Queensland winners announced for Telstra Best of Business Awards
Telstra has announced the Queensland winners for its Telstra Best of Business Awards program.
Selected from more than 22,000 nominations nationwide, the winners for each category are:
Accelerating Women
Wholesome Blends, founded by Sarah Thomas, provides Australian families a wholefood option for enteral or tube-fed nutrition. Made entirely from natural ingredients, Wholesome Blends offers enteral feeding solutions and fosters a supportive community to empower families and enhance the quality of life for tube fed individuals.
Building Communities
The yLead Association, led by Chief Executive Officer Zoe Meredith-Brown, empowers youth across Australia and New Zealand with transformative leadership programs. Established in 1989, The yLead Association offers workshops, mentorship and conferences to build leadership skills and resilience. Its holistic, experiential approach helps young people unlock their potential and lead with impact.
Championing Health
Seipel Group is a Brisbane-based nutraceutical company that exports Urox, a herbal bladder control supplement that aims to reduce urinary incontinence and bladder accidents. The organisation's vision is to promote healthy ageing, especially for women, and to restore dignity, confidence and quality-of-life for people of all ages.
Embracing Innovation
Verterra Ecological Engineering is a full-service engineering company that designs, constructs and manages sustainable ecosystems. Founded in 2008, Verterra Ecological Engineering has addressed a range of issues including treating wastewater, producing renewable building materials, reforesting cleared land, to help solve a range of challenges that deliver environmental, social and economic benefits.
Indigenous Excellence
Rachael Sarra, a Goreng Goreng artist, redefines First Nations art through her business Sar.ra, blending vibrant designs with strategic brand collaborations and public art projects. Her work spans from large-scale installations to award-winning children's book illustrations, all driven by her passion for community and cultural storytelling.
Outstanding Growth
Division 5, a Queensland-based cyber security firm, elevates Australian businesses to world-class security standards. Founded in 2019, its team of experts are skilled in identifying vulnerabilities in business security standards. Division 5 offers customised solutions, exceptional service and a commitment to quality, helping their clients defend against evolving cyber threats.
Promoting Sustainability
Mineral Fox offers natural wall finishes made from lime, clay and gypsum. Founded in 2020, Mineral Fox provides eco-friendly, textured plaster alternatives for architects, designers and homeowners. The products enhance spaces with nature-inspired aesthetics while supporting environmental sustainability and wellbeing.
Telstra’s Best of Business Awards program continues Telstra’s 30+ year legacy of supporting Australian small businesses, celebrating their achievements and the people behind them, while giving them the opportunity to learn from Australia’s best business minds.
Amanda Hutton, Group Executive, Telstra Business said, “Telstra is honoured to recognise our winners, who have each built amazing businesses and demonstrated an absolute passion and commitment for what they do.
“To be recognised as a state winner in the Telstra Best of Business Awards is an incredible accomplishment, and we hope this provides these businesses with the recognition they deserve, and a moment to shine the spotlight on their significant work for their communities.”
All state winners have been subject to a rigorous judging process to identify those businesses that have made an impact in the areas and industries that are fundamental to Australia’s economic, societal and cultural growth.
Judging criteria included: economic sustainability, operational effectiveness and technology adoption, progressive leadership and culture, and social and community contribution.
These state winners will now represent Queensland at national judging on Wednesday, 27th November in Melbourne, where they will pitch their business to an esteemed panel that comprises of Australia’s most experienced leaders from across business and industry.
Following on from national judging, the national category winners and the Business of the Year will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday, 28th November.
Information on the Telstra Best of Business Awards categories:
Accelerating Women
For businesses actively challenging exclusion and inequality to create meaningful and lasting equity for women.
General
Building Communities
For businesses working to make a positive impact on culture and society so people from all walks of life can thrive as part of a supportive community.
Championing Health
For businesses focused on innovative solutions, improving health outcomes for every Australian.
Embracing Innovation
For businesses innovating with technology to develop solutions for challenges faced by modern Australia.
Indigenous Excellence
For Indigenous led, owned and operated businesses succeeding through entrepreneurialism, innovation and inspiring the next generation of all Australians.
Outstanding Growth
For businesses achieving significant growth and contributing to building a more resilient Australian economy.
Promoting Sustainability
For businesses reducing their environmental impact by driving sustainable change within their industry for a cleaner and healthier planet.