Become a Member

More than seeking recognition.

Entering the Business Excellence Awards is an opportunity to reflect on your achievements, elevate your profile and acknowledge the team behind your success.

About the Awards
Important Dates
Award Categories
Application Process
Judging Process
Tips for Success

About the Awards

2026

The Launceston Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards proudly celebrate the ambition, resilience and innovation driving Northern Tasmania’s business community.
In 2026, we mark our 20th anniversary two decades of recognising the businesses and individuals shaping our region’s future. From emerging enterprises to established leaders, the Awards shine a spotlight on those creating impact, backing their people and strengthening our local economy.
Entering the Awards is more than seeking recognition. It is an opportunity to reflect on your achievements, elevate your profile and acknowledge the team behind your success.
Proud of the impact your business and team are making? Apply and be part of this milestone year.
APPLY NOW
Hall of fame nomination

2025 Winners

2025 CareSuper Business Excellence Awards — Winners & Summaries 

Business of the Year: Timbre — Tamar Valley destination restaurant, recognised for its exceptional strength across all areas of business performance. 

Hall of Fame: Donna Bain — honoured for exceptional leadership at Self Help Workplace and Launceston Community Legal Centre, making a lasting impact on business and community life. 

Life Membership: John Kirwan — recognised for 40+ years of leadership in health, IR and HR, including CEO roles with LGH, Northern Area Health Service and RFDS Tasmania. 

Chamber’s Choice: Du Cane Brewery — voted by Chamber members for its contribution to Launceston’s visitor economy, connection to local produce, and community spirit. 

Young Professional of the Year: Dr G. Prashanth Reddy — recognised for leadership in growing Beaconsfield Family Medical Services into a multidisciplinary clinic and for health advocacy. 

Category Awards 

Building Exceptional Communities: Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania — delivering vital primary healthcare and building stronger connections in regional and remote communities. 

Environmental Excellence: SM Building Pty Ltd — embedding sustainability in customised home construction, leaving a positive legacy for future generations. 

Excellence in Design: SM Building Pty Ltd — awarded a second win for architectural innovation, combining Passivhaus principles with building science to deliver healthier homes. 

Excellence in Community Service: Citizen Advocacy Launceston Region — person-to-person advocacy model empowering people with intellectual disabilities since 1989. 

Excellence in Education & Training: Health Nest — specialist practice in hand and upper limb rehabilitation, strengthening clinical practice through professional development pathways. 

Excellence in Equity: Self Help Workplace — inclusive social enterprise employing and training Tasmanians with disabilities since 1962. 

Excellence in Health & Wellness: Tasmania Vaccine Solutions — nurse-led mobile service improving access to vaccinations and health support across Tasmania. 

Excellence in Innovation & Technology: Enginuity Power Solutions — pioneering energy-efficient design and custom-built Energy Management Platform in partnership with Indicium Dynamics. 

Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality: Timbre — recognised for authenticity, sustainability, and creating memorable experiences for locals and visitors. 

Exceptional Customer Service: Hire a Building Inspector — trusted North-West Tasmanian provider delivering thorough, professional inspections. 

Exceptional Event: Tasmanian Craft Fair — Southern Hemisphere’s largest craft fair, uniting 200+ exhibitors in Deloraine with strong community and volunteer support. 

Exceptional Workplaces: ReadyTech — creating a purpose-driven, inclusive workplace and a Centre of Excellence in Launceston for technology careers. 

Marketing Excellence: Multicap Tasmania — standing out with authentic, people-focused campaigns that champion local voices and stories. 

Professional Services Excellence: AMC Search — training and consultancy arm of the Australian Maritime College, delivering specialised maritime and defence programs with measurable impact. 

Retail Excellence: AdoreU — supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood, with services underpinned by compassion and community endorsement. 

