Eight Dubbo businesses and an employee from one have been named as finalists in the 2018 Western NSW Regional Business Awards.

One of those businesses, The Westhaven Association, is a finalist in two categories.

The Dubbo contingent makes up about 20% of the finalists in the prestige awards and got there in competition with businesses from the Central West, Orana and the Far West.

An impressive achievement by any measure. 

The announcement came only a day after another business figure from Dubbo, Jillian Kilby, received the AgriFutures Australia 2018 NSW-ACT Rural Women’s Award.

Impressive, again.

The regional awards recognise excellence in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, business growth and employment practices.

The Dubbo finalists are: Jared Weber, Anittel; Samuel Shooter, SJ Shooter Real Estate; Phillip Young, Slater and Gordon; axxis; 123 Tix; Manera Heights Apartments; the Westhaven Association; Channel 40; and Western Student Connections.

Award winners will be announced in May. We should all be barracking for Team Dubbo.

Western NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager, Vicki Seccombe, said all the Western NSW finalists represent a fantastic cross section of businesses in the three regions.

The skills, determination, innovation, talent of the Dubbo finalists – and many other businesses in Orana – are already strongly recognised by the community and organisations like the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce and Regional Development Australia (Orana). They frequently highlight just how much of a powerhouse our entire local business sector is.

The winners of the Western awards will go on to compete in the NSW Business Chamber’s State Business Awards.

Dubbo had a win there last year when Sheri Carolan from Slater and Gordon Dubbo was awarded the 2017 Young Business Executive of the Year.

Ms Kilby is now a finalist in the national competition for the AgriFutures Australia 2018 Australian Rural Women’s Award.

Good luck to them all. Go Team Dubbo.