2010 Young Business Leader of the Year announced!
A 28-year-old lawyer with the desire to make a difference has won the 2010 Young Business Leader of the Year award.
When Symoane Mercurio began the Young Business Leaders (YBL) Program, her aim was to become a leader in the profession of law, as well as make a difference by enriching the teaching and learning experiences offered to law graduates.
As a Young Business Leader, Symoane got her chance to do this, developing a program for Cowell Clarke Commercial Lawyers designed to assist junior lawyers and the legal profession as a whole to bridge the gap between “learning the law”, “practising the law” and “practising in the law”, as part of her Business Improvement Project (BIP).
“When I began practicing law my experience was disappointing and I learnt the hard way about what was expected of me. My personal objective was to address, through the BIP, what I went through and to turn my negative experience into something useful to ensure, that at least within my firm, clerks would not endure an experience like mine,” said Symoane.
Tonight, all her hard work was rewarded when she collected the 2010 Young Business Leader of the Year award at a presentation ceremony at the National Wine Centre, attended by more than 150 members of Adelaide’s business community.
“YBL was my opportunity to bring to fruition a project that was always on my ‘to do’ list. The BIP will continue to evolve beyond YBL through the addition of a mentor program and collaboration with the Law Society. The big picture will be to ultimately have the program recognised nationally,” said Symoane.
The event was hosted by Network 10 Presenter, Jane Reilly, with awards presented by YBL Patron the Hon Mike Rann MP, John Stokes, Chairman of the Board for The Royal Society for the Blind and CEO of the Australian Institute of Management and Graham Wakeling from in-business Magazine and Gold Network.
Sarah Calton, University of South Australia, won the Achievement Award (second runner up) and Samantha Badcock, Clements Recruitment, won the Encouragement Award (third runner up).
NEWS RELEASE
25 June 2010
The three highest fundraisers were Jessica Degioia, City of Charles Sturt, Kirsty Gallina, SA Water and Samantha Badcock, Clements Recruitment, respectively.
At the Presentation Ceremony, 21 Finalists were recognised for their outstanding efforts throughout the YBL Program. They are:
Samantha Badcock – Clements Recruitment
Emma Barratt – Lana Lang Shoes
Kate Barrows – Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Carly Bell – State Supply Furniture
Sarah Calton – University of South Australia
Chantelle Cap – BHP Billiton
Jessica Degioia – City of Charles Sturt
Kirsty Gallina – SA Water
Alyssa Heyne – Blucher Australia
Melissa Hoare – SA Water
Aaron Le Poidevin – Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Gaylene McGlade – Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Liz Mooi – BHP Billiton
Jodi Pope – Bickford’s Australia
Jason Price – Workskil Inc
Adam Randall – Creydall Systems
Daniel Rensburg-Phillips – Newtons Building and Landscape Supplies
Natalie Skinner – Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Alison Wall – Strata Data Group
Samone Wear – KPPM Organisational Strategists
The YBL program is a unique 10-month business and community leadership program. Participants work towards a Diploma of Management from the Australian Institute of Management as well as hone community leadership qualities.
For more information visit www.youngbusinessleaders.org.au
Interviews and photos of the YBL finalists are available on request, please call Diana Swanson:
Diana Swanson
Manager Marketing & Fundraising
0418 712 320
(08) 8223 6222
dswanson@rsb.org.au