ALL SMILES FOR AWARD WINNERS
9 September 2025
A dental service and a lifestyle brand have been the big winners at the 2025 Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards.
The sold-out Awards Gala Dinner was held in Emerald last Saturday, 6 September.
Emerald’s Serenity Dental CQ was crowned Central Highlands Business of the Year after taking out the Beauty, Health and Lifestyle category earlier in the night.
Blackwater’s Country Allure earned a place in the Awards Hall of Fame by achieving category wins across three biennial Awards when it was named 2025’s top retailer.
Country Allure also won the People’s Choice trophy, a repeat of its 2021 success.
The Awards, first held in 2013, are an initiative of the Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) in collaboration with a range of business, industry, and government partners.
This year’s full list of winners and photos can be seen at chdc.com.au.
The Awards’ independent judging panel recognised Serenity Dental CQ for its outstanding patient care, strategic leadership, and investment in a highly skilled team.
Owners Dr Shiv Pillay and Natasha Pillay paid tribute their dedicated staff and loyal clients.
“Thank you to Central Queensland and thank you to the team that is behind Serenity Dental and Shiv and myself – we wouldn’t be where we are without you guys,” Ms Pillay told the Gala Dinner audience.
Country Allure CEO Ang Kettle described her wins as an “incredible privilege”.
“This journey started out on my loungeroom floor with nothing but a dream but a whole lot of determination and to be now standing here with Country Allure recognised at this level is just amazing,” she says.
“To win People’s Choice for a second time is testament to the amazing community we’ve built with this brand – it’s not just locally, it’s nationally and internationally – and I’m so grateful.”
Other highlights of the night included the Hall of Fame induction of SwarmFarm Robotics and, for the first time ever, the event included Judges’ Distinction Awards. These went to Bar H Wagyu’s Jessie Macqueen, Emerald Radiology’s Tim Ovens, and Anglicare CQ – headspace Emerald’s Hayley Finger.
“The decision by the independent judging panel to award those three extra trophies is a shining example of the calibre of entries we received,” CHDC CEO Peter Dowling says.
“All of this year’s winners and finalists can be proud of their businesses and the effort they poured into the entry process, knowing they reached the final stages of what is a fiercely competitive program.”
Mr Dowling says the sold-out Gala Dinner was a huge success.
“To see more than 300 people in the room spoke volumes about the pride our business community has in its achievements and its commitment to celebrating together.”
