Excitement is building across the Sunshine Coast business community following Thursday’s finalist event at Noosa Springs, marking the countdown to the 30th anniversary Sunshine Coast Business Awards Gala.
More than 130 finalists gathered alongside the Mayors of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa, sponsors and judges to celebrate their achievement, connect with peers, and gain insights from keynote speaker Ian Hopkinson – founder of Mad Scientist Digital and recognised AI expert – on the future of business innovation in an era of artificial intelligence.
This year’s Awards have already broken records, with 263 entries submitted – the highest in the event’s three-decade history. There will also be a record six businesses inducted into the hall of fame – an accolade exclusive to businesses who win their category for three consecutive years.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair, Jennifer Swaine, said the milestone year represents not only growth but also the strength of the region’s business community.
“This event is always special, but this year there’s an incredible sense of pride and momentum as we celebrate 30 years of recognising business excellence on the Sunshine Coast,” Swaine said.
“The Finalist Event gives our businesses, sponsors and supporters a chance to come together ahead of the Gala to connect and learn more about each other as we celebrate their finalist status. With record entries, two Mayors in the room, and a speaker challenging us to think about how AI will shape our future, it’s clear our local business community continues to evolve, embrace innovation, and shape a vibrant future for the Sunshine Coast.”
The 2025 Sunshine Coast Business Awards Gala will take place on Saturday 8 November, where category winners and Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in front of an audience of more than 900 attendees.
The Awards are made possible thanks to the support of sponsors including naming rights sponsor Coraggio.
