The moment Team Global Express CEO Christine Holgate took to the stage in 2022 and opened up about the Australia Post debacle stands out as one of the most memorable points in the 13-year history of The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards for Founder Chris Dutton.
“It was amazing to hear how that affected her and how strong she was going through it and coming out of it,” he reflects.
Holgate – who was the Awards’ first-ever female CEO of the Year in 2015 – delivered a powerful keynote that year that received a standing ovation. The speech referenced her standing down from the Australia Post CEO role in October 2020 due to political pressure after she gifted four senior managers Cartier watches.
“It’s amazing because you have all these really successful business leaders and people within businesses that are doing so well, explaining to you about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.”
“She’s an absolutely inspirational woman,” Dutton says. “The world needs more people like Christine Holgate in the world, and to hear her give our guests an insight into what really happened was phenomenal.”
Speaking in the run-up to 2024’s iteration of the prestigious Awards event, which will see both Holgate and Dutton feature on the judging panel, he is clearly getting excited.
“It’s amazing because you have all these really successful business leaders and people within businesses that are doing so well, explaining to you about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it,” he says.
“So you basically get a microscope into the most successful reasons why companies are doing well, and then it’s just a fantastic learning curve. It’s lifting the bonnet and looking into the engine of so many successful people and companies. It’s incredible.”
Recognizing excellence
More than just a way to highlight the year’s successes, the event provides a platform for showcasing the achievements and efforts of the teams behind the companies.
“The Awards are about the people and not the actual companies themselves,” he stresses. “It’s a message from the companies to their people saying that you are absolutely vital to our success. Without the right people, the company is going nowhere.”
That has always been the focus for the Executive of the Year Awards, according to Dutton, who established the event with Co-Founder Anna Dutton back in 2011. When it was originally devised, its aim was to shine a light on the often unsung heroes of the business world.
“We shine the spotlight on the people in the actual businesses and not the businesses themselves.”
“There was no-one doing it, so we made it our mission to really try and educate the country and its business leaders that without good people, you don’t have good business,” he says.
“We shine the spotlight on the people in the actual businesses and not the businesses themselves.”
It’s a mission that has remained constant over the years. Nonetheless, this year’s event, to be held at The Star in Sydney on Thursday 14 November, promises a few surprises, with Dutton revealing a new recognition award is on the cards.
“The Awards really can change someone’s career.”
“It’s going to be the only award that is for a company and not a person,” he says. “However, this one is all about how companies treat their employees. All will be revealed on the night.”
While the event is always memorable, the best part often comes after the night itself, Dutton reflects. “It’s when you hear and you read about what actual difference this has made to people’s careers and their lives,” he says. “We’ve got many examples of that, including some very high profile business leaders.
“The Awards really can change someone’s career.”