2025 Finalists

Excellence in Health & Wellness
Beta Park Bouldering
Giuntini Chiropractic
Johnson First Aid Training
Royal Flying Doctor Service TAS (Highly Commended)
Retail Excellence
Balls N Bumpers
Honey Fawn Boutique
Ivory & Deene
Your Tea Shop
Excellence in Education & Training
Innova Dental
Johnson First Aid Training
Tasmanian Leaders
The Dental Surgery Newstead (Highly Commended)
Building Exceptional Communities
Beta Park Bouldering
Launceston Central
The North & Coast Post
West Tamar Council
Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality
Du Cane Brewing
Launceston By Foot
Paint the Town Red
Tamar River Cruises
Excellence in Design
West Tamar Council
Excellence in Community Service
Beaconsfield Family Medical
Hawthorn Football Club (Highly Commended)
OzHarvest
Royal Flying Doctor Service TAS
Exceptional Customer Service
Casalinga
Entombed Escape Rooms
House of Beauty
Ivory & Deene
Multicap Tasmania
Marketing Excellence
Hawthorn Football Club
Solstice Energy (Highly Commended)
The People Project
West Tamar Council
Environmental Excellence
Countrywide Hydrogen
Enginuity Power Solutions
Florage
Exceptional Event
Australian Musical Theatre Festival
Island Crown 2025
North Festival
Tomorrow Conference
Professional Services Excellence
Cavalletti Communications
Optim Equine
Synectic Accountants & Advisers
Women’s Legal Service Tasmania
Excellence in Equity
Talent Advisory
X-hemp
Exceptional Workplaces
AdoreU
ARTAS
Health Nest
Kate Presnell Body Works
Excellence in Innovation & Technology
Hire a Building Inspector

Gallery Business Excellence Awards Gala 2025

Important Dates

9 April

Launch Event

Boags Function Center

10 April

Applications Open
Online application process

22 May

Awards Close
Online application process

18 June

Finalist Announcement Event

Boags Function Center

8 August

Gala – Winners Announced
Hotel Grand Chancellor

12 August

Recovery Brunch

Hotel Grand Chancellor

Award Categories

Explore each award category to find the best fit for your business. Simply expand the sections below to view a clear description of each category, along with a small set of tailored questions to guide your decision. These prompts are designed to help you quickly identify where your strengths and achievements align, making the application process straightforward and focused.

Service and Experience

Exceptional Customer Service

This category is open to all organisations that deliver exceptional customer service models and new and innovative methods of developing customer service excellence in any industry.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence in this category, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. What have you done to instill an exceptional customer service mindset in your business or organisation?

Exceptional Event

This category is open to events that have been delivered in Northern Tasmania in the past 18 months. Entries can be one off events, or annually recurring.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe your event operations, your vision for your event and what makes it exceptional.

Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality

This category is open to tourism and hospitality operators creating a unique Tasmanian
product or service. Applications should demonstrate commitment to consistently delivering
excellent experiences which allow them to stand out from their competitors.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe how your business best demonstrates Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality.
  2. How is your business different from your competitors?

Excellence in Retail

This category is open to any Retail Business operating in a physical space or online, provided operations have a base in the Launceston region (i.e. majority staff are based in the region). 

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe how your business demonstrates Retail Excellence.

Impact and Creativity

Excellence in Design

This category is open to all organisations that deliver excellence in design, and new and innovative methods of developing design excellence. Design can include (but not limited to) architecture, environmental, graphic and print, or construction and manufacturing, urban planning, or public art. Submissions can be related to ongoing design businesses or be specific to a particular project or outcome. When determining the subject of your application, please choose the option that best represents your delivery of Excellence in Design.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Outline your key design achievement from the past 18 months that best represents Design Excellence. Include your design philosophy, inspiration and goals for the project or business.

Excellence in Professional Service

This category is open to organisations that deliver professional services across law, finance, IT, marketing, planning & construction, training, and other non-physical products or services.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. How does your Professional Services Business demonstrate Excellence?
  2. What differentiates you from your competitors?

Excellence in Marketing

This category is open to organisations that can demonstrate Marketing Excellence, either as a business focused on providing marketing products & services, or as a program or project with a specific marketing strategy applied.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Please describe the best example of Marketing Excellence that your business has delivered in the past 18 months.

