The cut and thrust of federal politics may be long behind her but, for former Howard minister Amanda Vanstone, there were echoes of the Canberra battleground when imparting wise advice to South Australia’s brightest business minds.

“You can be in leadership but not be a leader,” Vanstone told guests at the 2015 Industry Leaders Fund awards last night.

“You need the capacity to bring out the best in a team… You don’t raise yourself up by cutting other people down.

“You can never rise to the top over the carcasses of people.”

In a witty speech to a 300-strong business audience, the former SA Senator and Ambassador to Italy made loose reference to the recent Liberal leadership challenge and the toppling of Tony Abbott as PM by Malcolm Turnbull.

Vanstone also made a pitch for South Australia as a good place to do business.

She said Adelaide as a business base could now compete with the best and local talent no longer needed to be lost to other states in order to grow.

Technology gave SA business the opportunities to build and engage with customers around the world while remaining in the state.

“All these people who say ‘I wish I was living in Sydney’ – why don’t you go?

“Make it happen [here in Adelaide]. Most things you can do anywhere.”

Vanstone said any business, fledgling and established, were only as good as its team and managers must make sure they knew it.

“When you’re not good at [it] then get someone who is good at it and get them in your team.

“Take the success and take the losses as well and give it to the people under you.”

And last words? An echo from last week’s leadership reshuffle?

“Face problems head on, they’re not going to go away. Treat the infection before the leg has to be cut off.”

For the fifth consecutive year, SA’s best in business were brought together and presented with grants ranging from $5000 to $25,000 to further their education.

“Today is a red-letter day in the history of the ILF,” fund chief executive officer Geoff Vogt told the crowd gathered at the National Wine Centre.

“Tonight you will see $235,000 of awards announced, total to date [above] $1 million.”

Grants were awarded to 21 emerging business leaders who will use the money to further their training at institutions around the country and the world.

Created in 2009, the ILF Scholarship has helped create or immediately planned 45 new jobs for the state, with the average cost per job of about $19,000.

“Investing in leaders’ brains provides long-term benefits, unlike some employment generation schemes that invest in depreciating plant that may likely be overtaken by technology in the relatively short term,” Vogt said.

2015 ILF recipients

Darren Turner: MiniJumbuk, managing director, $25,000 – Global CEO Program, IESE Business School, Spain

Turner was inspired to build his business, based in Naracoorte, when a local sheep shearer began experimenting with the best wool to create quilts. Since 1975, MiniJumbuk has grown to be a wolrd leader in design and manufacture of bedding products.

Dr Cindy Dennis: business development manager, group general manager, Lightforce Australia Pty Ltd, $20,000 – General Manager Program, Harvard Business School, United States

Benjamin Rowe: Brauer Natural Medicine, chief executive officer, $20,000 – Advanced Management Program, INSEAD Singapore

Ulli Spranz: B-d. Farm Paris Creek Pty Ltd, managing director and owner (dairy), $20,000 – Owner president manager program, Harvard Business School US

Kelly Keates: Zonge Engineering, managing director and owner, $15,000 – Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Program Said Business School, United Kingdon

Jarrod Starkey: Whyalla Hose & Fitting Services Pty Ltd, general manager, $15,000 – Master of Business Administration, Australian Institute of Business

Kym Welsby: Clearswift, engineering manager/global product manager, $15,000 – International directors program, INSEAD, France

Graham Hannah: Hostworks, chief operating officer, $12,000 – Senior Executive program, Melbourne Business School

Chris Hartwig: Korvest Ltd, executive general manager, $12,000 – Leading global business program, Harvard Business School US

Victoria Angove: Angove Family Winemakers, executive director, $10,000 – Building and Sustaining a successful enterprise program, Harvard Business School, US

Chris Henry: Austofix, general manager, $10,000 – High performance people skills for leaders program, London Business School, UK

Dr Richard Stewart: Ziltek Pty Ltd, co-founder and managing director, $10,000 – Leading product innovation program, Harvard Business School US

Dr Jordan Parham: FCT Combustion, engineering manager, $10,000 – Advanced management program, Melbourne Business School

Ryan George: Mayfield Industries, estimator, $6000 – Graduate certificate of business administration, Torrens University

Sophie Betts: Lenswood Cold Stores Cooperative Society Ltd, commercial manager (cool-climate fruit), $5000 – Produce executive program, Melbourne Business School

Wayne Duffy: Dulwich Bakery, managing director, $5000 – Leading for strategic success program, Melbourne Business School

Dr Douglas Fahlbusch: Perioperative Solutions Pty Ltd, business owner and director, $5000 Excellence in the patience experience course, Ritz-Carlton Leadership Centre, US and Innovating Health for Tomorrow Program, INSEAD, France

Benjamin Macey: GPA Engineering, electrical and instrument engineer, $5000 – New leaders development program, Melbourne Business School

Michael Peachey: Wellness & Lifestyles Care Services, chief executive officer, $5000 – Company directors courts, Australian Institute of Company Directors`

Tom Williams: Machinist, BAE Systems Australia, cell leader, $5000 – Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Adelaide

Claire Wood: Careme Pastry, business owner, $5000 – Company directors course, Australian Institute of Company Directors