Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards: Coffee king Philip Di Bella recognised
Coffee icon Philip Di Bella was honoured among Brisbane’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards. See who the other winners were.
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Coffee icon Philip Di Bella was honoured among Brisbane’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards at City Hall on Friday night.
Mr Di Bella, who launched The Coffee Commune at Bowen Hills this year, took out The Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year Award in front of more than 600 people at the gala event.
The other big winner was Banyo-based Watkins Steel, which claimed the ISPT Award for Investment in Brisbane and the Optus Enterprise Platinum Award.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Mr Di Bella’s entrepreneurial spirit had seen him generate a wave within the coffee industry, including the establishment of Di Bella Coffee which has become Australia’s largest speciality coffee company.
“Phil is now focused on supporting the growth and development of other businesses through the establishment of The Coffee Commune, where the hospitality community come together to collaborate,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Through his coaching, mentoring, and community work, Phil is helping others meet their potential, making him most worthy of the title of Business Person of the Year.”
Alex Harper, the CEO Australia’s fastest growing digital asset exchange company Swyftx, was crowned the Port of Brisbane Young Business Person of the Year.
Cr Schrinner praised the calibre of entrants, finalists and winners at this year’s awards, saying many were recognised as global leaders in their field.
“These Brisbane success stories represent a broad cross section of industries, including advanced manufacturing, social enterprise, food technology and health care, and many of them have made their mark on the global stage,” he said.
“As Brisbane heads towards a decade of investment that will catapult the city onto the world stage, there’s an air of optimism in Brisbane.
“Congratulations to all of the 2021 winners for their outstanding contributions to our city’s economy, and to the finalists for their incredible involvement in making Brisbane a better place to do business.
“Your collective leadership, innovation and resilience over yet another challenging year gives me great confidence in Brisbane’s future.”
WINNERS
Phillip Di Bella: The Courier-Mail Award for Business Person of the Year
Alex Harper: Port of Brisbane Award for Young Business Person of the Year
Watkins Steel: Optus Enterprise Platinum Award and ISPT Award for Investment in Brisbane
Microba Life Sciences: Australia Pacific LNG Award for Business Innovation
Emesent: HSBC Award for Excellence in International Business
Future Anything: Xero Award for Outstanding Micro Business
Swyftx: ANZ Award for High-Growth Business
Ellume: Accenture Australia Award for Product Innovation
Nourish’d: CCIQ Award for Outstanding Small Business
Leap in! Australia: Hutchinson Builders Award for Outstanding Social Enterprise
Helios Brewing: Urban Utilities Award for Environmental Sustainability in Business
Source: LMBA
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