THE 2026 Bendigo Business Excellence Awards are on track for a bumper year with 815 nominations having been submitted before the 30 April deadline, up almost 25 per cent from 2025.
Nominees now have until Monday 1 June to complete their written applications, with finalists to face category judges in person from early July.
About 200 past award winners and nominees congregated at Bendigo Airport earlier this week to hear from Be.Bendigo CEO Hayley Tibbett, new head judge, Reign Legal’s Melissa Buchanan, and 2024 Regional Women’s Business award winner, 3D Physio Health Group’s Julie Sheahan.
Tibbett said behind every single nomination is a story.
New awards head judge Melissa Buchanan said the applications that stand out the most are those that are written with authenticity, with clarity and with direct evidence. Photo: Adam Carswell.
“A business that’s…
