Monday 6 November 2006

Toowoomba Wins at Statewide Management Awards

Kingaroy retailer Richard Oddo from McConaghy Retail Pty Ltd took the gong for Rural / Remote Manager of the Year at Friday night’s Management Excellence Awards, organised by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM).

Celebrating its 10 th year in Queensland, the AIM Management Excellence Awards is one of the few awards which recognise the individual and his or her influence on the environment in which they work.

Richard Oddo won the award in recognition for his work as Centre Manager at Kingaroy Shoppingworld and Westlands Roma . The judges commented on his “dedication and commitment to the pursuit of excellence in an open, honest and transparent manner while remaining responsive and strategically agile”.

Accepting the award, Richard said he still followed the advice his father gave him 26 years ago to “work hard, be honest, treat people with respect and enjoy your job”.

“For me, going to work every day is a positive,” said Richard. “I would like to thank the Australian Institute of Management for this opportunity to reflect on my management style.”

Three other outstanding Queensland Managers were also recognised for their contribution to leadership in the Smart Sate, winning over 22 other finalists.

Johann Van Zyl, Managing Director of Queensland Alumina in Gladstone was named Professional Manager of the Year.

It was a great night for Cairns as Mario Calanna, CEO of Calanna Pharmacies in the city took the honours in the Owner Manager category, while Danae Jones, Managing Director of In Touch Media won the gong for Young Manager of the Year.

The 2006 Medal for Management Innovation went to Deborah Fleming, the creator and producer of ABC’s Australian Story who was praised for her “commitment to excellence in journalism, her fairness, level head and calm demeanor”.

AIM CEO Carolyn Barker said all the winners were successful and motivated people who have a positive effect not just on the bottom line but on the people around them and the culture of their workplace.

“The Management Excellence Awards are designed to acknowledge the efforts of some of the best managers and leaders on the cutting edge of their field,” Ms Barker said.

“The judging is so hard every year because the awards continue to draw increasing interest, generating hundreds of nominations across each category annually. The depth and breadth of talent amongst our nominees and finalists is amazing and is incredibly positive for Queensland.”

The Management Excellence Awards have grown in the last decade to become a ‘must-attend’ event on the Queensland corporate calendar. Regional finals are held in the run up to the State final in Brisbane, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville.

This year’s sell-out evening saw Brisbane’s Sofitel Ballroom packed with 600 of the state’s best business brains who were entertained by a keynote speech from the celebrated author of "Mao's Last Dancer" Li Cunxin and a breathtaking performance by international dance artists Soul Mystique.