27 October 2005

The Brisbane finals of the Australian Institute of Management 2005 Management Excellence Awards were held earlier this month.

Holy Spirit Home CEO Shane Fracchia was awarded Professional Manager of the Year while Owner of the Year went to Salvatore Battaglia of Perfect Potion.

Young Manager of the Year was Deacons director of corporate services Kirstin Ferguson, 32, who said the greatest challenge facing Australian managers was learning to manage staff who were not always “working right beside you.”

MEDIA RELEASE

3 October 2005

PADDINGTON MANAGER REWARDED AT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

A local Paddington business woman was awarded Young Manager of the Year at the prestigious Brisbane finals of the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) 2005 Management Excellence Awards, at the Sofitel Hotel, on 29 September.

Deacons Director of Corporate Services, Kirstin Ferguson AFAIM, was one of three managers to receive recognition at the annual awards, for their individual contribution to the success of their businesses.

Ms Ferguson, recipient of the Churchill Medal for her involvement in a recent Senate inquiry, said that managers should never compromise their integrity and offered words of advice to other aspiring young managers.

“Always tell the truth and always speak up for those who cannot do so for themselves” Ms Ferguson said.

“The greatest challenge facing Australian managers is learning to manage staff that are not always working beside you, whether they are in another geographic location or simply working from a virtual office.”

Ms Ferguson admitted to using Internet search engine Google to find information on the other finalists, and was impressed by what she found.

“I had no idea I had any chance of winning. I had plenty of cause to think this award was going to one of the other contestants” she said.

Fifteen managers competed in the Brisbane finals in three categories: Professional Manager of the Year, Owner Manager of the Year and Young Manager of the Year.

Australian Institute of Management CEO Carolyn Barker said the three Brisbane winners would go on to compete in the MEA state finals, to be held at the Sofitel Hotel, on 4 November from 7pm.

“This awards program has earned a reputation as a the premium showcase of them most talented managers in Queensland,” Ms Barker said.

“Our alumni of past winners is very impressive and a very influential group for any manager to aspire to join.”

Ms Barker said the awards were an opportunity to recognise the endeavours of those Queenslanders who were trying to better the way they do business everyday.

“Their innovations are unique and critical in the competitive market, where the ability to manage and lead is vital,” she said.

The creative force behind one of the most controversial ad campaigns ever seen in Australia, the famous 1983 Grim Reaper ads, Siimon Reynolds, was the keynote speaker at the Brisbane finals.

Mr Reynolds addressed the lunchtime gathering of the city’s top managers on the five steps of branding: how to create a great brand, keeping that branding consistent, capturing a brand in one word, reflecting branding in company activities and following through with service.

“When it comes to branding, simplicity rules,” Mt Reynolds said.

Managing Director and Owner of Perfect Potion, Salvatore Battaglia, was awarded Owner Manager of the Year.

Holy Spirit Home CEO, Shane Fracchia AIMM, took out the Professional Manager of the Year category.