Record recognition for women and youth

A RECORD number of women and young people have been nominated for the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards this year.

Almost 140 people have been put up for the regional women’s business award and the young and professional award, the highest number ever for the program’s only categories open to an individual person.

Awards chair, Eve Ritchens, said the volume of nominations reflected the hard work of the community.

“We have received almost 80 individual nominations for the women’s award, and 55 for the young and professional category, wonderful recognition of the leadership delivered by women in our community, and to the young, emerging talent we have here in our regional city,” she said.

The awards celebrate the achievements of a range of local businesses over the past year with 15 categories to be won.

Nominations opened in early April and closed on 1 May, with finalists set to be named in June and winners announced at an August gala event.

The awards are sponsored in part by the region’s chamber of commerce Be.Bendigo and CEO Rob Herbert said the local business community was thriving.

“No longer do young people need to move to metro areas for career progression, Greater Bendigo boasts opportunities in many varied sectors,” he said.

“The number of young people nominated as future leaders is testament to the talent and calibre we have right here.”

Last year’s winner of the regional women’s business category, Claire Culley, was recognised for her work with the Otis Foundation and said the award has brought about new opportunities and partnerships for the organisation.