The 13th annual Awards recognise the best Australian business leaders in a black-tie ceremony hosted by Larry Emdur at The Star Sydney and attended by the likes of mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
Glenn McGrath, Louise Baxter, and James Thornton were among the business leaders honoured at The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards.
Gina Rinehart and Gerhard Veldsman.
Glenn McGrath
McGrath was presented with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work championing breast cancer awareness in his role as president of the McGrath Foundation. Together with his late wife, Jane, McGrath established the McGrath Foundation to address the chronic shortage of breast care nurses across Australia, particularly in rural and regional Australia.
Today, the Foundation supports over 233 breast care nurses, positively impacting the lives of thousands of Australians affected by breast cancer.
McGrath said: “Reflecting on my journey both on and off the field, I’m humbled by the support I’ve received along the way. Founding the McGrath Foundation with Jane was a shared dream to make a meaningful impact, and thanks to the generosity of so many Australians, that vision has grown beyond anything we could have imagined.
“Jane never wanted it to be about her or me; it’s about supporting families and the incredible work of our McGrath nurses. The success of the foundation today is due to our incredible team, who are as committed and passionate as ever.
“Knowing that our McGrath Breast Care Nurses now support thousands of women and families across the country fills me with immense pride. Tonight is a celebration of what we can accomplish when we come together.”
Glenn McGrath and wife Sara Leonardi
The CEO Magazine Founder, Chris Dutton, said: “Glenn McGrath epitomises what it means to be an exceptional leader both on and off the field. His dedication to excellence in sport and his tireless work with the McGrath Foundation have left an indelible mark on Australia.
“We are proud to honour Glenn with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating not only his iconic achievements in cricket but also his profound contributions to healthcare and community support across the nation. His legacy is an inspiration, demonstrating the incredible impact one individual can have when driven by purpose and compassion,” Dutton added
The CEO Magazine also introduced a new award category – the 100% Human at Work Award that recognises organisations that prioritise people and embrace core values of respect, equity, growth, belonging, and purpose. The award was won by Mirvac for its exceptional commitment to redefining the future of work and celebrates their innovative approach to workplace culture, including technology-driven workspace optimisation, leadership in mental health, and a sustained dedication to gender equity.
Sheetal Vyas, managing director of Virgin Unite said: “I am incredibly proud of the global movement that 100% Human at Work has been able to shape. We see this as a pivotal moment for all businesses to collaborate and shape a more human future of work. Building business and ways of working that serve humanity and create a better future for current and future generations.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work together with The CEO Magazine for this award, which celebrates companies that truly show the spirit of 100% Human at Work.”
Larry Emdur, Anna and Chris Dutton
Overall CEO of The Year
James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, was awarded the coveted CEO of the Year Award. Since joining nearly 20 years ago, he has led the company as its first non-founding CEO, achieving B Corp certification in 2018 and steering it through significant milestones, including record growth and pandemic recovery.
In 2021, he secured a record capital raise from Genairgy, and in 2023, Intrepid Travel reached its strongest financial and impact results. A member of the World Travel & Tourism Council Executive Committee and YPO, Thornton advocates for balancing purpose with profit, believing the private sector is crucial in addressing social and environmental challenges.
James Thornton
Thornton said: “It’s incredible for a small Melbourne-based adventure travel company to receive such recognition. At Intrepid, our mission has always been to create positive change through the joy of travel. In a world facing both geopolitical divides and a climate crisis, we believe travel reminds us of our shared humanity.
“Meeting people from different cultures and experiencing new places can ultimately make the world a better place. That’s been Intrepid’s purpose for the past 35 years.”
Louise Baxter, CEO and Executive Director of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and Gerhard Veldsman, CEO Group Operations at Roy Hill Holdings, were recognised as runner-up and highly commended in the Overall CEO of the Year category, respectively. Gina Rinehart attended the event in honour of Gerhard Veldman’s award.
Meanwhile in the media industry space Judy Sahay, the CEO and managing director of Crowd Media Group, was named winner in the CEO of the Year Professional Services, followed by runner up Jason Tonelli, CEO of Zenith Media.
Louise Baxter, James Thornton, Gerhard Veldsman
Gina Rinehart and Gerhard Veldsman
100% Human At Work
Mirvac was recognised as a frontrunner for the 100% Human at Work Award due to its comprehensive initiatives that reimagine the modern workplace. Notably, Mirvac leverages AI and data analytics to create adaptive workspaces that meet evolving demands, outlined in their recent whitepaper, The Workplace of the Future. Mirvac’s proactive stance on mental health, including alignment with new psychosocial legislation and a commitment to stress mitigation, sets a new standard for organisational resilience and employee wellbeing.
