Business NSW hosted the 2024 Northern Rivers Business Awards over the weekend in Ballina with strong representation from Lismore businesses.

The Norco Cooperative took out 2 of the 23 category wins, Outstanding Business Leader (21 employees and over) and Excellence in Sustainability, before winning the overall accolade.

The region’s 100% Australian farmer-owned dairy co-op began in Byron Bay in 1895. Now an iconic landmark in Lismore, Australia’s largest and oldest dairy cooperative was lauded with the award.  

The independent judges praised the Norco Co-operative team for its passion and commitment to business excellence and for their dedication to continuous improvement and approach to sustainable business practices. 

The 2024 Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Southern Cross University, was presented by Associate Professor John Haw from the University’s Law and Arts Faculty to the Norco Co-operative team.

“Norco Cooperative was a well-deserving winner of individual categories and recognised as a business that is dedicated to achieving results for their farming partners and has achieved outstanding results for business performance and demonstrating all-round excellence in business,” said Jane Laverty, Regional Director Northern Rivers, Business NSW. 

There were several category winners for Lismore, including Joel Jensen Constructions (JJC) for Excellence in Small Business and Excellence in Trade, Construction and Manufacturing. JJC won the Young Builder of the Year at the Masters Builders Association of NSW Awards held in Ballina in July.

Joel and Britt Jensen have been blown away by the acknowledgement they have received. 

“It’s special for our JJC family that always strives to go over and above for our clients. Special for our family who have been there and supported us from the start and special for the many amazing mentors and friends we are so lucky to be surrounded by that have helped or guided us on our business journey,” says Joel.

“JJC is 10 years old this year and we are still learning and still trying to improve wherever we can. We love what we do, love our team and really appreciate all of our clients for trusting us with their special projects.

“It's great recognition for the amazing work every single JJC legend smashes out day in and day out.”

(JJC Awards. Image credit, Joel Jensen)

In other awards, Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion was won by Social Futures, Excellence in Large Business was won by Cumulus Visual Effects and Outstanding Community Organisation winner was Women Up North.

Jillian Nightsmith, the CEO of WUNH is brimming with pride on receiving this award, "This award honours the trust of the over 900 women and children that sadly needed support through the Women Up North Domestic Family and Sexual Violence teams and Board.

"It honours the women and children at risk and in housing crisis, with above and beyond hardwork, dedication and heart.

"We are a Charity and give a big heart felt thanks to individual donors, the philanthropic❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 community and the state, local, federal and charitable funding bodies that backed this trust and enabled us to support many more people than our core funds would have allowed. It is a privilege and what this Award is about."

Many other Lismore businesses were acknowledged with a highly commended award, including the Lismore Lantern Festival for Excellence in Tourism, Recreational and Visitors Services. The full list can be found below.

“The Northern Rivers Business Awards are all about celebrating and showcasing the diverse talent we have in the Northern Rivers business community, and this year’s finalists and winners should feel incredibly proud to be named as the region’s leading businesses and leaders for 2024,” said Mrs Laverty.

“It was a wonderful night of celebration. You could feel the connection between everyone and the sense of comradery amongst a group of truly dedicated regional business leaders.” 

(All the winners from the 23 categories and Janelle Saffin MP at the front)

Winners of state-aligned categories will now represent the region at the State Business Awards to be held on 30 October in Sydney

“I am very much looking forward to seeing Team Northern Rivers, our regional winners, represent our broader business community on the state stage,” Mrs Laverty said.

“It’s been a tough few years for many businesses, so these awards are a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on the ingenuity, strength and resilience of all the finalists who also represented over 30,000 businesses now in the Northern Rivers.”

