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