Elena Gosse named Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year

Brisbane’s entrepreneurial spirit that helps “to grow our $181bn economy” was recognised at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.

The “courage and entrepreneurial spirit” of Brisbane business owners was celebrated at a gala event inside City Hall on Friday night.

Nine companies and three businesspeople were recognised at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards for outstanding contributions to the city’s economy.

Winners of the Lord Mayor's Business Awards. Picture: Supplied

Elena Gosse, the CEO of chlorination company AIS Water, was named The Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year for growing her Brisbane innovation and manufacturing operations to export to 55 countries around the world.

Elena Gosse, chief executive of chlorination company AIS Water, was named The Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards at City Hall on Friday night. Picture: Supplied

The Port of Brisbane Young Business Person of the Year award went to Audeara chief executive Dr James Fielding, who also received the CCIQ Outstanding Small Business Award for his life-changing audio technology for people with hearing impairments.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner declared Brisbane was now Australia’s most small business-friendly city.

“These talented people invest in our city, create jobs and help enhance Brisbane’s global reputation for innovation,” he said.

Kiddo was recognised at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards at City Hall on Friday night. Picture: Supplied

“Our award winners each have a vision for the future, a passion for their cause and the courage to try and create a better world.

“It’s that entrepreneurial spirit that’s driving Brisbane forward and helping to grow our $181bn economy.”

simPRO, which supports more than 200,000 users around the world with its project streamlining software, took out the ANZ Award for High-Growth Business and the Optus Platinum Award.

Australian Spatial Analytics was recognised at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards at City Hall on Friday night. Picture: Supplied

Other winners included Vaxxas (Accenture Australia Award for Product Innovation), Save Our Supplies (Urban Utilities Award for Environmental Sustainability in Business), Kiddo (Xero’s Outstanding Micro Business), Populous (HSBC Award for Excellence in International Business), Australian Spatial Analytics (Hutchinson Builders Award for Outstanding Social Enterprise), DoubleTake Sports (Australia Pacific LNG Award for Business Innovation) and

The Princess Theatre (ISPT Award for Investment in Brisbane).

Stoddart Group managing director and chairman Jonathon Stoddart received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

simPRO was recognised at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards at City Hall on Friday night. Picture: Supplied