The 11-member judging panel considered more than 180 nominations to determine the finalists in this year’s 40 Under 40 awards.

Lesley Campbell​, a judge and Manager Membership Sales & Retention at Business SA, said that she was impressed with the number and variety of entrants.

“As a first time Judge, I loved reading all of the different proposals,” Campbell said.

“The nominations were from such different industries and stages of the business cycle. It was really inspiring to see how much our South Australian under 40s were achieving.”

Campbell said she was struck by how passionate the leaders were in their applications.

“You could see how vested the applicants were in their business or place of employment,” she said.

The final 40, as well as the individual award winners, will be announced at a gala evening at the Adelaide Oval on 9 June.

The night, which for the past five years has always attracted business leaders keen to connect, begins at 6:30pm and includes live entertainment.

Tickets include a three-course meal and premium SA beverages from Hither & Yon, Big Shed Brewery and Never Never Distilling.

Young-gun chef and restaurateur Laura Sharrad will be the guest speaker on the night, talking about her entrepreneurial journey from MasterChef to restaurant owner.

Campbell said entrepreneurs like Sharrad are the reason Business SA is a sponsor of InDaily’s 40 Under 40.

“The 40 Under 40 program is an essential partnership for Business SA,” Campbell said.

“The existing alumni and current finalists are the emerging leaders in South Australia and we want to work with them and have them as part of the Business SA family.”

Business SA is the sponsor of the Regional and Rural Award for an individual who contributes to the prosperity of a rural or regional business and community.

Campbell said the nominations for the award were from a range of industries but many had the same objective.

“Having a positive environmental impact was quite a common goal,” Campbell said.

“When we discussed who the winner would be, we considered the industry they were in, how much community involvement they had, and the impact their work would have.”

The individual awards to be announced on the night include:

Piper Alderman Emerging Industries Award recognises an individual contributing to or a company operating in one of the “Emerging Industries” that will contribute to the prosperous future of our state.

KWP! Creative Thinker Award recognises the person who best demonstrates thinking creatively in relation to any aspect of their business or endeavours, and showing the use of innovation to progress.

Community Corporate Social Impact Award recognises an individual who is challenging conventional thinking by driving social innovation in a for-profit, social enterprise, NFP or through philanthropy.

Adelaide Business School Game Changer Award recognises a person who has re-written the rules of business to challenge, inspire and spark significant change.

VALO Sustainable Business Leaders Award recognises a person who has created visionary technologies that can sustainably enhance human experience and capabilities.

William Buck Entrepreneurial Award recognises an outstanding lateral business thinker and risk taker exhibiting entrepreneurial flair.

OTR Inspiring Disruptor Award recognises the vision, thought leadership and achievement of a leader in the private or public sector.

Adelaide BioMed City/CMAX Discovery Award recognises a person who has led an innovative research project that has had multi-disciplinary and business impact on the future health sector.

Business SA Rural and Regional Award recognises the individual who demonstrates influence and leadership in contributing to the prosperity of a rural or regional business and community.

Solstice Media First Among Equals Award is selected by the judging panel as the finalist who embodies the 40 Under 40 as the First Among Equals.

Tickets are available here