And the winner is …

Oh the places I go.

I was DD’s plus one last night at the Australian Growth Company Awards, which celebrate and recognise the achievements of high-growth companies across Australia. 

The 2025 Australian Growth Company Awards was not something I ever expected to attend, but then neither was Miss Nude Australia 1998 or the 2024 Australasian Annual Reporting Awards. My life moves in mysterious and diverse ways. 

The Australian Growth Company Awards ceremony was held at the Ivy Ballroom. I misread the invitation and thought they started at 6pm.

I was feeling guilty about not being in the office since October 3, so I decided I should show my face. I got dressed in something that would work for both day and night, as the dress code was “business attire”.

But it was a bit of a mad scramble, because I was blurry with sleep due to my body still being on Indonesian time (three hours behind Sydney). Also, half my wardrobe no longer fits me because I am VERY chonky at the moment. A grand total of about five photos were taken of me on the cruise because I was so mortified by my appearance.

I ended up wearing a dress that (upon reflection) was a bit too short for someone who hates their knees. I also couldn’t decide on accessories that matched and I forgot to shave my legs (I briefly considered buying a razor and shaving them in a hotel bathroom, then decided no one would notice the blonde stubble).

Overall, it was not my best look, which was discomforting when the media release noted that the event would bring together “industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries” to “celebrate the remarkable achievements of Australia’s most innovative and successful high-growth businesses”.

So, when I belatedly realised the awards didn’t start until 6.30pm, I dashed out of work at 5pm and hustled home to change, hug the fur babies after our long separation (DD had dropped them off at lunchtime) and take them for a quick walk so I didn’t have to clean up wee when I got home.

Then I hoofed back into the city.

Anyhoo, enough about me, I was just the plus one. We were there to celebrate finalists and winners across the following categories:

• Growth Company of the Year Award – awarded to the overall winner of the industry categories
• Business Services Growth Company of the Year Award
• Consumer Goods Growth Company of the Year Award
• Financial Services Growth Company of the Year Award
• Health and Life Sciences Growth Company of the Year Award
• Industry and Manufacturing Growth Company of the Year Award
• New Energy Growth Company of the Year Award
• Technology Growth Company of the Year Award
• Transport and Logistics Growth Company of the Year Award
• Growth Leader of the Year Award
• Company to Watch Award
• Social Impact Award

I will let you guess which category DD’s company was nominated in.

Spoiler alert: they didn’t win.

But there was bottomless Verve ..

However … we belatedly realised after checking the program … no dinner was provided.

This sad reality was confirmed by the absence of cutlery on the tables.

We were given a “fireside chat” to digest instead.

And that was the moment we stopped saying no to the fried chicken nibbles circulating the room.

Diet starts Monday.

That said, the fireside chat was fascinating. One of the panellists was the founder of Good Citizens, a company based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, which turns discarded plastic bottles into spectacle frames! I loved him. How cool!

The idea was born in 2018. His kids – Harry (8) and Archie (6) – were upset about all the plastic waste piling up in the world.

So they decided as a family to do something about it.

The company’s four guiding principles:

1) Only use 100% recycled materials
2) Make products that last
3) Don’t exploit people or the planet
4) Employees get time with their kids or loved ones.

They even used Lego as their inspiration for creating frames that don’t require metal hinges and just click together! Awed.

Check Good Citizens out here: https://www.goodcitizens.com.au/

The official proceedings were unexpectedly over by 8.15pm, which was a blessed relief as I was shattered.

Have a fabulous weekend. I hope to have a blessedly quiet one.

Oh, and the Growth Company of the Year for 2025 was Zembl, a business energy expert. I think.

Song of the day: ABBA “The winner takes it all”