil Scales
Director-General
Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads
IT and Telecommunications Executive of the Year – Finalists


Richard Fiddis
Managing Director – International
Civica


Chad Gates
Managing Director
Pronto Software



Trent Innes
Managing Director
Xero Australia


Peter Maloney
CEO
GlobalX
Health and Pharmaceutical Executive of the Year – Finalists




Mike Covey
Vice President and Managing Director
Henry Schein Halas



Nathan Cheong
Managing Director
BioCeuticals


Marcella Romero
Founder and Managing Director
Rehab Management
Building and Construction Executive of the Year – Finalists


George Boumoussa
CEO and Managing Director
GJ Building and Contracting


Shane Dignan
Managing Director
Halikos Group


David O’Connor
Executive General Manager
Diona Civil Engineering Contractors


Ryan Steyn
Founder and CEO
Empower Construction
Manufacturing Executive of the Year – Finalists


Will Barton
CEO
Gundagai Meat Processors


Joseph Di Benedetto
Executive Director
Designer Doorware



Dr Aniss G.E. Chami
CEO
Vitex Pharmaceuticals


Allen Saylav
CEO
AVASS Group
Energy and Resources Executive of the Year – Finalists


Jim Athanas
Managing Director Oceania
Xylem Water Solutions



Barry Fitzgerald
CEO
Roy Hill


Francois Gouws
Managing Director
TRILITY Group


Ian Testrow
CEO and Managing Director
Emeco International
Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year – Finalists


Ramzey Choker
Director and Creative Director
The Grounds


Barry Robinson
President and Managing Director
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific


Ann Sherry AO
Executive Chairman
Carnival Australia


Steven Wright
CEO
BIG4 Holiday Parks Australia
Financial Services Executive of the Year – Finalists


Vivek Bhatia
CEO and Managing Director
icare


Stephen Capello
CEO
BankVic


Felicity Cooper
General Manager Technology Risk
Commonwealth Bank of Australia


Damien Mu
CEO
AIA Australia and New Zealand
Professional Services Executive of the Year – Finalists


Nick Deeks
Manager Director Australia
WT Partnership


Mark Nielsen
CEO APAC
Talent International


Andrew Shea
CEO
Builders Academy Australia



Scott Stavretis
CEO
Acquire BPO
Executive Assistant Executive of the Year – Finalists


Jelena Faine
Executive Assistant to CEO
Origin Energy


Simone Koolloos
Executive Assistant to Group CEO
Blackmores


Yasmine May
Executive Assistant
icare


Lily North
Executive Assistant to Managing Director
Halikos Group
Not for Profit Executive of the Year – Finalists


Tim Conolan
Founder and CEO
TLC for Kids


David Herman
CEO
Lort Smith


Anita Monro
Principal
Grace College


Caitlin Pearson
General Manager of Marketing and Engagement
Macarthur Disability Services
Start-Up Executive of the Year – Finalists


Matt Jones
Co-founder and CEO
OVO Mobile


Simon Meyer
Founder and CEO
FutureYou


Alexis Soulopoulos
Co-founder and CEO
Mad Paws


Anthony Svirskis
CEO
TRIBE
Young Executive of the Year – Finalists



Dr Aniss G.E. Chami
CEO
Vitex Pharmaceuticals


Sara Kahlau
General Manager, Office of the CEO
icare



Kate Massey
Head of Marketing
JCurve Solutions




Sean Senvirtne
Founder and CEO
MyDeal.com.au


Sabri Suby
CEO
King Kong
Sales Executive of the Year – Finalists
Sponsored by


Mike Cameron
Group Executive, Customer & Revenue
PEXA


Steven Hoyle
Commercial Director
Employsure


Andrea Ingham
Director of Sales ANZ
Spotify


David Roddick
Sales and Marketing Director
Adshel


John Zisis
Head of Sales, Marketing & Consulting
Stellar Asia Pacific
Marketing Executive of the Year – Finalists



Kate Massey
Head of Marketing
JCurve Solutions


Tasman Page
Marketing Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand


Trisca Scott-Branagan
Executive Director, Marketing
Deakin University


Julie Toma
General Manager – Marketing and Communications
Sonic Clinical Services


Franck Appleby
People and Performance Director
Adshel


Natalie Brooke
Human Resources Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand
Michael Morris
Head of Talent
Employsure


Chris Regan
Head of People Experience
Xero


Mari Ruiz
Chief People and Culture Officer
BankVic
CIO of the Year – Finalists
Sponsored by


Peter Auhl
CIO
City of Adelaide


George Lymbers
CIO
Thomas Holt


Leigh Morrow
Chief Digital Officer
Haileybury


Andrea Walsh
CIO
Isentia
CFO of the Year – Finalists
Sponsored by


Morten Belling
Finance Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand


David Colusso
Finance Director Oceania
Xylem Water Solutions


Matt Galanos
Chief Financial and Operations Officer
Australian Turf Club


Magdalena Kosior-Molloy
CFO
Holman Webb Lawyers
Chairperson of the Year – Finalists
Sponsored by


Alan Cameron AO
Chairman
PEXA


Greville Pabst
Executive Chairman
WBP Property Group


Gina Rinehart
Executive Chairman
Hancock Prospecting Group


Ann Sherry AO
Executive Chairman
Carnival Australia
Managing Director of the Year – Finalists
Sponsored by


Jim Athanas
Managing Director Oceania
Xylem Water Solutions


Vivek Bhatia
CEO and Managing Director
icare


Caleb Bush
Managing Director and Vice-President
George P. Johnson Australia



Nathan Cheong
Managing Director
BioCeuticals


Richard Fiddis
Managing Director – International
Civica



Trent Innes
Managing Director
Xero Australia



Alistair Venn
Managing Director
Menulog Australia and New Zealand


Nick Verykios
Managing Director
Arrow
CEO of the Year – Finalists
Sponsored by


Jason Dooris
CEO
Atomic 212°


Bob Black
CEO/COO
StarTrack/Australia Post


Michael Ebeid
CEO and Managing Director
SBS



Barry Fitzgerald
CEO
Roy Hill


Jaimes Leggett
CEO
M&C Saatchi Australia


Mark Nielsen
CEO APAC
Talent International




Sean Senvirtne
Founder and CEO
MyDeal.com.au



Scott Stavretis
CEO
Acquire BPO


Shelley Sullivan
Founder and CEO
ModelCo