The 30th Sunshine Coast Business Awards (SCBA) 2025 held at Novotel Twin Waters Resort on Saturday celebrated the dedication of local businesses at SCBA’s biggest gala yet.
Arriving in red-carpet style, the finalists gathered for the Coast’s annual ‘night of nights’.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said this year saw a record-breaking 137 finalists and 263 entries, with 22 of those finalists from Noosa.
The night opened with illusionist duo Soul Mystique, but the real magic was found in those who make the awards possible.
SCBA Chair Jennifer Swayne addressed the audience with grace during her welcome speech.
”For 30 years, these awards have celebrated the beating heart of our economy, our businesses, large and small. And tonight, as we look ahead to the next 30 years, we do so with pride, optimism, and immense gratitude. So, let’s raise a glass to you – the entrepreneurs, to the creators, and the change-makers who continue to make the Sunshine Coast shine,’’ she said.
But only one company could take home the ultimate accolade.
Almost 1000 guests packed the grand ballroom, waiting in anticipation during a drumroll as Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli announced the winner.
“The Winner of the 2025 Business of the Year is Noosa Black Garlic!’’
In just a few years, the multi-award-winning business based at Coolum Beach has come a long way, supplying gourmet retailers and restaurants nationwide with locally sourced produce.
Noosa Black Garlic also won the Food and Agribusiness Award (small business).
Tony and Teneille Newton accepted the award together, celebrating the success of their locally made black garlic products.
“Our small humble business started out four years ago. We had a little old table with a shabby old tablecloth at Peregian Beach Markets,’’ Tony said.
“We are committed to produce, to make, and to execute our product here on the Sunshine Coast.”
“We love the Sunshine Coast. We had no idea what we were doing when we started this. We just wanted a creative outlet, and four years later, this is where you can end up with persistence. Just show up when no-one else does, always show up. We love you!’’ Tenielle said.
As part of a unique ageing process, Noosa Black Garlic turns white garlic into sweet, savoury-rich black cloves without additives or odour.
Ms Newton, a qualified, experienced naturopath, who was awarded 2024 Small Business Woman of the Year, is passionate about her product.
“We age it to perfection, turning it into the ‘truffle of the garlic world,’’ Tenielle said.
“No one here is getting garlic breath tonight if you eat Noosa Black Garlic.
“You can still make out on the dance floor later, no judgement!” Tenielle said, drawing laughter from the audience.
But she was not the only one to entertain the crowd. Emcee Shane Jacobson returned for a fourth year, keeping everyone in stitches with his trademark humour throughout the evening.
Amid the laughter and celebration, the awards also shone a spotlight on other businesses making a meaningful impact.
Cr Wilkie highlighted the region’s UNESCO Biosphere status, praising over 70 businesses in the Sustainability Category for balancing environmental care with economic growth.
“As you know, Noosa and Sunshine Coast Local Government areas are both UNESCO Biospheres – areas recognised for the way human development has occurred whilst respecting and preserving the environment and natural resources of the area,’’ Cr Wilkie said.
“Over 70 businesses elected to participate in the Sustainability Category. They understand that protecting our environment is key to preserving our lifestyle, and as time goes by, nurturing an increasingly prosperous economy, all of which will be inherited by our children, and theirs.”
Two businesses from the Noosa Shire won the Sustainability awards. Eastwell Farms, which focuses on the power of regenerative farming, and works closely with Slow Food Noosa (small business) won, while multi award-winner Laguna Pest Control took out the large business category.
In an interview posted on the Sunshine Coast Business Awards 2025 Facebook page, Laguna Pest Control owners Jay and Nicky Turner reflected on their commitment to sustainability, describing their journey that led to an epiphany.
“Pest control and sustainability are not two words that normally go hand in hand,’’ Jay said.
“You’ll find that pest controllers are very passionate about what they do. We don’t want that stigma of killing or burning everything,’’ he said.
“We’re always looking at alternative ways, and like to embrace that green-approach to come up with new methods, like our no spray-pest management program, and rescue-honey, where we relocate bees’ swarms, instead of killing them.”
Nicky said the couple’s shift toward sustainability came after Jay’s cancer diagnosis, just two weeks after winning Australian Pest Manager of the Year in 2017.
“From there, I really wanted to fully embrace a green approach, and it changed the way we think about pest control,’’ Nicky said.
This commitment to sustainability and innovation reflects a growing focus among Sunshine Coast businesses on balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility, a theme echoed by the region’s leaders.
“Sunshine Coast Council has been a proud sponsor all of the way along with these awards because this program is more than just a celebration. It is a cornerstone of the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Program, what we do,’’ Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli told the
audience.
“Over this weekend there’s a ship sitting about a kilometer off the Coast, bringing a cable. It is our second submarine cable and will land in a few days here in Maroochydore. Another cable where we’ve partnered with Google.”
“This brings enormous opportunities to the Sunshine Coast for innovation, for high-speed internet, for data, and it will link into NEXT DC data centre.
For those on the edge of innovation on the Sunshine Coast, you should feel very excited as I do, because the future is here now, and it is unfolding and we are all part of that.”
One business leading the charge in technology and export excellence across the region is Advanced Aquarium Technologies, which won both the Building and Construction (large) and Export (large) awards.
Chief operating officer Tim Eldridge made a significant point during his acceptance speech as he accepted the Export Award on behalf of his team.
“Our team is constantly moving around the world doing international work and over 85 per cent of our revenue here in Australia is based on international activity,” Mr Eldridge said.
“But it’s not just the export piece, it’s the entrepreneurship and I’ll tell you a short story, which is a tribute to our boss John Langmead. We have this
extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit in our company that is entirely driven by John. He sees opportunities and he grabs them with both hands, and he
figures out a way to make it happen.
“A great example is at the beginning of this year we heard a story from one of our overseas colleagues about a particular weed that was taking over marine ecosystems off the coast of New Zealand. With our engineering department, we figured out a way to put some technology on an underwater drone driven by robotics that flies along the surface of the seabed and kills this particular toxic weed. And the New Zealand Government has given us a lot of money to expand this program in New Zealand. We’re super excited about it.
“But it’s just a great example of when you take a lot of knowledge, a lot of entrepreneurship, and a lot of skill, and you say, ‘let’s go do it and make it happen’, and that’s what we did.”
Major sponsor Corragio celebrated the SCBAs’ success, with CEO Richard Skarzynski praising the event for uniting entrepreneurs.
“Congratulations to Jennifer Swayne and the team,’’ Mr Skarzynski said.
“Across the five locations – Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne – this is by far the biggest event out of all of them when it comes to bringing entrepreneurs together.”
The gala ended with the funky band Amplify, as the crowd danced without a trace of garlic breath on the dance floor.
The Hall of Inductees nominees were Maleny Dairies, First Light Fabrication, Amaze World, Your Brand Crew (YBC), Grease Boss and Mercure Hotels.
For more information on other winners, log onto: sunshinecoastbusinessawards.com.au
