Winners at this year's Western Australian of the Year awards include land developer Nigel Satterley, scientist Sue Fletcher and wheelchair charity founder Olly Pickett.
Nigel Satterley was recognised as the state’s top business leader at last night’s Western Australian of the Year awards.
The prominent land developer won the WA Business Award at the annual event, in recognition of his contribution to the state.
In his acceptance speech, the Satterley Property Group managing director reflected on his five-decade career, which started as a salesman for Levi’s jeans.
“I have always believed that success in business—and in life—comes down to developing and maintaining strong, trusted relationships,” he said.
“It’s about keeping your word and doing what you say you’ll do.
“That principle has guided me from the Wheatbelt to the property world, from my first venture selling Levi Jeans to founding Satterley Property Group.”
Mr Satterley also paid tribute to the late Sir James McCusker, who helped him branch out into the property sphere.
“This award isn’t just about business,” Mr Satterley added.
“It’s about community. It’s about the thousands of WA families who’ve moved into their first home because we dared to think big, plan smart, and delivered on our promises.
“It’s about the parks filled with families, the schools we’ve helped make possible, and the sporting clubs we’ve supported from the ground up.”
Mr Satterley, 77, has developed more than 225 land estates across the country, catering to more than 130,000 families.
His recent award follows several accolades from the Urban Development Institute of Australia and the Property Council of Australia.
Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett AM was named Western Australian of the Year, as well as winning the Community Award.
Mr Pickett co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids in 1996 to provide adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries, free of charge.
Since then, more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been gifted to children in over 80 countries.
Wheelchairs For Kids has over 250 retiree volunteers in its workshop and a further 550 people from aged care and community groups who sew covers for wheelchair soft supports, and crochet rugs and soft toys.
Professor Sue Fletcher won the professions award for her success as a research scientist.
She is Professor Emeritus at Murdoch University and has been principal research fellow at Murdoch's Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics and chief scientific officer with ASX company PYC Therapeutics.
Professor Fletcher and her long-time research partner Steve Wilton have gained multiple accolades over the years, including from AusBiotech in 2022.
AusBiotech said the pair’s collaboration and pioneering research has resulted in the development of three FDA-approved “exon-skipping” medicines that overcome specific genetic mutations that cause Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
“Their contribution to Australia’s biotech industry spans more than 25 years, and their work in antisense oligomer-induced exon skipping puts Australia’s medical research into rare diseases and neuromuscular science on the map,” the organisation stated.
“All three medicines were developed at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science with the University of Western Australia and has been commercialised in partnership with US company Sarepta Therapeutics.”
