Esteemed urban designer and Managing Director of Place Design, Shaun Munday, was named The Courier Mail Business Person of the Year, recognising his 30-year career delivering some of the city's most significant developments, including the current Waterfront Brisbane development on Eagle Street.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said this year’s winners represented the best of the city’s business network as they work to build a better Brisbane.

“Brisbane continues to evolve as a business hub and is home to incredible local entrepreneurs and business leaders that want to see our region grow,” Cr Schrinner said.

“The winners of tonight’s awards are a testament to the determination and ingenuity of our business network, who have overcome obstacles to achieve global success.

“Our Council will continue to support small business across our region as they grow our economy, create more jobs and make living and working in Brisbane even better.”

Recycler Rino emerged victorious in two separate categories, winning the ISPT Investment in Brisbane Award for its $100M capital injection into its state-of-the-art facility in Pinkenba, and the Dentsu Environmental Sustainability in Business Award due to its ability to divert 1.5 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste every year. The company also took out the Optus Platinum Award for most outstanding overall category winner, highlighting Brisbane as a destination of choice for business.

First Nations-led architecture and landscape design firm Blaklash was awarded the Business Chamber Queensland Small Business Award, after launching breakthrough re-imaginings of Victoria Park and other local projects created together with Brisbane’s traditional owners.

Electrical equipment manufacturer NOJA Power, which installs its transmission line circuit breakers in 106 countries worldwide, took out the Coraggio International Business Award.

Businesses investing in future generations became a theme throughout the evening. The Hutchinson Builders Social Enterprise Awards went to Future Anything, which delivers entrepreneurship workshops in schools and a start-up accelerator for young people with great ideas. Meanwhile, Small Scholars, a business which offers boutique school readiness programs which enhance the national kindergarten curriculum, was named the oOh!media Micro Business Award winner.

Australian Country Choice received the ANZ High-Growth Business Award for rapidly growing its business in the face of pandemic disruptions.

Agtech company Carbonaught accepted the Accenture Australia Product Innovation Award, in acknowledgement of its revolutionary product which transforms mining waste into nutrient rich, carbon capturing mineral product.

HTA Group picked up the Australia Pacific LNG Business Transformation Award in recognition of its achievements in transforming itself from a traditional heat treatment business into an accredited advanced thermal processor which supplies to one of the biggest names in the aerospace industry.

Finally, the Port of Brisbane Young Person of the Year went to 22-year-old Mitch Robinson, CEO and founder of IDU Identification, a nightlife ID verification app for licenced venues which has rapidly captured market share in Australia and expanded overseas.

Venues boss Harvey Lister AM was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contribution to the city. Lister is the CEO of ASM Global, an international venue and event management company which manages some of the world’s most important stadiums, arenas and entertainment districts including Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s State of the City report, released earlier this year, forecasts that Brisbane’s economy will continue to grow 68 per cent over the 20 years to 2041, to a gross regional product of $275 billion. Australia’s fastest growing working age population and a sharp increase in exports are both fuelling the city’s growth.

Key areas of focus for Brisbane’s economic development include robotics, biomedical, food technology, transport logistics and professional services. Investment into expanding Brisbane’s knowledge sector and innovation hubs continues to grow as well, with more innovation hubs per capita than any other Australian capital.

Brisbane’s status as the host of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-lifetime investment and tourism injection, which will further sustain the city’s economic momentum.

The full list of Lord Mayor Business Award winners for 2024 can be found here.