Excellence in Education and Training

This category is for businesses who invest in the continuous workforce development of their staff and workforce education and training.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence in this category, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Outline your approach to the design and delivery of training for staff, apprentices and/or trainees, and outcomes from those training and education opportunities.
  2. If you have partnered or collaborated with other providers related to training and professional development, describe these initiatives

Transformation

Excellence in Equity

Awarded to the business who demonstrates a commitment to employing and retaining staff in one of the following categories:

  • Women in Trade
  • People with Disabilities
  • First Nations People
  • Employees working towards Clean Energy occupations

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence in one or more of the above categories, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe your approach to attracting and retaining employees in the relevant category, how you accommodated the candidate’s challenges to participation, and addressed issues around motivation and barriers, and how they provided support through the application and on boarding process, and throughout the employment.

Excellence in Innovation & Technology

This category is open to any business demonstrating Excellence in Innovation & Technology in any industry. This can include (but is not limited to) adoption of new technology to improve customer experiences or process efficiencies, use of technology to advance the scope of your business, or increase sales and revenue through the use of innovative techniques and strategies, or the operation of a business focused on technology and innovation goods or services.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe the best example of your business demonstrating excellence in Innovation & Technology

Environmental Excellence

This award is open to organisations that have outstanding environmental practice and vision delivering innovative outcomes in environmental performance in any industry.  This may look like adopting sustainable environmental practises in your business or operating within the industry to improve environmental practises.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence in environmental practice, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe your practice and vision delivering innovative outcomes in environmental performance:
  2. Describe how you have improved the environmental impact of your business or organisation over the past 12 months and explain how the results were measured.

Excellence in Regional Health Innovation

This category recognises organisations delivering outstanding innovation in regional health. It is open to businesses, services and initiatives across any sector that are improving health outcomes, service delivery or access to care in regional communities.

Judges will be looking for clear, practical examples of innovation that have delivered measurable improvements, strengthened access and equity, and made a meaningful difference at a local level. Strong applications will demonstrate how the initiative responds to the unique challenges of regional settings, while also showing sustainability over time and potential to be scaled or replicated in other communities.

  1. What innovative approach, service, technology or model have you introduced to address a regional health challenge? Please describe the need it addressed, what makes it different, and the measurable outcomes achieved (for example: improved patient outcomes, reduced waiting times, increased participation, cost savings or improved staff capability).
  2. How has your initiative improved access, equity, patient experience or health outcomes for people living in regional communities? Please describe the difference it has made locally, particularly for people who may face barriers due to geography, disadvantage, workforce shortages or limited services.
  3. How will your initiative remain sustainable over time, including funding, partnerships and workforce support? What potential does it have to be expanded, replicated or adapted in other regional communities, and what would be required to do so?

Care and Community

Excellence in Health & Wellness

This category is open to any business focused on Excellence in Health & Wellness and is open to any industry. Your business may be delivering a health & wellness service or product to customers or focused on positive health and wellness initiatives for your teams.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. How has your business delivered Excellence in Health & Wellness for your customers, community and/or team?

Building Exceptional Communities

This category is open to organisations that build communities that positively impact on, and deliver long-term benefits for, Northern Tasmania. Organisations must operate as professional entities at the management level, although there may be volunteer involvement.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Describe how you deliver positive impacts (short and long term) that enhance the regional culture and wellbeing of northern Tasmania.

Exceptional Workplace

This category is open to any business demonstrating an Excellent Workplace. This can be determined by clearly defined strategies and outcomes across a range of areas such as workplace culture, staff recruitment and retention, professional development opportunities, for example. This category is open to any industry.

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. What makes your business an Excellent Workplace for your employees?
  2. What programs or initiatives have you implemented to achieve this, and what were the results?

Excellence in Community Service

This category is open to incorporated not-for-profit organisations that are delivering innovative provision of community services to engage with more people in need, creating new opportunities and developing links between community and business.  These entities may operate social enterprises, deliver social services or undertake charitable work.  In pursuit of delivering positive community outcomes, they may operate with volunteer support.  

Judges will be looking for applications that concisely capture excellence in this category, shown in provided answers, and support materials. Excellence is defined by demonstrating best practice in the relevant industry or field, and successful business outcomes as related to the category selected.

