10. Outstanding Young Business Leader

The Outstanding Young Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader, aged 35 or under at the time of entry, who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve successful outcomes and drive innovation over the past 18 months. To be eligible for this category, the individual must have held a senior management or executive-level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

Award eligibility check box

  • I am aged 35 years or under at the time of entry.
  • I am not an employee, Regional President, State Councillor or Board Member of NSW Business Chamber Limited.
  • I have not been a judge in this category in 2024.
  • I am not a judge in the 2025 Business Awards program.
  1. Provide a brief profile, including your current role and scope of responsibilities.
    Maximum word count: 200
  2. Detail specific activities and initiatives you have undertaken to reshape your workplace, industry, or community to create a smarter and more inclusive future, with examples of how you have demonstrated exceptional leadership, effectively utilised resources, and/or driven innovation.
    Maximum word count: 400
  3. Describe the key challenges you have faced as a young business leader and how you overcame them.
    Maximum word count: 300
  4. Provide an overview of your five-year goals and strategies for business growth, detailing how you are working towards achieving them.
    Maximum word count: 300
  5. Outline the reasons why you are an outstanding young business leader.
    Maximum word count: 400

Before you proceed:

  • Please reference the Rules of Entry via the entry portal
  • Check the eligibility criteria at the top of the category you wish to enter

Information you need to know:

  • Your business is required to operate in the Tweed Shire at the time of entry, judging and the Awards ceremony on 8 August 2025.
  • The qualifying period is the 2024 calendar year i.e. January to December 2024. Questions referring to the past 12 months should cover this period. Questions relating to the past 24 months cover the period between January 2023 – December 2024.
  • All submissions are subject to a strict word count limit. The maximum word count for each question is specified directly under the question itself. You will be unable to write more than the set word count limit.
  • We encourage you to draft your entry in a Word document, then upload the finalised version to the Business NSW portal. All submissions must be uploaded to the award portal to qualify for entry.
  • Your entry may be edited until the closing time of 5.00pm on 12 June 2025. However, once you click SUBMIT, your entry cannot be edited.
  • All questions must be answered, and criteria addressed.
  • Ensure your answers are clear and concise. Avoid using jargon and acronyms.
  • Refrain from repeating the same content and validate all statements and claims with supporting evidence.
  • Ensure your entries are proofread carefully – check for spelling, grammatical and typographical errors.
  • NOTE: The submission deadline is final. NO EXTENSIONS will be provided. The Business NSW portal will automatically prevent submissions being entered after the deadline has passed.
  • We strongly urge you to get your submission in well before the closing date!