Despite global economic uncertainty, a high dollar and the lasting effects of the GFC, NSW exporters celebrated in style at last night’s 2011 Premier’s NSW Export Awards. Held at Le Montage in Lilyfield, business owners and guests were treated to a warm evening and a genuine feeling of celebration and collaboration, hosted by the Australian Institute of Export, as the best exporters across a number of categories were recognised by the guest of honour, the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, Premier of New South Wales. Each category recognised the achievements of exporters from all around the state with everyone from mum’s starting their small businesses at home to nationally recognised herbal supplement providers getting a nod. The overall winner of the night was Finisar Australia, who were recognised for their hard work by being awarded the Premier’s NSW Exporter of the Year award. Finisar, who also won the Large Advanced Manufacturer award, were recognised for their outstanding achievement manufacturing Wavelength Selective Switches. Dywidag Systems International Pty Ltd were awarded a Highly Commended for the Large Advanced Manufacturer category. Westend Estate Wines took home the Agribusiness award, with Estate Wine Distributors taking the Highly Commended, while Laservision (recently featured in Dynamic Export) were the winners of the Arts and Entertainment award. The winner of the NSW Asian Exporter was MSM Milling with a Highly Commended going to GMP Pharmaceuticals but it was the excited team from the Itti Bitti Nappy Co who were presented the Small Business Award, with another Highly Commended going to TTG Transportation Technology. Other winners include: Education & Training Award Winner: The International College of Management, Sydney Highly Commended: TAFE NSW - Northern Sydney Institute Emerging Exporter Award Winner: Health Projects International NSW Export Scholarship Winners: Capitol Production and miniOrganics Information & Communication Technology Award Winner: Atlassian Corporation Innovation in Export Winner: Servcorp Highly Commended: EverX Large Services Award Winner: Blackmores Minerals & Energy Award Winner: Flip Screen Australia Regional Exporter Award Winner: QMASTOR Limited Highly Commended: Banlaw Small to Medium Manufacturing Winner: Hedweld Group of Companies Small to Medium Services Winner: Ansarada NSW Young Exporter Winner: Amjad Khance  and Prithivi Pradeep NSW Sustainable Exporter Winner: Parnell Pharmaceuticals Highly Commended: ATRON Enterprises NSW Western Sydney Exporter Winner: Cordina Chicken Farms The winners in each category will go on to compete at the national level in the 49^th Australian Export Awards in Brisbane this December.