Northern Rivers 2024 Regional Business Awards - Winners & Highly Commended Recipients

Excellence in Retail & Personal Services, sponsored by Ballina Fair

Winner: Dinner is Served, Ballina Shire

Highly Commended: Studioeleven Hair & Beauty, Tweed Shire

Highly Commended: Hartleys Fresh Market, Ballina Shire

Excellence in Trade, Construction & Manufacturing, sponsored by Winslow

Winner: Joel Jensen Constructions, Lismore

Highly Commended: Highline All Electrical, Tweed Shire

Excellence in Business & Professional Services, sponsored by Clarence Property

Winner: Collins Hume, Ballina Shire

Highly Commended: Barefruit Marketing, Ballina Shire 

Highly Commended: Effective Workplace Solutions Tweed Shire

Excellence in Health, Care & Wellness Services, sponsored by ACE Community Colleges

Winner: Summerland Support Services, Richmond Valley

Highly Commended: Pure Health Therapies, Tweed Shire

Excellence in Agriculture & Primary Industries, sponsored by Sourdough Regeneration Connection

Winner: Woodland Valley Farm

Highly Commended: Five Sixty Farms, Lismore 

Highly Commended: Honey Bee Hives, Clarence Valley

Excellence in Tourism, Recreational and Visitor Services, sponsored by Ballina Coast & Hinterland

Winner: Potager

Highly Commended: Lismore Lantern Parade 

Outstanding Employee, sponsored by Commonwealth Bank

Winner: Paul ‘Bluey’ McDermott – Cherry Sports Group, Ballina Shire

Highly Commended: Suzie Slingsby, Zepto, Byron Shire

Outstanding Young Business Leader, sponsored by TAFE 

Winner: Paul Baker, McGloin Baker, Tweed Shire

Highly Commended: Grant Sinclair, Northern Rivers Health

Outstanding Business Leader (20 employees or under), sponsored by Ballina Byron Airport

Winner: Cate McQuillen, Mememe Productions, Richmond Valley

Highly Commended: Claudia Lawrence, Dinner is Served, Ballina Shire

Highly Commended: Peter Burr, Potager

Outstanding Business Leader (21 employees or over), sponsored by TURSA

Winner: Michael Hampson, Norco Cooperative, Lismore

Highly Commended: Damian Chapelle, NDC, Lismore

Excellence in International Business, sponsored by Northern Rivers NSW Brand

Winner: Cumulus Visual Effects

Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion, sponsored by TAFE

Winner: Social Futures. Lismore

Highly Commended: Autism Camp Australia, Tweed Shire

Highly Commended: Winchester Farm, Tweed Shire

Highly Commended: Summerland Support Services, Richmond Valley

Outstanding Local Chamber, sponsored by Business NSW

Winner: Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce

Highly Commended: Business Murwillumbah

Outstanding Community Organisation, sponsored by Northern Rivers Housing

Winner: Women Up North, Lismore

Highly Commended: Autism Camp Australia

Employer of Choice (20 employees or under), sponsored by ACE Community Colleges

Winner: Potager, Tweed Shire

Highly Commended: Barefruit Marketing

Employer of Choice (21 employees or over), sponsored by ACE Community Colleges

Winner: Southern Cross Credit Union, Regional offices

Highly Commended: Cyrstalbrook Byron, Byron Shire

Highly Commended: Newton Denny Chapelle, Lismore

Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Southern Cross University

Winner: Christie & Christie – The Nail Snail, Tweed Shire

Highly Commended: Local Sounds Radio, Lismore

Highly Commended: Cherry Sports Group, Ballina

Highly Commended: Moneysmith Group, Tweed

Excellence in Sustainability, sponsored by Social Futures

Winner: Norco Co-operative, Lismore

Highly Commended: Mememe Productions

Highly Commended: ENV Solutions, Ballina

Highly Commended: Summerland Bank, Regional

Outstanding Visitor Experience, sponsored by Ballina Shire Council

Winner: Farm & Co Restaurant, Tweed

Highly Commended: Ballina RSL

Outstanding New Business, sponsored by Ballina RSL

Winner: Terania Consulting

Highly Commended: Better by Bike

Excellence in Micro Business, sponsored Telstra

Winner: Off the Rails, Byron Shire

Highly Commended: 2020 Smokehouse BBQ

Excellence in Small Business, sponsored by Commonwealth Bank

Winner: Joel Jensen Constructions, Lismore

Highly Commended: Mememe Productions, Richmond Valley

Excellence in Large Business, sponsored by TURSA

Winner: Cumulus Visual Effects, Lismore

Highly Commended: ENV Solutions, Ballina