WA entrepreneurs eye national award

Six Western Australian entrepreneurs will compete in the national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in November after winning western region awards in Perth last night.

The local winners represent industries spanning uranium mining, diving, waste management, shoe retailing and transport, while mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola, and media mogul Kerry Stokes were acknowledged for their entrepreneurial achievements.

Fertiliser tycoon Pankaj Oswal won the young entrepreneur category, while Danny Breckler (Betts Group) won in the products category, Ian Cook (Sadleirs Transport) won in the services category, John Borshoff (Paladin Energy) won the listed category, Doug Austin (Divex) won the emerging industries category, and Tom Ruda (AnaeCo), won the clean technology category.

Ernst & Young managing partner, Jeff Dowling, said this year's winners were indicative of the depth and breadth of entrepreneurial talent and achievement in WA.

"Entrepreneurs are all driven by an intense passion and commitment to their vision and the successes of our 2009 Western Region Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year winners show this," he said.

"It is that innate vision that allows entrepreneurs to see challenges as opportunities, and to adapt and grow in the new market reality, with fresh ideas and new business models."

The Ernst & Young entrepreneur awards celebrates businesspeople leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognising them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.