The 18th annual AustCham Westpac Australia-China Business Awards (ACBA:2010) have recognised Australian companies and companies promoting Australian products and services in Greater China for outstanding business success.
At the Gala Awards Ceremony in Shanghai on Thursday 11 November, eight outstanding companies were singled out as award winners. This was in recognition of their business achievements this year, which have contributed to the strengthening of Australia-China trade and business relationships.
The winners are:
- Business Excellence Award (Large): Cockram Projects (Shanghai) Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd.
- People's Choice Award: The Anken Group
- Judges Award: Soozar
- Business Excellence Award (SME): David Laris Creates (DLC) Ltd.
- Business Entrepreneurial Award: Shanghai Wagas Co. Ltd.
- Austrade Business Promotion Award: Kakadu
- Business Innovation Award: Cochlear Medical Device (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
- Australia Post Sustainable Development Award: The Anken Group
"It was an honour to be a part of such a highly successful awards program recognising and rewarding Australian companies operating in Greater China", says Ms Kate Pollitt, Executive Director, AustCham Shanghai. "The diversity of industries represented as finalists highlights the depth and strength of Australia-China business. The Australian Chambers of Commerce across the region are proud to support the awards and give these successful companies the recognition they deserve for all their hard work and initiative."
Twenty-one finalists from across Greater China and Australia were represented at the Gala Awards Ceremony in front of the His Excellency Dr Geoff Raby, the Australian Ambassador to China. More than 250 senior business executives came together to celebrate the contributions and excellence of Australian business in China and hear from special guest speaker for the evening businessman and triple gold medal Australian swimmer, Mr Grant Hackett OAM.
The 19th annual awards AustCham Australia-China Business Awards will be hosted in Hong Kong in 2011, completing the awards tour of Greater China after they were hosted in Beijing last year.
ENDS
Media contact:
Fleur Maidment
上海澳大利亚商会
T. +8621 6248 8301
E: Fleur.Maidment@austchamshanghai.com
NOTES FOR EDITORS
CATEGORIES
The six judged award categories are:
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD Large Companies (>100 employees)
Recognises an Australian business, with more than 100 employees, that has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Greater China over the past year.
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD Small and Medium Enterprises (<100 employees)
Recognises an Australian business, with fewer than 100 employees, that has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Greater China over the past year.
BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD
Recognises an Australian business that has demonstrated entrepreneurial excellence in Greater China over the past year.
BUSINESS INNOVATION AWARD
Recognises an Australian business whose significant innovation has resulted in the successful development of opportunities in Greater China over the past year.
AUSTRADE BUSINESS PROMOTION AWARD
Recognises a local business in Greater China that has shown excellence in promoting or marketing an Australian product or service.
AUSTRALIA POST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Recognises the successful implementation of sustainable development programmes and processes by an Australian company in Greater China.
Other award categories are:
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
Recognises the 2010 finalist that the Australian business community in Greater China believes has contributed the most to Australian business across the region over the past year.
JUDGES AWARD
Recognises one of the finalists for merit and considered by the judges as deserving a special mention.
JUDGING
Entrants are required to provide submissions outlining their business successes, with finalists then undergoing a personal interview before a panel of judges. The judging panel includes the Senior Trade Commissioner for Austrade and a representative from three Australian Chambers based in Greater China.
ACBA:2010 Judging Panel
o Mr Peter Arkell, Managing Director, Asia, Swann Global and Board Director, AustCham Shanghai
o Mr Andrew Macintosh, Board Director, AustCham Hong Kong & Macau
o Mr Kent Matla, Chief Executive Officer, GNS China and Board Director, AustCham Beijing
o Chair of the panel, Mr Christopher Wright, Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade
FEATURED WINNER
Business Excellence Award - Large: Cockram Projects (Shanghai) Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd.
Cockram Projects General Manager for China, Greg Mithen is proud of the company's history and expertise in offering niche construction and engineering services which have their founding in Australia and are now being
applied to Greater China. Starting in Melbourne in 1861, the company has constructed such famous landmarks as the Windsor Hotel, the Princess Theatre and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Leveraging from expertise gained in Australia, the company constructs specialist research and development, pharmaceutical and food manufacturing facilities for companies such as CSL and Pfizer. Cockram Projects expanded into Greater China in the early 1990s to construct and manage projects end-to-end for multinationals such Pfizer, Dow Chemicals, and McCains.
In 2010 Cockram Projects have continued to expand their offices and operations to a China scale. With increasing demand for local research and development and world-class pharmaceutical, microelectronics, and food and beverage manufacturing facilities, Cockram is able to multiply its Australian experiences. The company is a critical link in the process that allows production of life saving medicines that improve the lives of millions of
Chinese people and people around the world.
Cockram recently secured a contract for the Novo Nordisk Filling Plant Project in Tianjin worth US$300 million. The facility will allow Novo Nordisk to meet the rapidly expanding demand for insulin products in China. The filling site will comprise formulation, filling, inspection and packaging of Penfills, FlexPen (pre-filled insulin pens) and vials. This project complements other projects for companies such as Baxter Healthcare who manufacture renal products and Fresenius Medical Care - a world leader in dialysis care.
