Nominations are now open for the 2015 Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the Year awards.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year’s primary objective is to identify, acknowledge, and celebrate the outstanding contribution entrepreneurs make to the Australian business community and economy.
Launched in 2001, the Australian Entrepreneur of the Year awards program is conducted in five regions culminating in the national awards with entrepreneurs participating from more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
Each year. the overall Australian winner continues on in the global program, travelling to Monte Carlo to compete against other country winners for the chance to be crowned the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year.
The deadline for nominations in the 2015 Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards is March 27, with the successful nominees announced in May.
Regional awards ceremonies will be held around the country during July and August, with the regional category winners going on to compete at the national awards ceremony in Sydney in October.
Nominees are assessed by a panel of independent judges, including previous Entrepreneur of the Year award winners and other Australian business leaders according to six core criteria entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, personal integrity and influence, financial performance, strategic direction, and national and global impact.
EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year leader for Oceania, Bryan Zekulich, said the Entrepreneur of the Year program, now in its 15th year in Australia, was founded to promote the role entrepreneurs play in local and global economies and to inspire the next generation.
“Entrepreneurs have the courage create the change they wish to see in the world. In doing so, they help shape our economies, our communities and our world by creating jobs, growth, diversification and innovation,” Zekulich said.
“This is our 15th year of celebrating entrepreneurial excellence in Australia. Many of our overall winners from the last 14 years are global leaders in their field and we are excited about finding the 15th anniversary winner to join them in the hall of fame. We are calling on people to nominate themselves or an inspiring entrepreneur they know to be part of this year’s milestone program.”
“We know that Australia is home to plenty of world class entrepreneurial talent and we are looking for the best of the best – those entrepreneurs who are shaping the future and making a significant contribution to the business community,” Zekulich said.
Past national winners include the entrepreneurs behind Australian companies such as Pepperstone, Seek, McMillan Shakespeare, iiNet, Carsales.com.au, ResMed, and Atlassian.
To go into the running, or to nominate an inspiring entrepreneur you know, complete the online nomination form here.
For more information on the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program, including eligibility criteria and guidelines, go to www.ey.com/au/eoy.
