The CEO Magazine held its 13th annual Executive of the Year Awards in Sydney, honouring some of Australia's most influential business leaders.

The CEO of the Year Award was bestowed upon James Thornton of Intrepid Travel, who has led the company for nearly 20 years, achieving B Corp certification in 2018 and steering it through significant milestones, including record growth and pandemic recovery.

Thornton said, "It’s incredible for a small Melbourne-based adventure travel company to receive such recognition. At Intrepid, our mission has always been to create positive change through the joy of travel. In a world facing both geopolitical divides and a climate crisis, we believe travel reminds us of our shared humanity. Meeting people from different cultures and experiencing new places can ultimately make the world a better place. That’s been Intrepid’s purpose for the past 35 years."

The event also saw Glenn McGrath, a retired cricketer and philanthropist, presented with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the McGrath Foundation. The foundation supports over 233 breast care nurses across Australia. McGrath, previously honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), has consistently ranked among Australia’s most trusted individuals in Reader's Digest’s Trust surveys in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

"It’s a huge honour to be up here and to be the recipient of this award. To receive a Lifetime Achievement Award does make me think I’m not quite as young as I used to be but it’s a massive honour," said McGrath.

Chris Dutton, Founder of The CEO Magazine, praised McGrath's contributions, saying, "Glenn McGrath epitomises what it means to be an exceptional leader both on and off the field. His dedication to excellence in sport and his tireless work with the McGrath Foundation have left an indelible mark on Australia. We are proud to honour Glenn with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating not only his iconic achievements in cricket but also his profound contributions to healthcare and community support across the nation. His legacy is an inspiration, demonstrating the incredible impact one individual can have when driven by purpose and compassion."

The event also introduced a new award category – the 100% Human at Work Award, recognising organisations that prioritise people and core values of respect, equity, growth, belonging, and purpose. The award was won by Mirvac, with Intrepid Travel named as the runner-up.

"I am incredibly proud of the global movement that 100% Human at Work has been able to shape. We see this as a pivotal moment for all businesses to collaborate and shape a more human future of work. Building business and ways of working that serve humanity and create a better future for current and future generations. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work together with The CEO Magazine for this award, which celebrates companies that truly show the spirit of 100% Human at Work," said Sheetal Vyas, Managing Director of Virgin Unite.

Campbell Hanan, Group CEO & Managing Director at Mirvac, also expressed his delight at the recognition, saying, "We are incredibly proud of this recognition today. We have worked hard on real change and implementation for ten years to be recognised as leading the way when it comes to a people-first culture as well as in gender equity, in a tangible and authentic way, rather than just in quotas and policies. We are delighted with our progress and impact to date; however, we know our work is ongoing. The property and construction sectors have made excellent progress, but there is more to be done, and Mirvac is fully committed to striving for our sector to be a place where everyone feels they belong."

Runners-up and Highly Commended in the Overall CEO of the Year category were Louise Baxter, CEO and Executive Director of the Starlight Children's Foundation, and Gerhard Veldsman, CEO Group Operations at Roy Hill Holdings, respectively.