Septech shortlisted for three 'Australian Business Awards'

This initiative has been developed to acknowledge the success, innovation and ethics of key Australian companies in the UAE and to spotlight Australian individuals who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and leadership within their specific fields.

The awards ceremony which is taking place for the first time in the UAE will be held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai and will be hosted by Australia's favorite TV personality, Rove McManus.

Septech has been nominated and shortlisted for three awards including the Entrepreneur of the Year for Mr. David Heffernan, Septech's CEO, the Green Award and the Leisure Award. This selection is a remarkable achievement for Septech in the UAE as there are over 20,000 Australian residents in the Emirates and approximately 600 companies with an Austrailian connection eligible for entry.

The Australian Business Awards nominees were selected from a pool of over 1,000 entries covering all aspects of commercial success, innovation and corporate social responsibility. The nominees displayed exceptional performance and leadership in their respective industries, and are considered role models for any organisation striving for business and product excellence.

"I am overwhelmed by the support and recognition that both Septech and I have received to date, these awards truly are a reflection of all the hard work and the calibre of people on our team. Without their efforts, we wouldn't be positioned where we are today,"

commented Heffernan.

An important part of the Australian Business Awards program is to honour best practices that help raise the bar for everyone and set standards of excellence in all industries, based on defined standards and measured results that provide direction and inspire innovative business practices.

Mr Heffernan's nomination for Entrepreneur of the year is based on his strategic partnering of Septech with the world's largest water company GE, delivering a fleet of Mobile Water Technology units that bridge the gap between the lack of established water infrastructure throughout the Middle East, the severe shortage of useable water and the demand for water by both domestic and industrial industries. Further illustration of Heffernan's entrepreneurial spirit during 2008 can be seen in the successful attainment of a 20 year extension of Septech's partnership agreement with Bellingham Marine, a relationship that has led the Company to become the market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of premium marine facilities.

Septech's nomination for the Green Award results from a three year independent study revealing that Septech's Unifloat concrete floating marine system and wave attenuators support the establishment, growth and development of new marine eco-systems. In addition, the company also designs, manufactures and installs efficient water production and wastewater treatment solutions that reduce the impact on already significantly depleted regional water reserves.

"Environmental sustainability is one of our key strategic focuses moving forwards," Heffernan said.

Contributing to the overall success of some of the region's most iconic leisure based projects including: The Els Club - Victory Heights; Tiger Woods Golf Course - DubaiLand; Festival Marina - Dubai Festival City; the triology of Dubai marinas - Dubai Yacht Club Marina, Marina Mall and West Marina; Atlantis - Palm Jumeirah and now The World, Septech has been nominated by its business peers to receive the Leisure based award.

Regardless of the outcome, 2008 has clearly been a year of success and growth for this Australian led, UAE based company.