Winners of the 2010 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards will progress to the 49th Australian Export Awards as national finalists and compete for an opportunity to win the coveted Prime Minister’s Australian Exporter of the Year.

Why should you enter the Awards?

• The ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards are prestigious business awards.
• The ACT Award categories offer an opportunity for exporting businesses of any size or in any industry to enter. The benefits of winning a prestigious award can mean entering is a worthwhile investment of your time.

The ACT and region has a dynamic and successful exporting community

• Many of the past category winners are well-known – names such as Aspen Medical, the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies, CEA Technologies, Inland Trading, stratsec, Noetic Group, Intelledox and of course the 2009 ACT Exporter of the Year, Sentinel.
• But each year, refreshingly new exporting businesses emerge as category winners – Lucy Media, Windlab Systems, CIT Solutions and Dyesol Limited.
• As either an established or new exporter, your company could join the list of successful ACT region exporters.

Enter the Awards, give your business a health check, and enjoy the rewards and recognition associated with the Awards.

• Winning an award distinguishes you as a market leader, boosting your company’s reputation as a successful exporter.
• You gain exposure to influential and valuable networks, which can open up new business opportunities.
• You increase your brand awareness and generate marketing opportunities.

Applications close on 20 July and the presentation of Awards will be held on 8 September.

The Award organisers will shortly start to contact ACT and region firms to seek your interest in entering the awards and to offer assistance to potential applicants. If you are interested in talking to the organisers, please contact michael.cliff@cliffassoc.com.au or cathy.atkins@communicationtoolbox.com.au

The 2010 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards are managed and presented by the Canberra Business Council on the behalf of the ACT Government and sponsorsed by the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies, ACT Exporters’ Network, the Export Finance & Insurance Corporation and Austrade.

Sentinel Pty Ltd provides specialised services to clients in the Mining and Government sectors, including design, implementation and operation of remote environmental monitoring solutions.  Sentinel also won the Small to Medium Services Award at this year’s Export Awards 

Director, Rod Sandison accepted the Award on behalf of Sentinel’s employees. “The Sentinel team has been integral to the success of the company. The team consists of individuals with varied skill sets, who come from diverse cultural backgrounds yet, together, they maintain a strong work ethic and a dedication to excellence”.

“The ACT Export Awards have rightly earned the reputation as one of the most prestigious and significant industry awards on the Territory’s business calendar.  This in large part due to the evident ACT Government support for the Awards themselves and, more generally, to the growing level of commitment to exporting within our small to medium businesses”   Chris Faulks, CEO, Canberra Business Council said today.  

“For nine years Sentinel has been exporting its products and services to some of the harshest and most security-challenged locations in the world, with clients spread across the globe from Africa to Asia Pacific and the Dominican Republic” said Chris Faulks.

The ACT’s Emerging Exporter Award was given to Windlab Systems, a global wind energy development company.  Their track record in progressing commercially viable sites is reflected in a growing portfolio spanning Canada, USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Other notable category winners include Aspen Medical, a provider of healthcare services to remote areas or regions of high demand and recent recipient of BWR’s most Successful Private Business (under $100 million) of the Year Award; Lucy Media Pty Ltd, a Canberra based media and entertainment company; Dysol, a world leader in the development and commercialisation of third generation photovoltaics and CIT Solutions who were praised for their work in recruiting over 1000 international students from over 75 countries annually.

Recruitment Systems Pty Ltd and Stratsec, both category winners at last year’s ACT Export Awards continued to demonstrate strong export performance taking out the Small Business and Information & Communication Technology Awards respectively in 2009.

“Motivating competitive ACT companies to become exporters and growing an export culture in the ACT through raising awareness of export opportunities is an important factor in
ensuring sustained export growth, employment and economic activity in the ACT” said Kevin Reilly, Chairperson of Canberra Business Council’s International Business Taskforce. 

The 2009 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards category winners:
Arts and Entertainment Award –  Lucy Media Pty Ltd
Education and Training Award - CIT Solutions Pty Ltd
Emerging Exporter Award      - Windlab Systems Pty Ltd
Information and Communication Technology Award - stratsec
Large Services Award      - Aspen Medical
Small Business Award       - Recruitment Systems Pty Ltd
Small to Medium Manufacturer Award - Dyesol Limited
Small to Medium Services Award  -  Sentinel Pty Ltd
The winners of the 2009 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards will automatically progress as national finalists to the 47th Australian Export Awards where one winner will receive the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award.

For more information on the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards please contact Brooke Anderson at brooke.anderson@canberrabusinesscouncil.com.au or 0400 090 452.