Denise Langford, Chair of the Melbourne Business Awards was presented with a Business Legends Award in recognition of her leadership of one of the regions longest running family manufacturing businesses, and her support of local manufacturing through dedication and hard work as Chair of the Melbourne Business Awards from 2007 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016. Denise is a business legend and a role model for women who aspire to inspire.

Gary Nugent, Treasurer/Secretary of the Melbourne Business Awards and Managing Partner of the Nugents Group was presented with a Business Legends Award in recognition of  21 years of service on the Melbourne Business Awards committee as well as his assistance and dedication to the creation of the Melbourne Business Awards at its inception in 1992. Gary is very proud of the development of the Business Awards and its on-going success and sees it as a vital part of our community as well as a platform for sharing and promoting success.

Rod Shell,  MC and Executive Committee Member of the Melbourne Business Awards and General Manager Operations of the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust was presented with a Business Legends Award in recognition of his ongoing support and service on the Melbourne Business Awards committee. Rod represented one of these firms who went on to win the Melbourne Business Awards Business of the Year in 1996.

October 2006  - Jack Pompei

Jack Pompei was presented with a Business Legends Award in recognition of his service to the local community.

Along with brother Joe, he built and repaired hundreds of boats at their Mordialloc factory for use at King Island, New Guinea, Queensland, Western Port Bay and around 90 per cent of the clinker boats on Port Phillip Bay. 

Jack rescued many people stranded on the bay and although the water police took over the task in the 1970’s, Jack continued to provide assistance when necessary. Over the years he rescued more than 600 people. He originally became involved in rescue work because locals valued his knowledge of the bay and because he was willing to take his boat out day or night, no matter what the weather.

Jack was probably one of Mordialloc’s first conservationists, long before the subject was topical. He personally built walls, piers, and landings in and around the creek to improve safety, almost always at his own expense. He had very strong views on how best to treat the Mordialloc Pier in such a way as to eradicate the sand loss problem continually experienced at North Aspendale Beach. His love of and commitment to the creek was obvious to all who knew him.

In 1987, Jack was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to marine search and rescue in Port Phillip Bay. He was also twice awarded the former City of Mordialloc’s Citizen of the Year Award.

Jack passed away in 2008, leaving a wife of 54 years and nine children.

December 2005 - Bob Gawne

Bob Gawne, Executive Committee Member of the Melbourne Business Awards and Chair from 2004 to 2007 was presented with the very first Melbourne Business Awards Business Legend Award in recognition of his service to the Melbourne Business Awards and long term support of business and the local community.

Bob is a chartered Professional Engineer with a Graduate Diploma in Management. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management and has taught management at RMIT for 5 years.

He has been Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer of IRCO, Gibbs Bright, Rocla Concrete Industries, Futuris Ltd, Heller Financial Industries and Bytecraft, and board member of Gibbs Bright, Rocla Concrete Industries, MB John Ltd., Futuris Ltd, Heller Financial Services, Biovend, Medigas and the Triton Foundation.

As a consultant Bob has led the franchising and reconstruction of Brown Gouge and he is an Emeritus Trustee for the Committee for Economic Development Australia and past President of Probus.

He has been used as a motivational speaker in the business community for Wyndham & Hume Councils, provided a management mentoring role for the Cities of Kingston and Glen Eira, and has assisted the building of the Chinese Herb industry in Victoria.

He is a gentleman and a friend to many, he has been a member of countless community committees, served as President of the Burbank Primary and Banyule Primary School Councils, and coached the School Rounders team at Burbank Primary and the Rosanna Under 8's Soccer Team.