Today, 19 September, is National Family Business Day, which celebrates 70 per cent of all Australian businesses – many of which are in the food and packaging industries. Bundaberg Drinks and Matthews Australasia are among those honoured in the FBA awards.
Greg Griffith, CEO of FBA, says National Family Business Day recognises the contribution family business makes to the Australian economy and culture.
“Family Business Day acknowledges family businesses as the heartbeat of Australian commerce, employing 50 per cent of the Australian workforce.
“Most family businesses are Australian-owned, providing considerable investment and employment opportunities. When you spend money on a family-owned Australian business, it remains in our communities," Griffith said.
As part of National Family Business Day, FBA announced winners of its annual Family Business National Awards, and new inductees to the FBA Family Business Hall of Fame, at its Family Business Conference in Melbourne today.
The most prestigious category, the Distinguished Family Business of the Year Award, was presented to Seeley International, Australia’s largest air-conditioning manufacturer.
The FBA’s Next Generation Achiever Award was given to Amie Lyone, an executive with Complete Office Supplies (COS), which is Australia’s largest privately owned office products distributor.
FBA Chairman’s Award recipients included John McLean at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Angela Mary Ciliberto at C-Direct, Bill Noye at KPMG, and Graham Henderson at Mitchell Group Australia.
FBA’s Life Membership was awarded to Dr. Jill Thomas, in recognition of over 20 years’ outstanding service to Family Business Australia.
The Accredited Advisor Award was given to John Broons of Perth based Family Business consultancy John Broons Advisory.
2019 FBA Hall of Fame inductees include:
- Bowhill’s Engineering, specialist fabricated steel manufacturers:
- Colorific Australia, toy manufacturer
- Ella Baché, skincare and cosmetics
- Linneys Jewellery, Perth’s largest jewellery store
- Matthews Australasia, providing intelligent product identification and information driven manufacturing
- Matthews Real Estate, a Brisbane-based agency
- Normark Landscapes, a Melbourne-based landscaping firm
- Trendpac, manufacturing personal, household and industrial products since 1963
