Brisbane's best honoured at the 20th annual Lord Mayor's Business Awards
Innovators and pioneers blazing a trail for Brisbane in global and local markets were among the 12 entrepreneurs and enterprises honoured at the 2025 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.
Celebrating its milestone 20th year, the Awards were announced at City Hall on Thursday 6 November with Chemist Warehouse Managing Director and respected philanthropist and advisor Brett Clark AM named The Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year.
In a fitting coincidence, Mr Clark shares the same anniversary as the Awards, co-founding his Brisbane-based pharmacy company 20 years ago before growing its initial 10 stores into an ASX-listed, international network.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the 12 award winners would continue Brisbane’s proud tradition of turning bold ideas into reality.
“I want to congratulate all the winners and finalists and thank each of them for helping strengthen Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s most business-friendly city,” Cr Schrinner said.
“For 20 years, the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards have championed and celebrated our city’s thriving business community.
“This is about recognising the innovation, resilience and growth that make Brisbane such a standout on the global stage.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed on Michael Rayner AM, co-founder of Blight Rayner Architecture and the creative force behind some of Brisbane’s most iconic landmarks. From flood-resilient ferry terminals and iconic bridges to the Brisbane Convention Centre and QPAC’s soon-to-open Glasshouse Theatre, his visionary designs have redefined how we experience the city and left a creative legacy for generations to come.
Rob Joseph founded his helmet company, Anti Ordinary, with a mission to “protect the people we love”. The company’s innovative beanie helmet is protecting skiers and snow sport athletes in 51 countries, leading Mr Joseph to be named the Port of Brisbane Young Business Person of the Year.
Small businesses are integral to Brisbane’s economy with several other start-ups and early-stage enterprises recognised for their incredible achievements.
Homegrown company, Nadu, at the forefront of nasal health innovation won the oOh!Media Micro Business Award for its commitment to improving the lives of people living with chronic respiratory conditions.
The Carers Queensland Small Business Award went to Like a Photon Creative, an internationally acclaimed production company creating award-winning family content.
From a suburban cake supplier to an Australian-wide distributor of sweet treats and savoury creations, the almost 30-year growth trajectory of Priestley’s Gourmet Delights saw the food business take home the Australia Pacific LNG Business Transformation Award. They were also awarded the Optus Platinum Award as the most outstanding business success of the year.
Other category winners reflected Brisbane’s prized position on the cutting edge of new technology.
A drive to simplify bookings, events and appointments with user-friendly digital solutions led innovative technology company Attekus to be named the ANZ High-Growth Business.
Harnessing the power of the ocean to combat climate change, Blue Carbon won the Accenture Australia Product Innovation Award for its core innovation, the oPod™, a world-first, autonomous ocean pump powered by wave, wind and solar energy.
Brisbane-based Valenhold is reshaping the future of mining technology. For nearly a decade, the company has set new standards in sustainability and innovation across the Heavy Mobile Equipment (HME) industry. Operating in 14 countries and honoured with the ISPT Investment in Brisbane Award, Valenhold continues to drive global progress and redefine what’s possible in mining.
Also making a name on the global stage is the BDO International Business Award winner, The Equine Practice Company, honoured for its work as an educator, innovator and advocate in equine veterinary medicine.
A commitment to sustainability, a circular economy, and environmental innovation led Tom’s Pallets to receive the Dentsu Environmental Sustainability in Business Award for its sustainable approach to pallet recycling.
A social enterprise with more than 50 years of experience helping people with disabilities lead fulfilling and independent lives, Help Enterprises took home the Hutchinson Builders Social Enterprise Award
The 2025 State of the City Report, released by Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA), revealed the city’s economy has exceeded $200 billion, representing a 16 per cent growth in just four years, and is on track to hit $275 billion by 2041.
The report found that Brisbane’s business momentum continues to accelerate across all sectors, with strong 10-year growth forecasts for property and construction (41 per cent), advanced manufacturing (29 per cent), transport and logistics (43 per cent) and knowledge industries (50 per cent).
It also found that Brisbane is setting the pace nationally with Australia’s fastest-growing health industry ($22 billion) and experience economy ($13.7 billion).
With the global spotlight on the city in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane’s momentum continues to soar.
