Security, coffee, wireless communication and mining are the diverse areas of business behind this year’s Northern Region winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program.

Steve Brabeck of Crimsafe Security Systems, Phillip Di Bella of Di Bella Coffee, Michael Symes of Triasx Pty Ltd and Robin Levison of Industrea were named the region’s best entrepreneurs at an awards dinner in Brisbane last night.

Ernst & Young Queensland Regional Managing Partner Jenny Parker says the calibre of the winners and finalists shows that Queensland shines when it comes to entrepreneurial talent.

“We look forward to watching these entrepreneurs continue to grow their businesses and contribute to the Queensland and Australian economies and communities.”

The 12 Northern Region finalists in the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program between them employ 1,125 people and generate close to $394 million for the Queensland economy.

The Northern Region winners will go on to compete for the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national award in Sydney on 27 November 2008.

Steve Brabeck, Crimsafe Security Systems (Products)
Crimsafe, led by Director Steve Brabeck, is the inventor of a worldwide patented mesh security product that has revolutionised physical security door and window screens in Australia and overseas. The idea, a physical security system without the need for unsightly bars or grilles, quickly evolved into a reality. Today the business has a 40% market share and enjoys a growing international presence in the USA, South Africa, England and the Middle East.

Robin Levison, Industrea (Services)
In just four years, Robin has transformed Industrea from a struggling company with a two cent share price and a market capitalisation of just $2 million, into one of the world’s leading mining products and services providers. Industrea now has a market capitalisation of $480 million and a client list boasting some of the world’s biggest mining companies, supplying underground mining products and providing fully integrated mining services including planning, supervision, earth moving, drill, blast and open cut mining.

Michael Symes, Triasx Pty Ltd (Technology & Emerging Industries)
Michael Symes’ innovative business Triasx is taking the world by storm, designing and manufacturing radio frequency components and test equipment for the telecommunications industry. The company’s recent release of a world first patented telecommunications technology has not only cemented Triasx’s place as a recognised technology innovator, but has also opened a whole new global market that is already having a significant impact on the company’s bottom line.

Phillip Di Bella, Di Bella Coffee(Young Entrepreneur)
When a then 27-year-old Phillip Di Bella founded Di Bella Coffee in 2002, he had just two wholesale customers and was using another company’s coffee roasting equipment. Today Australians drink more than one million cups of Di Bella Coffee each week. In six years, Di Bella Coffee has built up 700 wholesale customers across Australia and the coffee roasting factory attracts 200 retail customers each day. Plans are now underway to expand the business overseas into the US, European and New Zealand markets.

Waverley Stanley, Yalari (Social Entrepreneur)
Waverley Stanley is the Founding Director of the not-for-profit organisation Yalari, which for the past three years has been giving indigenous children from remote Australian communities the opportunity to have a first class education at some of Australia’s best secondary schools. An indigenous man himself, Waverley was in grade seven when his teacher helped him secure a life changing secondary school scholarship from Toowoomba Grammar School. Waverley feels that the scholarship was the catalyst that positively changed the course of his life. In just three years, Waverley has succeeded in earning the trust and support of 12 partnership schools as well as securing the necessary funding to place 39 indigenous children from around Australia in full scholarships at some of Australia’s most prestigious schools.

John Down (Champion of Entrepreneurship)
John Down has been entrepreneurial all his life. In 1968, with two partners, he created an international agribusiness known as the GRM group of companies. From very modest beginnings John and his partners grew their various companies into thriving corporations working in more than 60 countries. John’s most recent successful venture came from a personal interest in boats. In 1996, he acquired a derelict boatyard and boat-lifter, realising its potential to attract and service marine related businesses. This was an immediate success and in 1998 Brisbane Marine Industry Park (BMIP) was formed. In 2002, John backed the small business into an established public company which is today known as Viking Industries Ltd. Viking has grown into a significant industrial developer in the construction, refit and fit-out of boats covering super-yacht, navy and commercial markets. The company has recently been purchased by a private equity group.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program

Since Ernst & Young’s global program started in Australia in 2001, over 800 leading Australian entrepreneurs have been recognised for their entrepreneurial spirit. Entrants are assessed by a leading panel of independent judges on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction and national/global impact. Their relationships with their local communities are also taken into account.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year is one of the leading business awards programs in Australia and the only program of its kind with an international platform. Founded and produced by Ernst & Young, and launched in Australia in 2001, it celebrates entrepreneurs who build and lead successful businesses. The international recognition of the awards positions finalists and winners as world-class entrepreneurs and provides a benchmark for entrepreneurial excellence.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program is conducted across five regions with these winners progressing to the national awards ceremony in November. In total across the nation, there are 83 entrepreneurs in this year’s awards. Independent judging panels drawn from a broad range of successful Australian businesses assess the entrepreneurs on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction, and national or global impact.

The Australian Entrepreneur of the Year is invited to represent Australia at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year held annually in June in Monte Carlo. Former Australian winners have included Peter Farrell of ResMed Limited (2001), John Rothwell AO of Austal Limited (2002), David Bussau AM of Opportunity International (2003), Robert Gerard AO of Gerard Corporation (2004), Tony D’Antonio and Peter Hosking of Global Machinery Company Worldwide (2005), Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar of Atlassian (2006) and Shane Yeend of Imagination (2007).

The program was first established in the US in 1986. Entrepreneur of the Year winners outside of Australia include Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems (1987), Michael Dell of Dell Computer (1989), Howard Schultz of Starbucks (1991), Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com (1997), Eddie Jordan of Jordan Grand Prix (2000), Narayana Murthy of Infosys Technologies (2003), Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Entertainment (2005), Guy Laliberte of Cirque du Soleil (2007) and Dr Jean-Paul Clozel of Actelion (2008).

In Australia, the primary sponsor of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program is Westpac Business Banking and the program is also supported by Qantas and Austrade.