Guests glided across the red carpet serenaded with a string quartet by the Australian Youth Orchestra as they were greeted with a glass of champagne and invited to pose in front of the 2015 WSABE media wall.
The Gala dinner hosted over 440 Western Sydney businesses who were treated to chef specials and dynamic performances by Packemin Productions; Phantom of the Opera and Back to the 80s.
The fish centrepieces were a conversation piece as guests were asked to come up with a name for their fish and the WSABE Committee formed a judging panel to announce the winner.
The Gala Dinner featured a live Instagram and Twitter wall displaying all #WSABE2015 posts.
Half way through the night, the hashtag was a trending topic in Australia ranking number 5 according to a number of trend research accounts including Trends In Australia.
The night recognised the winners of each category as well as celebrated high scoring businesses who were presented with the Highly Commended Award.
All categories were judged by a panel of experts in the field except for one award whose winner was kept confidential even from the hosts, Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.
This award was the Local Chamber of the Year and it was presented and announced on the night by NSW Business Chamber.
Geoff Starr of NSW Business Chamber announced and presented the Local Chamber of the Year Award to Parramatta Chamber of Commerce recognising its outstanding services and benefits to its members, Parramatta and the Western Sydney Community.
Winners of the 2015 WSABE Awards were:
- Sarina Russo Employer of Choice - Residential Gardens for the Spanish Speaking Frail Aged.
- Lexus of Parramatta Rising Star - Grabowski Financial Planning.
- Urban Growth Excellence in Sustainability - Butterfly Skye’s BugShop.
- Hope Media Excellence in Marketing - Children’s Medical Research Institute.
- PwC Private Client Excellence in Export - RBK Nutraceuticals.
- University of Western Sydney Excellence in Small Business - Build on Bookkeeping.
- Crowe Horwath Excellence in Business - Southern Cross Group Services.
- JC Travel Professionals Excellence in Business Ethics - Residential Gardens for the Spanish Speaking Frail Aged.
- NewsLocal Excellence in Education - Catholic Education Office Diocese of Parramatta.
- Accor Excellence in Customer Service - Capify.
- DOOLEYS Catholic Club Young Business Executive - Natalie Hanna Akkari from Montessori Merrylands.
- Interclean Young Entrepreneur - Carly Chant from Build on Bookkeeping.
- Senses Direct Business Leader - Tania MacLeod from Tania’s Strictly Dancing.
- Parramatta City Council Excellence in Innovation - White River Design.
- Patron’s Choice (The Hon. Alan Cadman OAM) - myFLO.
- Local Chamber of the Year (NSW Business Chamber) - Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.
- Western Sydney Business of the Year - Children’s Medical Research Institute.
Highly Commended Award Winners were:
- Sarina Russo Employer of Choice - Elders Real Estate Toongabbie.
- Crowe Horwath Excellence in Business - RBK Nutraceuticals.
- Accor Excellence in Customer Service - Pet Resorts Australia.
- Accor Excellence in Customer Service - Tania’s Strictly Dancing.
- DOOLEYS Catholic Club Young Business Executive - Krystle Lyn Tran from Strathfield Chiropractic.
- Interclean Young Entrepreneur - Ellen Smallacombe from Penrith Hogs.
- Interclean Young Entrepreneur - Daniel Nguyen from You Marketing Solutions.
Winners and sponsors will be celebrated in a relaxed cocktail event at Lily’s Function Centre at the end of August. The 25th WSABE Awards Program is proudly hosted by Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.