  1. Explain your organisation’s involvement in the local region (for example social enterprise, services and charitable work), and the long term positive benefits it delivers to the community.

Other

Young Professional of the Year

This category is designed to recognise and encourage the achievements of a young professional aged between 18 – 40 who has demonstrated a noteworthy commitment to excellence, innovation and the community in their profession.

  1. Briefly describe your professional role
  2. Describe your work ethos, personal brand and approach to best practice in your industry.
  3. Describe your contributions to excellence, innovation and community in your role.
  4. Date of birth

Hall of Fame

The Launceston Chamber of Commerce Board is now seeking nominations for the 2026 Hall of Fame.

This recognition sits at the highest level of the Chamber’s honours, acknowledging individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Launceston business community.

First introduced in 2009, and refined in 2011 to recognise an individual rather than a business, the Hall of Fame reflects the Chamber’s long-standing commitment to celebrating leadership, influence and legacy across our region.

Who should be nominated?
Nominees must:

  • Be a current or past member of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce
  • Have supported the Chamber and upheld its values
  • Have made a significant contribution to, or influenced, the Launceston business community
  • Be a respected and successful business leader over a sustained period
  • Have created, or will leave, a positive and tangible legacy for the region

What is required in a nomination?
Nominations are designed to be structured and straightforward. They include:

  • Nominee and nominator details
  • A short eligibility checklist
  • A nomination statement (up to 500 words) outlining contribution, leadership, impact and legacy
  • Supporting information, including key achievements and any relevant recognition
  • Referees to support the nomination
  • A declaration confirming accuracy of information
Apply now
Hall of fame nominations

Application Process

We have designed the application to be clear and manageable,simply select your category and complete the online application.

  1. Getting Started

    Choose the category that best aligns. While each category has its own focus, the format is consistent. You’ll provide some general business information, followed by responses to  questions specific to your chosen category. 

  2. High Quality Content

    Applications are not intended to be lengthy — we’re looking for clarity, impact and evidence of outcomes rather than volume. This is your opportunity to share your achievements over the last 18 months

  3. The Judges

    Your written submission is what the judges rely on to shortlist finalists, so we encourage you to be clear, specific and proud of what you have accomplished. Share the story behind the results, this is your opportunity to showcase the work you and your team have delivered.

  4. What Next?

    Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by the Chamber team before progressing to the allocated judging panel.

apply now
hall of fame nominations

Judging Process

Our Awards are underpinned by rigour, independence and expertise. Categories have been thoughtfully grouped to align with key themes, with respected industry experts appointed to each judging panel. All judges assess entries based on the written application to determine a shortlist of finalists. The strength, clarity and impact of your submission is paramount.

Finalists will be invited to a conversation conducted via TEAMS, giving applicants the opportunity to share their story, motivation and vision beyond the written application.

Every application is initially reviewed by the Chamber team before progressing to its allocated judging group.

Additional awards are determined as follows:

  • Young Professional – assessed by all judges, with the highest cumulative score awarded.
  • Business of the Year – awarded to the category winner with the highest overall score.
  • Hall of Fame – by nomination – winner determined by the Board.
  • Life Membership – determined by the Board.
  • Chamber’s Choice – decided by popular vote from Chamber members (member entries only).
 
Read about our rules and eligibility/criteria here

Tips for Success

Choose the right category

Read the categorie decriptions carefully and select the one that most clearly aligns with the achievements or impact you are highlighting.

Carefully consider the questions

Respond clearly to what is being asked. Be specific and include examples, outcomes or results that demonstrate your impact.

 

Tell your story 

Explain the challenge, what you did and the outcome. Show your value by highlighting what sets your business, project or team apart.

Use evidence

Metrics, growth figures, customer feedback or measurable improvements strengthen your application

Keep it clear and consise

Judges value well-structured responses over long explanations.

Proofread before submitting

A polished application makes it easier for judges to understand your achievements.

Apply Now
hall of fame nominations

Become a Member

Join the LCC today and expand your business network and potential.

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Member Directory

Discover and connect with other local Launceston businesses.

Learn More

Chamber Events

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