Poseidon Animal Health, a family-owned Australian animal supplement business, swept the 2026 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards on Friday night.
In a gala black tie evening at University Hall, Linda Goldspink-Lord and Peter Lord collected three awards - Business of the Year, Excellence in International Business, and Excellence in Medium Business (21-99 employees).
Judges praised the operation for its innovative approach in overseas expansion, growing revenue by 35 per cent and investing in the systems, people and knowledge needed to scale.
Homegrown clean-tech company Hysata was rewarded again for its continued growth, securing three awards, also: Employer of Choice (21+ employees), Excellence in Large Business (100+ employees), and Excellence in Innovation.
Check out all the winners - and don’t miss out on the six highly commended awards the judges couuldn’t resist handing out.
* Outstanding Employee: Brodie Mehey
Symbio Wildlife Park & Symbio Conservation Foundation
Recognised as a high-impact team member whose authenticity, initiative and leadership strengthen visitor experience, community outcomes and conservation impact.
* Outstanding Young Business Leader: Aaron Mulhall
Specialised Energy Solutions
Celebrated for strategic discipline, purposeful leadership and remarkable business growth, including annual growth exceeding 250 per cent since the business began.
* Outstanding Business Leader (<20 employees): Amy Hall
Banksia Support Services
Recognised for purpose-led leadership, clinical expertise, innovation and the creation of a values-driven specialist support organisation with strong community impact.
* Outstanding Business Leader – (21+ employees): Alisha Musker
The Cram Foundation
Honoured for inclusive leadership, strategic discipline and meaningful organisational change in disability support across the Illawarra.
* Excellence in International Business: Poseidon Animal Health
Recognised for disciplined export growth, strong customer focus and trusted international relationships taking Australian animal health innovation into global markets.
* Employer of Choice (<20 employees): Marketing Movement
Celebrated for building a strong workplace culture centred on innovation, inclusion, support and growth while maintaining commercial momentum.
* Employer of Choice (21+ employees): Hysata
Recognised for a people-first culture,vflexible work, generous leave provisions and thoughtful support for employeesvwithin a high-growth clean-energy business.
* Excellence in Innovation: Hysata
Honoured for breakthrough electrolyser technology, disciplined execution, strong investment backing and a clear commercial pathway for global clean-energy impact.
* Excellence in Sustainability: Green Gravity
Recognised for repurposing legacy mine infrastructure for renewable energy storage, combining sustainability, commercial opportunity and global clean-tech potential.
* Outstanding Community Organisation: CatholicCare Wollongong
Celebrated for more than 45 years of life-changing support, strategic clarity and enduring practical impact across individuals, families and communities.
* Outstanding New Business: Red Fox Pilates
Recognised for a strong launch, disciplined execution, community connection and immediate market demand, with classes booking out and waitlists forming quickly.
* Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion: The Flagstaff Group
Honoured for embedding inclusion across its organisation, building a diverse workforce and delivering lasting community.
* Excellence in Micro Business (0-5 employees): Banksia Support Services
Recognised as a specialist micro business with purpose, quality and ambition beyond its size, creating real impact for people with disability and professionals who support them.
* Excellence in Small Business (6-20 employees): Sprout Scientific
Celebrated for specialist expertise, innovation, strategic clarity and commercial momentum as a consultancy helping organisations secure funding and grow.
* Excellence in Medium Business (21-99 employees): Poseidon Animal Health
Recognised for strategic execution, 35 per cent revenue growth, US market expansion and investment in the systems, people and knowledge needed to scale.
* Excellence in Large Business (100+ employees): Hysata
Honoured for scaling world-leading clean-energy technology with discipline, commercial momentum and a signed capacity pipeline of approximately 10 gigawatts.
* Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing: EHD Concrete Sleepers
Recognised for embedding wellbeing into daily operations, including a reduced working week and people-focusedinitiatives linked to strong performance.
* Outstanding Local Chamber: Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce
Celebrated for renewed momentum, disciplined growth, practical support and a stronger collective voice for businesses across the Northern Illawarra.
* Outstanding Visitor Experience: Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour
Recognised for safe, accessible and memorable visitor experiences that authentically showcase the Illawarra’s coastline, waterways and natural environment.
* Outstanding Visitor & 24-Hour Economy Collaboration: nowra.org.au
Honoured for bringing business, arts, culture and community together to revitalise Nowra’s CBD and build evening-economy momentum.
* 2026 IMB Bank Illawarra Business of the Year: Poseidon Animal Health
Named Business of the Year for clear vision, disciplined execution, strategic international growth and outstanding achievement across the awards process.
The judges also awarded six highly commended this year. They are:
Tania Jones, Green Gravity (Outstanding employee): Recognised for clear leadership, commitment to inclusion and her ability to bring people together while helping turn Green Gravity’s clean-energy ambitions into practical outcomes.
Elise Sinclair, Waples Marketing Group (Outstanding Young Business Leader): Recognised for passion, commitment and emerging leadership, with judges noting her community engagement, creative innovation and ability to turn ideas into action.
The Flagstaff Group (Outstanding Community Organisation): Acknowledged for almost 60 years of creating employment, independence and belonging for people with disability, with strong innovation, leadership and practical community value.
Arkyn Civil (Outstanding New Business): Recognised for innovation, adaptability and strong early momentum as an emerging civil construction business with clear market demand and disciplined execution.
Interchange Shoalhaven (Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion): Acknowledged for its strong and practical commitment to inclusion, community impact and positive momentum in building long-term capability.
Supercalla (Excellence in Small Business 6-20 employees): Recognised for disciplined growth, strategic clarity and a premium visitor experience, lifting the standard of regional accommodation across the Shoalhaven and Kiama LGAs.