Winners announced at 2022 JCU Business Excellence Awards hosted by Chamber of Commerce

From emerging talent to those who have left a legacy on Cairns, hundreds turned out to celebrate the successes of the 2022 Business Excellence Award winners. See the mega gallery and who picked up the top gongs here.

Andreas Nicola

@AndreasNicola97

2 min read

October 23, 2022 - 6:46PM

The Cairns Post

Cairns

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A woman who had to change her whole business model with no warning has been awarded the Emerging Leadership Award at the 2022 JCU Business Excellence (BEX) Awards hosted by Cairns Chamber of Commerce.

North Marine owner Courtney Hansen said during Covid she had to diversify her business with co-owners Scott Rae, Lucy Davies and Ben Hales.

“We, like a lot of businesses had to pivot through Covid and when my business partners and I bought the business we thought we were buying a maintenance business that supported the tourism industry,” she said.

“When tourism died we had a look at what skills we had within the business and what else we might be able to target in NQ and so we realised we had the capabilities to do a lot of commercial dive work for other sectors, government, council and all sorts of inland water work.

Stuart Thyrd, Harrison Thyrd, Andrew Nakovics and Jackie Nakovics at the BEX Awards.

Ms Hansen bought the business with her partners about three years ago and it has since gained momentum.

“I think our main focus is to just continue to provide this marine service support to Northern Australia and we want to maintain the traineeship and the training programs we started,” she said.

“To give young people in the region another career pathway.

“We are interested in supporting the growth of the Cairns Marine Precinct and to hopefully play a key role in supporting that.”

Photos: Glamour and fun at 2022 BEX Awards

Evie Cox, Kathryn Cann, Alana Weeks and Lauren Senini

VIEW GALLERY

While emerging talents were awarded, economist Bill Cummings was given the 2022 Legacy Award for his work in the region over the years.

He was a founding member of the JCU Cairns Campus and has worked closely with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Australian Chamber of Commerce.

OMG Decadent Donuts won the Customer Service Excellence Award for their unique doughnuts and service.

Belinda Dania’s, Woodley, Jamie Binder, Jodie Walsh and Eleanor Wilson at the BEX Awards.

Co-owner Cassie Nicholls said her business partners Ray and Sharyn Burton were over the moon.

“We’ve taken a side hustle and turned it into something great,” she said.

“So many people can eat our doughnuts, people with food allergies such as coeliacs disease, gluten intolerants, egg and dairy intolerants can actually eat our product knowing full well they won’t get sick from it, plus they are an amazing tasting doughnuts that everyone can enjoy.”

Cassie Nicholls with customer Damiane Marshall.

Ms Nicholls said the business planned to expand and employ several more staff.

This year 500 people attended the event, almost double last year which had 320.

“The BEX awards over the last four years has just gotten bigger and bigger every year,” she said.

“The focus on supporting local businesses is amplified and demonstrated, every year more and more businesses want to go out and celebrated.

“It shows the importance of having of having Cairns Chamber of Commerce, it allows the business community to shine.”

Joshua Love, Jason Shimmen, Ludovic Pouetre, Aya Sakamoto, Zahlie Davies, Michelle Ryan, Patrice Perna, Dorine Pantacchini, Davina Perna, Max Pantacchini, Francoise Pantacchini and Miffy Hama at the BEX Awards.