Governor of Victoria Export Awards
2011 Governor of Victoria Export Awards winners announced
Thirteen Victorian companies were awarded for their outstanding export achievements at the Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEA) announced at a gala ceremony at Government House on 19 October 2011.
Top honours for the Victorian Exporter of the Year went to Longwarry Food Park from Gippsland after almost doubling its exports of UHT milk and boosting production by some 40 per cent in the last financial year. Longwarry also received the Agribusiness Award.
Longwarry’s Managing Director Rakesh Aggarwal said the company’s success had followed the purchase of the ailing Bonlac Foods dairy plant in 2001. Using the latest technology the company developed an energy efficient, innovative and export-focused operation.
“We improved customer service, marketing strategies, quality of staff and risk management. But the key to our export success has been flexibility in shipping, customised products and small business agility,” Mr Aggarwal said.
The 2011 award for Innovation Excellence went to Knoxfield-based clean technology solutions and environmental monitoring company, Ecotech Pty Ltd, following record sales and exports for the company that exceeded $10 million.
Ecotech’s intelligent approach entailed focussing on the gaps and high profit sectors in global markets to carve a niche for itself in the competitive world of clean tech solutions and environmental monitoring.
According to Ecotech’s international sales manager, James Agius, the company’s strategy aligned the entire company to key geographical markets and niche markets despite being faced with fierce international competition.
The prestigious Governor of Victoria Export Awards recognises the skill, achievement and contribution made by Victorian exporters. Last year, Victorian companies exported goods and services worth around $31.5 billion and supported up to 500,000 Victorian jobs – against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, a strong Australian dollar and increased competition from low cost countries.
Export Awards Presentation 2011
Winners and commendees for the 2011 Governor of Victoria Export Awards
2011 Victorian Exporter of the Year
Winner: Longwarry Food Park
2011 Victorian Export Award for Innovation Excellence
Winner: Ecotech Pty Ltd
Agribusiness Award
Winner: Longwarry Food Park
Commendee: SPE (Management) Pty Ltd
Arts, Entertainment and Design Award
Winner: Polyglot Theatre
Commendee: Grande Exhibitions
Education Award
Winner: IDP Education
Commendee: Haileybury
Emerging Exporter Award
Winner: we-do-IT Pty Ltd
Commendee: Vital Diagnostics (Manufacturing)
Information and Communication Technology Award
Winner: CPT Global Limited
Commendee: PaperCut Software
Large Advanced Manufacturer Award
Winner: ANCA
Commendee: Longwarry Food Park
Large Services Award
Winner: Invetech
Commendee: Haileybury
Commendee: Peddle Thorp Architects
Minerals and Energy Award
Winner: Ceramic Fuel Cells
Regional Exporter Award
Winner: SPE (Management) Pty Ltd
Small Business Award
Winner: MTECH Systems
Commendee: Landrum & Brown
Commendee: Utilibill
Small to Medium Manufacturer Award
Winner: Ronstan International Pty. Ltd.
Commendee: Ecotech Pty Ltd
Small to Medium Services Award
Winner: Grande Exhibitions
Commendee: Landrum & Brown
View profiles on the 2011 Winners
View a congratulatory message (PDF file - 2.1MB) from the Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade and articles on some of the winners
Thank you to all the applicants for the awards this year
Thank you to the esteemed judges of this year's awards:
All 2011 Governor of Victoria Export Awards category winners will be automatically entered into the 49th Australian Export Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 8 Decemebr 2011.For more information about the Australian Export Awards, visit www.exportawards.gov.au or contact Dora Deka Tel: 9651 9959.