The best of the best from the Hunter region were acknowledged and awarded last week at the 2019 Hunter Business Awards. More than 600 people attended the event to witness 17 businesses and individuals honoured. Among the noted winners were Newcastle Airport and Lake Macquarie City Council. Newcastle Airport CEO Peter Cock and council CEO Morven Cameron were declared joint winners of the Business Leader of the Year Award. The airport also claimed the President's Award, the major award for organisations that have added a special value to business efforts in the Hunter region. The Kristen Keegan Young Business Executive Award was won by Martin Corrigan, an operations superintendent at Port Waratah Coal Services. Young Entrepreneur of the Year was Jade Chislett, whose company Just Like You Dolls creates custom-made dolls for children with disabilities who wear medical devices. Chamber CEO Bob Hawes congratulated all winners and the high-calibre field of finalists. "Our annual awards night shows the great strength and diversity of business and industry across the region, from start ups and micro businesses to major organisations across a range of sectors," he said. "The joint winners of our Business Leader of the Year Award are a perfect illustration of that diversity. Although Peter and Morven come from very different sectors serving substantially different markets, they both bring strong personal attributes to their roles that have significantly influenced the direction and corporate culture of their organisations."

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