2000 WINNERS

The 2000 Awards produced a record number of 67 finalists, of which 15 companies came from regional Australia.

WINNERS PROFILE

2000 DHL AUSTRALIAN EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Austal Ships

Western Australian based ship builder, Austal Ships Pty Ltd was named as the 2000 DHL Australian Exporter of the Year at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12. Austal Ships was selected ahead of 67 other national finalists in nine categories and also won the 2000 Large Advanced Manufacturer award. Austal Ships is a true Australian export success story. They have achieved world leadership in the aluminium shipbuilding industry. Commencing operations in 1988, Austal's export earnings have continually grown and in the past five years, Austal has earned close to $1 billion in export earnings for Western Australia. The company is a significant employer, employing some 1,300 West Australians at its Henderson facility in WA.

Columbus Line AGRIBUSINESS AWARD
Winner: BRL Hardy Ltd

South Australian company BRL Hardy is Australia's biggest wine producer and one of the top ten wine groups in the world. It has achieved this status in eight years, since the groups formation in 1992 through the merger of respected South Australian wineries, Berri Renmano and Thomas Hardy & Sons, the company has achieved uninterrupted annual sales and profit growth since its formation. A dedicated focus on producing premium bottled Australian wines and taking them to other parts of the world has reaped enormous results for BRL Hardy. The wine producer sells to more than 60 countries and its Hardy brand is one of the top three selling wines in the UK.

Austrade ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
Winner: Shock Exports.Com

Victorian company Shock Exports. Com (SEC) Pty Ltd topped Australia's cultural exporters by winning the Arts and Entertainment category at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12.
Based in Northcote, SEC is helping to build on Australia's reputation as a global centre for exciting new music. SEC is the leading supplier of Australian music and locally manufactured entertainment products, exporting to over 650 customers in major markets including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, The Middle East and Africa. The company specialises in CD's, DVD's, videos and other related music and entertainment products. With a 20% growth in exports in 2000, the company earned close to $14 million in global sales and exports now account for nearly 30 % of its total earnings.

IDP Education Australia EDUCATION AWARD
Winner: University of New South Wales

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) topped the best of Australia's education exporters to win the national Education award at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12trh.
With 7200 international students in degree programs plus over 1000 students in pre-university programs, UNSW has the largest on-campus enrolment of international students in Australia, and possibly the world.
UNSW has established itself as a world benchmark for effective and successful export of education and quality support services for International students drawn from over 90 countries. UNSW has been ranked in the top 10 universities in Asia by Asia-Week magazine for four successive years.

AusIndustry EMERGING EXPORTER AWARD
Winner: Securency Pty Ltd

Victorian-based Securency topped the best of Australia's emerging exporters by winning the national Emerging Exporters category at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12th.
Securency is responsible for the marketing, production and supply of polymer substrates for banknotes and other security documents. Listed amongst the ten most significant Australian inventions of the twentieth century, polymer technology for banknotes is the result of a 20-year search for increased security against the growing threat of counterfeiting. This joint venture between the Reserve Bank of Australia and UCB- a Belgium multinational films, pharmaceutical and chemicals company, has contributed over $35 million to Australian exports since inception in 1996.

Hewlett Packard INFORMATION INDUSTRIES AWARD
Winner: Lasata Software

Western Australian software company Lasata Software topped the best of Australia's IT exporters by winning the national Information Industries award at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12th.
Innovative design has been the hallmark of Lasata Software's Vision range of products, which are now licensed for use by more than 48,000 users within 5600 clients in over 140 countries. Vision products can be viewed in a range of languages. They can accommodate multiple currencies and can be used by executives without computer training.

Australian Made LARGE ADVANCED MANUFACTURER AWARD
Winner: Austal Ships

Western Australian based ship builder, Austal Ships Pty Ltd was named as the 2000 DHL Australian Exporter of the Year at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12. Austal Ships was selected ahead of 67 other national finalists in nine categories and also won the 2000 Large Advanced Manufacturer award. Austal Ships is a true Australian export success story. They have achieved world leadership in the aluminium shipbuilding industry. Commencing operations in 1988, Austal's export earnings have continually grown and in the past five years, Austal has earned close to $1 billion in export earnings for Western Australia. The company is a significant employer, employing some 1,300 West Australians at its Henderson facility in WA.

Melbourne Port Corporation Authority MINERALS AWARD
Winner: Woodside Energy Pty Ltd

Perth based Woodside Energy Ltd topped the very best of Australia's mineral exporters to win the national Minerals category at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12th.
Woodside Energy operates the $12 billion North West Shelf Gas Venture, Australia's biggest resource project, with five joint venture participants. During the last 16 years the venture has established the reputation as one of the world's most reliable long-term suppliers of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Last year, it achieved a record 128 export cargoes to Japan and a further six cargoes of surplus LNG to the US spot market. The venture now delivers 38 % of Australia's hydrocarbon production.

Australian Business Limited SERVICES AWARD
Winner: Northern Territory Adventure Tours

Northern Territory Adventure Tours (NTAT) topped the best of Australia's service exporters to win the national Services category at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12.
The company has a fleet of 80 air-conditioned vehicles including buses and off road vehicles which take visitors to over 20 campsites. Since 1994-95, total revenues from overseas have grown from $2million to $16.5 million and now contribute 95% of the company's total sales. Over 60% of the tourist operator's customers are from the UK, Germany and Holland with a further 7% from Japan and 9% from North America.

Commonwealth Bank SMALL TO MEDIUM MANUFACTURER
Winner: Bishop Steeling Technology

Sydney based Bishop Steering Technology topped the best of Australia's exporters to win the national Small to Medium Manufacturing award at the Westin hotel in Sydney on December 12th.
Bishop Steering Technology is recognised around the world as a leader in automotive steering gear technology innovation. Their technology is used in 20% of all passenger cars produced every year around the world.

Austrade INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Winner: Tunku Shahabuddin bin Tunku Besar Burhanuddin

The Chairman of the Malaysian Australian Business Council (MABC) Tunku Shahabuddin topped a strong field of International export leaders to win Australia's most prestigious international business award.
This award recognised export leaders for their outstanding contribution in fostering close commercial relations with Australia.
Tunku has provided a wealth of international business and trade advice for both Australian and Malaysian companies. He has also participated regularly in Joint Trade Committee meetings between the Australian and Malaysian governments. He has been instrumental in developing stronger trade relations with Australia and played a major role in helping his country become Australia's tenth largest trading partner.