SA & NT top entrepreneurs 2010 recognised
Friday, 16 July 2010 — Vision, passion and determination in business were celebrated last night at the 10th annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards for South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The region’s top entrepreneurial talent was named in the awards which acknowledge the contribution entrepreneurs make to the economy and our broader community.
The 2010 Central Region winners, by category, are:
- Young entrepreneur: Nick Heywood-Smith, Wellness & Lifestyles Australia
- Technology & emerging industries: Nikolai Petrovsky, Vaxine
- Services: Viv Padman, Padman Health Care
- Products: Peter Gregg, The Gregg Group of Companies
- Cleantech: Richard Turner, ZEN Home Energy Systems
Also recognised at the awards were:
- Social entrepreneur: Dr Chris West, Zoos South Australia
- Champion of Entrepreneurship: Nick Paspaley AC, Paspaley Pearling Company
Mark Butcher, Ernst & Young’s South Australia Office Managing Partner, says both the nominees and winners in the 2010 awards showcased the success being achieved by entrepreneurs.
“I congratulate all our 2010 winners – successful entrepreneurs are more than simply high achievers. They seek out opportunities, turn vision into reality and create flow-on success for those around them.”
“The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses here and in 135 cities in 50 countries around the world. Since the awards began in Australia in 2001 we have recognised more than 800 Australian entrepreneurs for their vision and achievements."
2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, Central Region
Category: Young Entrepreneur
Nick Heywood-Smith, Wellness & Lifestyles Australia
Nick Heywood-Smith registered the name “Wellness and Lifestyles” in anticipation of building a business based on this concept. By providing mobile allied health services to the aged care industry using an outsourced model, he has built a soon-to-be national business with the potential to grow to $20 million in the next five years.
Category: Technology & emerging industries
Nikolai Petrovsky, Vaxine
Ignoring conventional wisdom that vaccines were not worthy of investment, Nikolai Petrovsky has created a self-funding company that is outmanoeuvring global pharmaceutical companies. Vaxine operates a revenue stream of US Government R&D contracts, research grants, technology sales and licensing, and looks set to commercialise multiple vaccines over the next five years.
Category: Services
Viv Padman, Padman Health Care
Viv Padman predicted the changes to the rules covering aged care providers, enabling Padman Health Care (PHC) to be first to market in the emerging “Extra Services” segment. By founding his own Registered Training Organisation to ensure quality staff, and building boutique hotel-style facilities, he has developed PHC into a $53 million business with almost 1,000 staff.
Category: Products
Peter Gregg, The Gregg Group of Companies
After 19 years as a chartered accountant helping his clients to build their businesses, Peter Gregg was eager to have a go himself. Today he is a serial entrepreneur, with a controlling interest in a multitude of companies. He continues to guide the success of every entity in the Gregg Group of Companies, attending bi-weekly board meetings with all his interests.
Category: Cleantech
Richard Turner, ZEN Home Energy Systems
Richard Turner built ZEN Home Energy Systems from start-up to market leader in just five years with year upon year self-funded 800% growth. ZEN plans to reach $100 million turnover in FY2011 via brand development, national expansion and escalating strategic partnerships with industry and local government.
Category: Social entrepreneur
Dr Chris West, Zoos South Australia
Having helped London Zoo regain one million visitors after a decade’s slump, veterinary surgeon Dr Chris West’s entrepreneurial streak brought him to Adelaide to run Zoos SA. Under Chris’s leadership, membership has doubled in four years, with the organisation changing its identity from zoo to “Conservation Ark” – combining global frontline animal refugee management with education.
Category: Champion of Entrepreneurship
Nick Paspaley, AC, Paspaley Pearling Company
Nick Paspaley joined his family business, the Paspaley Pearling Company, in 1969, when the company was small and essentially unviable. Undeterred, Nick put himself at the helm of a traditional pearling lugger, and began learning the intricacies and the challenges of the cultured pearl industry. Today, Paspaley is a $200 million export business. In recognition of this contribution to the national export industry, Nick was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1999.
Full biographies on the winners can be found at www.eoy.ey.com.au.
-ends-
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. For more information, please visit www.ey.com.
Ernst & Young refers to the global organisation of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Australia, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.
Liability limited under a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Contact details
Megan Ball
Ernst & Young
Tel: +61 2 8295 6427
