Community & Business
6 June, 2024
Business Awards 2024
Proving apples don’t fall far from the tree, Emily Stanton has been named the 2024 Outstanding Young Business Leader of the year at the Western NSW Business Awards held in Bathurst last Friday night (May 31).
At just 32, Emily’s confidence and business acumen belies her years.
She has successfully managed her family’s Nyngan Riverside Tourist Park since she was 20 and, in more recent years, has worked with her husband James to build a car wash, renovate an old building into beautiful 1930s-inspired accommodation, and most recently, project managed the much-anticipated Nyngan Hotel project.
Emily studied business at university, but there’s no denying she has inherited many of her traits from her entrepreneurial parents, Jack and Dione Carter who, like Emily, have a knack for seeing opportunities and being brave enough to grasp them.
The Outstanding Young Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 35 or under at the time of entry who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership.
Entrants in the awards were required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to creating a smarter and more inclusive future and to being an outstanding business leader.
Emily was nominated for her role in managing the Nyngan Riverside Tourist Park.
“I think the Nyngan Riverside is like an oasis in the outback. We are always looking at ways to improve it and aim to do one thing every year. Last year we installed a great new children’s playground area with climbing frames, swings, slides and an outdoor chess board,” she said.
“This year our focus is on re-branding, new park signage and new road signs. As always, we plan to keep a high standard, good reputation and to continue to provide top quality accommodation in the outback.”
Emily and James are weeks away from completing their biggest project to date – the renovation of the 1883-built Nyngan Hotel.
“We have been renovating the Nyngan Hotel for 15 months. It had been closed for 40 years before that. We will be opening it as a boutique accommodation and a hotel with beer garden, restaurant, children’s playground, TAB and a function and events venue.”
Remarkably, Emily and James have managed this project (followed on Instagram by more than 8,000 people) while raising three busy young boys – Carter, and twins Archie and Darby.
“My personal plans for the future will definitely be to try and find a better work-life balance. That is my biggest challenge!”
Emily will now represent the region at the State Business Awards to be held in Sydney in October.