Inaugural Ethical Enterprise Award for inspirational Australian businesses

The inaugural Ethical Enterprise Award was launched earlier this month.

An initiative of Moral Fairground and Australian Ethical Investment, the award recognises and celebrates the achievements of Australia’s most inspirational enterprise - a business or organisation, regardless of size, which has had a positive social and economic impact through its innovative ethical practices.

Moral Fairground Director Susanna Bevilacqua explained that the award “celebrates the importance of informed ethical leadership, conscious business and innovation”.

“It demonstrates how organisations that seek a fair, just and sustainable offering can also provide great financial returns too,” she added.

All Australian organisations and businesses - large or small, non-profit or for profit with purpose - are encouraged to apply, so long as they are committed to increasing wellbeing and can demonstrate the delivery of positive societal, environmental and economic benefits as a direct result of their actions.

“The Ethical Enterprise Award provides the opportunity for these organisations to be recognised and demonstrate that it is possible to provide both a financial as well as an ethical return,” said Paul Smith, General Manager of Strategy and Communication, Australian Ethical Investment.

Bevilacqua added that the award is hoped to inspire other organisations and “set new benchmarks for future ethical enterprises”.

The winner of the Ethical Enterprise Award 2013 will gain national recognition throughout the business, non-profit and social enterprise sector for their contribution to society, their vision and leadership. Additionally, the award recipient will have access to an array of networking, media and promotional opportunities, advertising and business development packages.

Nominees will be asked to submit an account of their organisation and its achievements, outlining projects undertaken, the positive social and economic impact achieved and innovations embraced that position it as an ethical enterprise. They will be judged by a panel comprising representatives from Moral Fairground, Australian Ethical and EcoDirectory.

To enter, visit www.moralfairground.com.au/EthicalEnterpriseAward.html by midnight on 30 September. The finalists will be shortlisted during October, with the award recipient being announced at Moral Fairground’s fair-trade festival Fair@Square in Melbourne on 29 November.