The company is also a leader in closing the gender pay gap, having maintained a 0% like-for-like pay gap for the eighth consecutive year. By championing female representation in senior roles and traditionally male-dominated fields such as construction, Mirvac underscores its dedication to equality and inclusion.
Mirvac’s Group CEO and managing director, Campbell Hanan said: “We are incredibly proud of this recognition today. We have worked hard on real change and implementation for ten years to be recognised as leading the way when it comes to a people-first culture as well as in gender equity, in a tangible and authentic way, rather than just in quotas and policies.
Judy Sahay
Jason Tonelli
“We are delighted with our progress and impact to date; however, we know our work is ongoing. The property and construction sectors have made excellent progress, but there is more to be done, and Mirvac is fully committed to striving for our sector to be a place where everyone feels they belong.”
Intrepid Travel was honoured as the runner-up in this category, applauded for its commitment and dedication to creating an inclusive, empowering and supportive workplace.
During the glamorous, black-tie event, guests enjoyed performances by Sydney contemporary harpist Rebekah Chandler, multi-award-winning violinist Yena leading the Strings of Life quintet, Australian singer-songwriter Reigan and DJ Claire Elliott, one of the world’s most in-demand and trusted female DJs.
The judging panel included Christine Holgate, CEO, Team Global Express; Ronni Kahn, CEO and Founder, OzHarvest; John Karagounis, Executive Chair, The CEO Circle; Colleen Callander, Former Sportsgirl CEO, Author and Keynote Speaker; Lorna Jane Clarkson, Founder, Lorna Jane; Jose Da Silva, Group CEO & Executive Director, Wilson Group; Mark Nielsen, Global CEO, Talent International; Miles Wilson, CEO, O’Brien Glass; Travis Auld, CEO, Australian Grand Prix Corporation; Chris Dutton, Founder, The CEO Magazine and Anna Dutton, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The CEO Magazine.
Anna Dutton and Christine Holgate
Winners of The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards 2024
OVERALL CEO OF THE YEAR
Winner: James Thornton CEO Intrepid Travel
Runner-up: Louise Baxter CEO & Executive Director Starlight Children’s Foundation
Highly Commended: Gerhard Veldsman CEO Operations Hancock Prospecting (Roy Hill)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Glenn McGrath McGrath Foundation
100% HUMAN AT WORK
Winner: Mirvac
Runner-up: Intrepid Travel
CEO of the Year Banking, Financial Services & Insurance
Winner: Christian Stevens CEO & Co-Founder Flint & Farmers Finance Australia
Runner-up: Kate Farrar CEO Brighter Super
CEO of the Year Construction, Transport & Logistics
Winner: Pat Tallon CEO Civmec
Runner-up: Sam El Rihani Chairman & Founder Decode Group
CEO of the Year Energy & Mining
Winner: Gerhard Veldsman CEO Group Operations Roy Hill Holdings
Runner-up: Guy Chalkley CEO Endeavour Energy
CEO of the Year Healthcare
Winner: Yasser Zaki Global CEO Tender Loving Care
Runner-up: Raj Khillan Director Western Specialist Centre
CEO of the Year IT & Telecommunications
Winner: John Paitaridis CEO & Founder CyberCX
Runner-up: Gavriel Schneider Group CEO Risk 2 Solution
CEO of the Year Manufacturing
Winner: Pamela Jabbour CEO & Founder Total Image Group
Runner-up: Martin-Ulrich Ripple Group CEO ANCA CNC Machines
CEO of the Year Not-for-Profit
Winner: Louise Baxter CEO & Executive Director Starlight Children’s Foundation
Runner-up: Scott Maggs CEO & Founder Skin Check Champions
CEO of the Year Professional Services
Winner: Judy Sahay CEO & Managing Director Crowd Media Group
Runner-up: Jason Tonelli CEO Zenith Media
CEO of the Year Property Development & Real Estate
Winner: Anouk Darling CEO Scape Australia Management
Runner-up: Daniel Laruccia CEO, Founder & Managing Director Spyre Group
CEO of the Year Consumer & Lifestyle
Winner: James Thornton CEO Intrepid Travel
Runner-up: Susan Wheeldon Country Director AU, NZ & Ocea