With the resources industry providing the foundation for WA’s booming economy in 2006, accolades for companies associated with the industry were plentiful.
With the resources industry providing the foundation for WA’s booming economy in 2006, accolades for companies associated with the industry were plentiful.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore won the minerals and energy category at the Australian Export Awards, while Worley Parsons received recognition for its involvement in offshore gas liquids project Bayu-Undan, winning the Sir William Hudson Award for Engineering Excellence at the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.
The Bayu-Undan complex is the largest offshore facility in the southern hemisphere and houses the most sophisticated offshore liquids stripping plant in the world.
Mining industry forum Diggers and Dealers awarded the G J Stokes memorial award to the four founders of contracting firm, Eltin Contracting.
Away from the resources sector, West Perth-based natural health care products company Wild Child received an Australian Export Award for the small to micro business category.
WA Water Corporation chief executive Dr Jim Gill won civil engineer of the year, while the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia Awards went to GHD, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Curtin University student Luke Yanev.
The annual BRW-St George Bank Client Choice award for best WA firm went to Wood & Grieve Engineers, while RSM Bird Cameron was voted best mid-size accounting firm.
Also in financial services, Philippa Elliott of Applecross-based Epic Adviser Solutions won a national Financial Planning Association award in the wealth accumulation category.
In the field of education and training, a joint initiative between the C.Y. O’Connor College of TAFE and the WA Country Health Service won two Australian Training Awards for innovative business and training initiative.
The partnership had developed a program to deliver traineeships for aged care workers in rural and remote communities, enabling carers to receive formal qualifications onsite within their current jobs or caring responsibilities.
Other WA winners included the WA College of Agriculture Cunderdin (VET in schools award), Marr Mooditj Foundation (small training provider of the year) and the John Holland Group (employer of the year).
Rapidly expanding fast food outlet Chooks Fresh and Tasty won two regional franchise awards, with general manager Linda Steele being awarded franchise woman of the year and Marcus Delany winning franchisee of the year.
At the annual WA Tourism Council awards, Rottnest Island Authority board chair and Tourism WA deputy chair Laurie O’Meara received the prestigious Sir David Brand Medal, recognising more than two decades’ service to the industry.
Kimberley pearl farm Willie Creek Pearls received the major award for tourism, the Sir David Brand Award.
Sandalford Wines were inducted into the WA Wine Industry Awards’ hall of fame, while the best WA wine from the year’s wine shows was deemed to be the Ferngrove 2005 Majestic Cabernet Sauvignon.
Within the advertising sector, marketing consultancy The Brand Agency received recognition at the Perth Advertising and Design Club awards, winning the award for best of show for their work on the Water Corporation’s direct main campaign.
