2016 Industry Excellence Award winners
Nine individuals took home awards in categories ranging from New Talent to Professional Sales at ARCIA’s annual ceremony in Melbourne.
The 2016 ARCIA Gala Industry Dinner and annual Industry Awards night was once again a great success. As with previous years, the venue was Melbourne’s Convention & Exhibition Centre, which not only supplied the venue, but first-class food and wine too. The occasion was arranged by Zealous Communications (with photography by Ari Adar Photography) and entertainment was provided by comedian and music guru Brian Nankervis, best known for his role in SBS TV’s RockWiz program (but for older readers, also remembered for his unforgettable ‘Days by the Ocean’ poem on Hey Hey It’s Saturday in 1986). Nankervis got the audience involved — including having a visiting US dignitary on stage pretending to push a shopping trolley and another audience member dancing to ‘Nutbush City Limits’.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of eight Industry Excellence Awards and the prestigious Jonathan Livingston Award.
The Professional Sales Award was given to Jane Perton of MCS Digital. An industry veteran of 20 years, Perton led the company’s business development and contract management to achieve outstanding results in 2016, strengthening relationships with leading technology suppliers and local customer relationships.
The Engineering Elegance Award went to Scott Andrew, the manager of Simoco Australasia’s Melbourne-based R&D team, who helped Simoco win a significant rail contract in Queensland. The customised DMR development was a team effort, but Andrew’s work ethic and continuous drive helped deliver the solution on time against a very optimistic schedule.
The Customer Service Award was given to Steve Hunt of RF Industries. Hunt is, for many, the face of the company, and his commitment to providing the highest level of customer service is legendary in the industry.
Aldo Antolini from Motorola Solutions Australia was honoured with the Technical Excellence Award. Antolini’s knowledge and experience are underpinned by his passion for the technology, helping to ensure the company’s channel partners are fully across upcoming updates and enabling them to use and test new technologies as soon as they are available.
The New Talent Award was given to Jason Shaw of ICOM Australia. According to ICOM, the company “is extremely privileged in having Jason in our team over this past year. His commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to the radio industry can be appreciated by all in the business and we are very happy for Jason to be recognised as our industry’s best new talent.”
Harley Gibson of AA Radio Services took out the Apprentice or Trainee Award. Gibson is an accomplished third-year apprentice who “has applied himself to learning his trade efficiently”, while also mentoring the company’s younger work placement student.
The Community Service Award was given to Mark Carter of Simoco Australasia. Carter is a professional engineer who offers help to his peers, family, friends and other people in need, including his Scout group. He always sponsors charitable causes such as kids with cancer or men’s health.
The Peter Wallace Industry Professional of the Year Award was given to Tony Biddiscombe of CommSite Integrated Communications. Having been established just four years ago, CommSite now employs 33 people. The business’s focus on professional services has seen it win major maintenance contracts with many of Victoria’s manufacturing and utility organisations.
In its commendation, ARCIA said that CommSite Integrated Communications’ professionalism and its successful outlook, the employment of two apprentices and its location in a regional area of Victoria made Biddiscombe a worthy winner.
The final award of the night, the Jonathan Livingston Award, was presented to a teary-eyed Martin McLeod, a very popular recipient. McLeod as gone from being a member of the Westlakes Amateur Radio Club in the early 1970s to playing a significant role in the development of Gencom, one of NSW’s largest radiocommunications companies.
In the 1980s, McLeod was an account executive at Motorola — which he claims was an excellent training ground in all facets of business — and also held the position of vice president of ARCIA for six years from 2009. As Managing Director of Gencom, a director of The Orion Network and one of the most respected communications professionals in New South Wales, McLeod is best known for his inherent desire to understand how he can add value to his client’s operations through the application of new technologies.
Driven by a genuine wish to contribute to the development of Australia’s communications industry — as witnessed by his campaign against unfair site rental charges in NSW — he is committed to local employment in the Hunter Valley and is an active lobbyist for the overall radiocommunications industry in NSW.
Critical Comms adds its congratulations to all winners of the 2016 ARCIA Industry Excellence Awards.
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