Outstanding Young Business Leader: Joint winners

With more than a decade of corporate experience, Tessa has honed her skills as an accounting and analytical professional.

She has worked across both public and private sectors, contributing her expertise to various organisations.

She is the 2024 recipient of the Zanda McDonald Award for Australia, which recognises determined and passionate individuals within the agricultural industry.

Jack Fitzpatrick:

Jack Fitzpatrick exemplifies the ideal tradesperson, combining excellent trade skills with natural management abilities developed through an apprenticeship pathway.

In 2008, while in Year 10, Jack became the first student at Deniliquin High School to undertake a school-based traineeship with Brunker Fabrications, leading to a full-time engineering/fabrication apprenticeship.

In 2016, he founded Fitzpatrick Fabrication in Deniliquin and hired his first employee.

After working on larger construction projects across Australia, he returned to Deniliquin, experiencing significant growth for Fitzpatrick Fabrication.

Eventually, he took over Brunker Fabrications, rebranding it as Fitzpatrick Fabrications.

He now employs eight staff members and one apprentice, managing operations across multiple locations.

Jack’s remarkable leadership skills have been shaped by his life experiences and the need to support his team through challenging times.

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