Nexba Beverages founders Troy Douglas and Drew Bible.
Camera IconNexba Beverages founders Troy Douglas and Drew Bible. Credit: News Corp Australia, Tim Hunter.

Telstra Business Awards: Penten snares national prize for 2018

Claire HeaneyHerald Sun

A CYBERSECURITY company set up three years ago to protect Australia’s top secret information has snared a prestigious business award.

Penten, which is based in Canberra, was last night named the Telstra Australian Business of the Year.

The company, which has previously won lucrative Defence Force contracts, was founded by technology innovators who have also launched other successful businesses.

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When the state and territory winners were announced earlier this year, Penten snared the top prize for the ACT.

At the time, Penten chief Matthew Wilson said the past year had been full of change.

Troy Douglas and Drew Bible founded Nexba Beverages, which won the alumni achievement award.
Camera IconTroy Douglas and Drew Bible founded Nexba Beverages, which won the alumni achievement award. Credit: News Corp Australia, Tim Hunter.

“The last year has been our hardest and most transformative, as we have doubled in size and moved from a solely research and development focus to begin helping our customers implement our products,” he said.

At tonight’s awards ceremony in Melbourne, Penten also took out the category titled “medium and making waves”.

Judges applauded the business, noting it had a 100 per cent staff retention rate since 2015.

Telstra chief Andy Penn said they were impressed by Penten’s “clear strategic vision, deep engagement for the customer and commitment to people and culture”.

“Its world-class technology has gained the trust of Australian government agencies, propelling the business to exponential growth over the last three years,” Mr Penn said.

The group’s clients include Australian and international government agencies, and it is also looking at offering services to big companies.

Zia Keirouz and Lara Summerville working in the warehouse at Booktopia, which snared the people’s choice award.
Camera IconZia Keirouz and Lara Summerville working in the warehouse at Booktopia, which snared the people’s choice award. Credit: News Corp Australia, Jeremy Piper

Tasmanian company Scoot Boots, which supplies protective hoof boots for horses, took out the “emerging and energised” award.

Pachamama, a Perth childcare centre using art and nature to encourage children in its care, won the “small and succeeding” award.

The alumni achievement award went to Nexba Beverages, from Sydney, for its naturally sugar-free soft drinks.

Booktopia, also from Sydney, won the people’s choice award.

Strategic design consultancy Think Place, from the ACT, won the “social change maker” award.

Mr Penn said all the winners were “shining examples of businesses doing great things”.

“They’re not afraid to take a risk, to choose innovation first and to keep pushing their vision forward,” he said.

claire.heaney@news.com.au

Originally published as When keeping secrets does pay …