This year 84 of the nation's best and brightest entrepreneurs will compete for the coveted title of Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007, one of Australia's leading business awards.

In announcing the 2007 regional finalists, Ernst & Young Chief Executive, James Millar said:

"Through the Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) program, we acknowledge the great wealth of entrepreneurial talent shaping Australia's future. The stories told by the men and women coming through EOY are inspirational and their places as finalists in the first round of these Awards are truly deserved. We congratulate them on their success so far.

"The entrepreneurs of today will be the leaders of tomorrow," he said.

In total the 84 finalists have an annual turnover of almost $4.5 billion, employing over 10,000 people.

Since Ernst & Young's global program started in Australia in 2001, over 500 leading Australian entrepreneurs have been recognised for their entrepreneurial spirit. Entrants are assessed by a leading panel of independent judges on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction and national/global impact. Their relationships with their local communities are also taken into account.

Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the leading business awards program in Australia and the only program of its kind with an international platform. Founded and produced by Ernst & Young, and launched in Australia in 2001, it celebrates entrepreneurs who build and lead successful businesses. The international recognition of the awards positions finalists and winners as world-class entrepreneurs and provides a benchmark for entrepreneurial excellence.

The EOY program is conducted across five regions with these winners progressing to the national awards ceremony in November. Independent judging panels drawn from a broad range of successful Australian businesses assess the entrepreneurs on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction, and national or global impact.

The Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year is invited to represent Australia at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year held annually in June in Monte Carlo. Former Australian winners have included Peter Farrell of ResMed Limited (2001), John Rothwell AO of Austal Limited (2002), David Bussau AM of Opportunity International (2003); Robert Gerard AO of Gerard Corporation (2004) and Tony D’Antonio and Peter Hosking of Global Machinery Company Worldwide (2005), Mike Cannon-Brookes & Scott Farquhar of Atlassian (2006).

The program was first established in the US in 1986. Entrepreneur Of The Year winners outside of Australia have included Scott McNealy, Sun Microsystems (1987), Michael Dell, Dell Computer (1989); Howard Schultz, Starbucks (1991); Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com (1997); Eddie Jordan, Jordan Grand Prix (2000); and Narayana Murthy, Infosys Technologies (2003).

In Australia the Entrepreneur Of The Year program is sponsored by Westpac Business Bank, Qantas and supported by Austrade and AusIndustry.

The 2007 Regional Entrepreneur Of The Year Finalists

Central Region
Ralf Brandt, vivoPharm
Bill Cumpston, SmartMove
Jason Di Iulio, Finance Mutual Australia
Brian Dolling, NuKorc
Andy Fischer, South Australian Farmers Fuel (SAFF)
Rosalie Hassan, Bottega Rotolo
Graham Hobbs, Living Choice
Paul Huxtable, Eye-Catcher Innovations
Mark Langford, Gametraders
Mark Lewis, Bernie Lewis Home Loans
Kristian Livolsi, Livkorp Group of Companies
Steve Marafiote, Australian Quality Plus
Jim Moularadellis, Austwine Group of Companies
Anthony Paech and Grant Paech, Beerenberg
Sam White, The People’s Republic of Animation
Shane Yeend, Imagination

Eastern Region
Carlos Broens, Broens
Martin Chimes, Unistraw International Limited
Greg Corra, Inland Trading Co
Alex Dobrin & Dirk Spence, Howards Storage World
John-Paul Drysdale, HUBB Financial
Iain Dunstan, Bravura Solutions Limited
Bob Kelly, Eureka Funds Management
Jai Kemp, Digital Products Group
Sam Kennard, Kennards Self Storage
John Major and Roy Sayah, Alliance Network International
Paul Mathieson, Investment Evolution
Craig Neil, NSC Group
Ilkka Tales, Engin
Tracy Thomson, Finite IT Recruitment Solutions
Warren Williams, Codarra Advanced Systems
James Wilson, CRE8IVE

Northern Region
Anthony Barakat, Barakat Property Group
Charlie Caltabiano, Force Corp
Craig Deveson, Devnet
Mark Henry, Füritechnics
Bob Kurzok, Steel-Line Garage Doors
Linda Lowndes, Microskin International
Jay McAlister, Imoda Group
Jim McKnoulty, Conics Ltd
Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers
Steve Picton, gotalk
Tom Schults, Mobicon Systems
Avraam Solomon, Solomon Food Group
Craig Spencer, Carter & Spencer
Luke Trouchet, Apollo Motorhome Holidays
Angela Waugh, Flix Institute of Makeup

Southern Region
Peter Bender, Huon Aquaculture Group
Richard Buxton, Buxton Group
Peter Ciliberto, C-Direct
Carolyn Creswell, Carman's Fine Foods
Jonathan Dempsey, Bed Bath N'Table
Belinda Fraser & Melanie Gleeson, endota spa
Val Harding, International Interior Images
Darren Hotchkin, Saferoads
Tom Jonhammar, ComGroup Australia
Tim Lincoln, Lincoln
Franz Madlener, Villa & Hut Group
Peter Mavridis, S Central
Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design
Rosmin Robertson, Kingfisher International
Marcus Sellen, Vitreous
Mathew Wegener, CommsForce

Western Region
Shane Attwell, ISS Group Limited
Alan Brierty, Brierty Contractors
Brenton Cunningham, The Accuweigh Group
Jim Fitzgerald & Stuart Kenny, AGC
Jim Giumelli, Ertech
Phil Guy, Nomad Building Solutions
Kym Illman, The Message Group
Anna Kluczewska, AION Diagnostics
Michael Malone, iiNet
Antony Middleton, Advanced Engine Components Limited
Leeanda Paino, Sealanes (1985)
Robert Panizza, Western Plant Hire
Danny Pavlovich, BPG Imports
Laurie Puddy, United Equipment
Dave Simmons, TSG Key Group
Dan Smetana, Joyce Corp

Key dates for 2007

World Entrepreneur Of The Year, Monte Carlo - June 2, 2007
Northern Region award ceremony, Brisbane - July 19, 2007
Western Region award ceremony, Perth - August 2, 2007
Eastern Region award ceremony, Sydney - August 16, 2007
Southern Region award ceremony, Melbourne - August 30, 2007
Central Region award ceremony, Adelaide - September 13, 2007
National award ceremony, Melbourne - November 29, 2007