Moreton Bay Business & Innovation Awards … 2023 winners

Published 9:33pm 7 July 2023

Words by Kylie Knight

With a glamourous Moulin Rouge-themed backdrop, the region’s best and brightest businesses celebrated their achievements at the Moreton Bay Business & Innovation Awards tonight.

More than 600 business owners and their staff attended the gala awards night at St Columban's College, Caboolture.

The winners were selected, by a panel of 48 judges, from 66 businesses and individuals who were finalists in this year’s awards. There were 15 categories, plus the Business of the Year Award.

The finalists were gleaned from 170 entries – the highest number since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2023 Business of the Year was IntegratePHYSIO, which also took out the Moreton Daily Award for Customer Service Excellence.

IntegratePHYSIO is a musculoskeletal and sports injury outpatient business, with four clinics in Warner, Narangba, North Lakes, Annerley, and a new mobile arm (Physio on Wheels) providing allied health service to clients in their own homes.

Principal and Owner Sam Bhojwani and his team do not have a one-size-fits-all customer service approach. They listen to clients, set challenging rehabilitation goals, and help them achieve their goals.

Marketing guru Ellie Bakker, of Splice Marketing Agency, was named Think2Be Award for Entrepreneur of the Year for the second year in a row, while The Store of Requirement’s Hannah Worthy was named Employee of the Year.

The Banyans Healthcare founding CEO Ruth Limkin won the Westpac Award for Businesswoman of the Year.

The Banyans Healthcare provides residential and intensive outpatient treatment programs for professionals and their families experiencing mental health challenges or addiction.

The Moreton Bay Business & Innovation Awards were presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council and delivered by Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT).

Region’s backbone

Mayor Peter Flannery says businesses have again proven to be the backbone of the region’s resilient economy.

“Watching the way local businesses have strategised to stare down these difficult market conditions has truly been an inspiration. Some have actually grown their operations over the past year,” Mayor Flannery says.

“I’ve drawn on that optimism and resilience on my trade trips to New Zealand and at the hoteliers conference in Adelaide, to convey to prospective investors the unique opportunity that Moreton Bay presents.

“I’ve noticed a market shift in terms of the awareness and positivity associated with ‘brand Moreton Bay’. They definitely now know who we are, they know where we are, and they’re keen to do business.

|“So, I don’t just want to congratulate tonight’s winners and finalists, I also want to thank every business operating in Moreton Bay because it’s your hard work that’s building positive brand recognition for us.|

“Around 90 per cent of businesses in our region are small local businesses, which I think is a real point of difference, because it means the people working in business here do so with true passion and heart.

“Since we launched our Economic Development Strategy, we’ve seen an increase of 2000 businesses locally, up to 31,000.”

High-quality field

Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism founder and CEO Shane Newcombe says judges were faced with a challenging task to determine tonight’s winners, with a quality field of finalists vying for top honours.

“The fact that the list of finalists was of such a high standard speaks volumes for the calibre of businesses who call the Moreton Bay Region home,” Mr Newcombe says.

|“They continue to inspire me and my team as they face challenging economic conditions head-on and with optimism. There is no better place to do business than Moreton Bay.|

“I’d particularly like to congratulate our region’s Business of the Year Integrate PHYSIO – a business which has also excelled in putting its customers at the heart of what it does.”