After last year’s successful inaugural event, we are introducing new award categories and have enlisted the help of South Australia’s Chief Entrepreneur Jim Whalley to chair the judging panel.

Whalley will be joined by an assessment panel representing the South Australian business community who will identify 40 young business leaders who have been outstanding in creating or growing a business in this state.

The 40 winners will be announced and celebrated at a gala event at the National Wine Centre on Thursday, June 6.

If you know a rising South Australian business star you can nominate them here.

All finalists will receive an invitation to the following:

• One-day Business Growth Seminar presented by the Centre for Business Growth at UniSA, facilitated by Dr Jana Matthews – with thanks to ANZ.
• Bespoke legal workshop presented by Piper Alderman.
• Business development and governance workshop, with thanks to the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
• Opportunity to connect with like-minded business leaders at an event hosted by Renewal SA.

Finalists will also be profiled on InDaily and receive a ticket to the gala awards night, valued at $155.

A number of new individual award categories have been introduced this year and will include:

Inspiring Disruptor Award – sponsored by OTR

Creative Thinker Award – sponsored by KWP!

Inspiring Future Collaboration Award – sponsored by Renewal SA

Rural and Regional Award – sponsored by Piper Alderman

First Among Equals Award –  sponsored by the Australian Institute of Company Directors

The awards have attracted support from the local business community with foundation sponsors Piper Alderman and KWP! being joined by Renewal SA, OTR and the ANZ.

As well as Jim Whalley, the judging panel will include Brendan Rinaldi, state manager at ANZ, Renee Draper, Head of People at Peregrine Corporation, David O’Loughlin, CEO of KWP!, Jim Plouffe, Editor of The Lead South Australia, Bianca Jennings, Partner at Piper Alderman, Carmen Garcia, managing director of Community Corporate and inaugural winner of the 40 Under 40 state contribution award, and Dr Sebastian Rees, general manager of Genwise Health and inaugural winner of the 40 Under 40 First Among Equals award.

InDaily editor David Washington said last year’s inaugural 40 Under 40 awards showed there was a widespread desire in the local business community to recognise and support up and coming leaders.

“We were overwhelmed by the support and positivity generated by the first 40 Under 40 awards, so we are keen to make it a key event in the state’s annual business calendar,” he said.

“Last year’s awards were a great learning experience about how our younger business leaders feel about doing business in South Australia.

“We uncovered a generation of driven and creative people who were lucid about the benefits of working from South Australia – and equally clear-eyed about the challenges. We can learn a lot from their experiences.”