Cockram Projects excellence in this category was demonstrated through the strong growth and expansion in China based on Australian expertise, a strong corporate culture that has translated to China through impressive staff retention rates and an exemplary safety record. No mean feat in China.
BACKGROUND ON WINNERS
Business Excellence Award - SME: David Laris Creates (DLC) Ltd.
David Laris Creates is a development company focused primarily on the food and beverage industry. The company's services include concept creation and development, execution support, ongoing management, creative advice and direction, analysis and consulting, and branding and image consulting. David Laris Creates advises and partners with third party investors, and owns and operates its own food and beverage outlets.
Business Entrepreneurial Award: Shanghai Wagas Co. Ltd.
Wagas is a rapidly expanding multi-award winning chain of cafes in Shanghai serving gourmet sandwiches, coffee, salads, pasta, smoothies and cake. In addition to the café chain, the company owns and operates restaurants, a bistro, bakery and bakery chain.
Business Innovation Award: Cochlear Medical Device (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
CochlearTM is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. It has a dedicated global team of 2,200 people delivering the gift of sound to the hearing impaired in more than 100 countries. The global headquarters and main manufacturing site is in Australia, and Cochlear's business activities are present in every province in China.
Austrade Business Promotion Award: Kakadu
Kakadu is an Australian restaurant in the purest sense. It serves food and beverages that are easily recognised as modern Australian cuisine, such as Australian steak, lamb, emu, crocodile, barramundi, pavlova, bush spices, Australian wine and beer. Kakadu is host venue for AustCham Shanghai's weekly Aussie Drinks Central, and received the Wine Australia Restaurant Award in January 2010 for demonstrating leadership in the promotion and education of Australian wine.
Australia Post Sustainable Development Award: The Anken Group
The Anken Group are doing big things for the environment and the community in which they live. The company focuses on the renovation and transformation of existing buildings for mixed use, commercial and retail use. They have combined all aspects of sustainable development into living examples of what can be done with some grit and determination.
People's Choice Award: The Anken Group
ANKEN is an innovative real estate company using sustainable practices and design to build and manage unique destinations for the Shanghai market. Not only has The ANKEN GROUP turned the building spaces into business incubators they have done everything possible to make both the environment and community sustainable. The group has been determined to seek and develop their own sustainable solutions that work for small business owners such as themselves.
Judges Award: Soozar
SOOZAR produces designer retail displays, mannequins and accessories in China for installation in some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, department stores, retail outlets and hospitality environments. SOOZAR's clients include: Marni, Joseph, Alberta Ferretti, Moncler, Philosophy, Stefanel and Fitflop.
AWARDS HISTORY
The Australian Chambers of Commerce in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau, and Beijing have a long-term commitment to supporting and promoting excellence in Australia-China business.
Together, through the annual Australia-China Business Awards, they recognise and celebrate the diversity and strength of Australian businesses delivering products or services to the Greater China region. Now in their 18th year, the Awards are highly contested and attract an extremely high calibre of nominees from companies based in Greater China and Australia. ACBA finalists and winners are promoted extensively to media, government and leading business decision makers across Greater China and Australia.
The Awards were held in Hong Kong for the first 16 years. In 2009 they moved to Beijing, and in 2010 they will be held in Shanghai. In the years to come, the Awards will rotate between the three major Greater China cities.
ENDORSING ORGANISATIONS
AustCham Shanghai
AustCham Shanghai has supported successful businesses to establish and promote themselves in the Greater China market since its foundation in 1994.The Chamber currently supports 300 corporate members and a wide-ranging Australia-China business network.
AustCham Beijing
The China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham Beijing) provides members with the information, resources and contacts to succeed in China. Its overriding goal is to 'Advance Australian Business in China'.
AustCham Hong Kong & Macau
The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong & Macau was established 23 years ago to facilitate business development and networking opportunities for its members. It represents the largest Australian business community outside Australia and is the second largest international chamber in Hong Kong. The Chamber represents more than 1,100 members and 600 companies.
Westpac
Westpac Banking Corporation's Shanghai Branch opened for business on 2 January 2008. Westpac also has a Representative Office in Beijing which commenced operations in 1982 and a branch in Hong Kong. Westpac's focus is to support its Australian and New Zealand customers operating in, or looking to commence operations in China, whilst also supporting Chinese counterparties looking to transact or invest in Australia.
Austrade
The Australian Trade Commission - Austrade - is the Australian Government's trade and investment development agency. Austrade has had a substantial presence in China since the 1980s and now has 14 offices across China, the largest number of points of presence of any foreign government. With 75 staff in 10 industry
teams, the Austrade network in China advances Australia's international trade and investment interests by providing information, advice and services.
Australia Post
In 2005, Australia Post and China Post established a Joint Venture Company called Sai Cheng Logistics International Co., Ltd. to provide one stop supply chain services in the region. Sai Cheng Logistics covers the international logistics business and extends to third-party logistics business, and draws on the network and services offered by both Australia Post and China Post to offer premium supply chain services.
ENDS
Media contact:
Fleur Maidment, AustCham Shanghai
T. +8621 6248 8301