The judging panel is headed by University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor Paul Wellings, who is the ambassador of judges, and the process is being overseen and audited as it has for much of the past decade by KPMG Wollongong partner Warwick Shanks.

The full judging panel is Amanda Kunkler, Bill Field, Christopher Apps, John Vohradsky, Kevin Ayres, Mark Davie, Mark Grimson, Peter Masterson, Peter Buckley, Roy Rogers, Sandeep Bhardwaj, Tania Brown, Terry Widdicombe, Trevor James, Vicki Grossman, Virginia Wren, Maree Morgan-Monk, Les Dion, Corinne Whiteman, Melanie Silburn, Brett Goodyer, Bill Dowson, Mike Halloran, Graham Willcock and Annelies Voorthuis.

In welcoming and thanking the judges Illawarra Business Chamber chief executive Debra Murphy, Professor Wellings and Mr Shanks outlined how the awards format, the judging process and the categories had changed this year.

Ms Murphy said the Oscars-style event in the IMB Theatre at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) on October 24 would ultimately celebrate the achievements in the business community in Illawarra's five local government areas over the last 12 months.

There are 15 categories this year that mostly focus on business outcomes rather than specific industries. Winners of 12 of the categories progress as finalists to the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards.

Tickets are selling quickly.

Further details are available at illawarrabusinessawards.com .au.