They are tasked with the job of identifying the 16 best businesses in Northern Tasmania.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Seven members are sitting on the Launceston Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards panel.
By the time you read this they are likely to have determined the winners in each category.
“That’s a secret held under lock and key,” panel chair Sheryl Thomas joked.
As a board member of the Tasmanian Community Fund since 2010, Mrs Thomas is no stranger to assessing applications and providing feedback.
This is her second year judging a suite of businesses.
She said the panel was looking to ensure applicants had addressed the criteria of the nominated category.
“The diversification within their businesses, their sustainability and how they have dealt with unexpected variances from their strategic and operational plans and what they give back into the community, not only of Launceston but of Northern Tasmania,” she said.
“What we have certainly found is a huge amount of passion and diversity within their businesses.”
This year a record field of entries came in for the awards, demonstrating the breadth of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
The finalists were selected after a thorough ranking process by five independent judges to proceed to the interview stage.
The process of interviewing applicants and deciding category winners takes about three days.
Mrs Thomas declared her passion for seeing Northern Tasmania prosper, and said it was an honour to judge the region’s best businesses.
“It’s an incredible process to be involved in and how much you learn about the businesses and the community of Northern Tasmania,” she said.
“I’m always astounded by the businesses and their applications.”
She said simply applying to the excellence awards allowed people to step back and assess the running of their operation.
“From a business perspective, making applications to the business awards makes the owners look and focus on their businesses as well to find ways to be innovative and find excellence,” she said.
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also considering entries for its Tasmanian Business Hall of Fame Awards.
Nominations closed on Sunday, ahead of a gala dinner on October 13.
The Launceston Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards will hold its evening on October 28.
For tickets,visit lcc.asn.au or phone 6331 9364.
