Symbio Wildlife Park is a global social media sensation with some of its posts being seen by tens of millions of people around the world.
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In the zoological industry in Australia it is regarded as a leader in the creation of world class exhibits designed to provide the best possible home for endangered species participating in international breeding programs.
Now the two men behind the groundbreaking achievements at the small family run zoo at Helensburgh are being applauded in their own region for focusing global attention on the Illawarra.
But general manager Matthew Radnidge and marketing manager Kevin Fallon recognised the whole 33 strong team at Symbio on Friday night when wildlife park was named Illawarra Business of the Year and Mr Fallon the young business executive of the year.
The business also won awards for excellence in business, innovation and tourism at the 2017 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards.
In all Symbio picked up five awards on Friday night when the annual celebration of business success run by the Illawarra Business Chamber returned to WIN Entertainment Centre.
The recognition comes just two years after Symbio general manager Matthew Radnidge was named Young Business Executive on the same day he announced his engagement. Matthew and Kylie Radnidge got married on the same day as the 2016 awards and this year they started painting their house on awards day.
Earlier this year Mr Radnidge and Mr Fallon were invited to Los Angeles to attend the G’Day USA Australia Day function after a video of a butterfly landing on a koala’s nose was chosen to showcase Australia in the USA after it attracted more than 38 million combined views on social media.
It is just one example of Symbio’s digital media success that also has generated coverage for Wollongong on major media players such as Fox News, BBC Worldwide, Good Morning America and CNN.
While Mr Fallon has attracted global attention Mr Radnidge has continued to build large industry leading exhibits suitable for international breeding programs to save endangered species.
His parents John and Margaret acquired the park in 2000. There have been many challenges along the way but the Radnidge family has continued to invest and grow the business.
“We started with three staff. Today we have 33. And we are very proud to take Wollongong and the Illawarra to the world. We have an incredible group of people who are so committed to what they do,” John Radnidge said.
Matthew said “I want to thank the entire Symbio family”.
Business Leader of the Year Chance Hanlon a finalist eight times said “it shows persistence pays off”.
The Young Entrepreneur Award went to Sian Ludlow, of Stella Studioz and Diana Foye, of Foye Legal, won Outstanding New Business. Other winners were F1 Moto, CareSouth, Warrigal, Central Data Networks, Dapto Leagues Club, Kiama & District Business Chamber, The Flagstaff Group, Merrigong Theatre Company and Mobile Phone Hospital.
2017 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Award winners
- Illawarrra Business of Year - Symbio Wildlife Park
- Business Leader – Chance Hanlon of Hanlon Windows
- Excellence in Business - Symbio Wildlife Park
- Excellence in Small Business – F1 Moto
- Employer of Choice - CareSouth
- Outstanding New Business – Foye Legal
- Excellence in Sustainability – Warrigal
- Excellence in Innovation – Symbio Wildlife Park
- Excellence in Export – Central Data Networks
- Excellence in Customer Service – Dapto Leagues Club
- Local Chamber of Commerce – Kiama and District Business Chamber
- Excellence in Tourism – Symbio Wildlife Park
- Social Enterprise – The Flagstaff Group
- Wollongong City Centre Business Excellence – Merrigong Theatre Company
- Retail and Hospitality – Mobile Phone Hospital
- Young Entrepreneur – Sian Ludlow, Stella Studioz
- Young Business Executive – Kevin Fallon of Symbio Wildlife Park
Highly Commended Awards went to:
- Courtney Butler of Skydive Australia
- Lauren Buhagiar of Active Property Conveyancing
- Specsavers Wollongong
- Dapto Leagues Club
- Prological
- RMB Lawyers
- Lisa Jones of Australian College of Commerce and Management
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