The CEO Magazine’s 2016 Executive of the Year Awards unveiled its recipients last week rewarding 29 of Australia’s ‘most outstanding executives’ for their professional contribution over the past year. Hosted by Eddie McGuire for the fifth year in a row, the awards are spread across 24 categories, honouring the ‘best in Australian business’.

This year’s top honour, CEO of the Year, went to Stephen Cornelissen, group CEO of Mercy Health. Mercy Health is a not-for-profit organisation that employs over 7,000 people.

Chris Dutton, founder and CEO of The CEO Magazine said, “Wading and choosing your way through the finalists to pick a winner proves to be so difficult every year we host these awards. The quality, excellence and ability of these leaders is outstanding. They are all deserving recipients of these awards and we congratulate all of them.”

Cornelissen said, “I am humbled by these honours which are also recognition for Mercy Health and every staff member that helps make this organisation all that it is, and my family, without whose support I would not be where I am today.”

Third Sector asked Cornelissen about his win…

What does this award mean to you/ were you surprised?

It was both a surprise and an honour to receive this recognition both personally and for Mercy Health. It is very significant for the Sisters of Mercy and for a Catholic health and aged care organisation to be singled out for our business stewardship and leadership at a time when the communities we serve are rightly seeking and expecting much of mission-based companies. This award also allows the spotlight to be placed on the health and aged care sector, if only briefly, to highlight the compassionate care, innovation and development happening in our sector, and the amazing work being done by our frontline people which makes that possible.

What does this award mean for the NFP sector?

This award acknowledges that a not-for-profit organisation can simultaneously remain true to its ethos, mission and values, make a real and enduring difference to the communities it serves, be progressive and contemporary and still flourish commercially.

What does it mean to your organisation, being a NFP, having a CEO winning an award of such a high calibre?

Mercy Health currently employs more than 7,000 people. Each one, coupled with the many thousands that have contributed in the past, has made winning this award possible. It should not make a difference that we are a not-for-profit organisation. Every successful organisation requires its people to stay focused on its purpose – its clients. To be acknowledged by the CEO Magazine allows me to talk about the amazing work Mercy Health does each and every day. It allows me to highlight the new initiatives we are embarking on to improve the lives of others. Take Mercy Perinatal, for example, which will be launched on Monday 5 December 2016. Mercy Perinatal will be a unique centre of excellence that will advance research, teaching and clinical practice with a focus on the first 300 days of life after conception. As an international centre of perinatal excellence, Mercy Perinatal will translate and fast-track pioneering advances in care to combat stillbirth, preeclampsia, ectopic pregnancies and maternal mental illness.

What attributes do you think make a great leader?

I believe a great leader should be approachable, personable, and humble, have a sense of humour and most importantly be relatively invisible. They should be in touch with their business and able to step in when things aren’t going well. However, when things are going well they should be quiet, ensuring that the practices and processes are in place for people at every level of the organisation to do what they do and to the best of their ability, and most importantly, to meet the needs of those they serve.

What advice do you have for other CEO’s who want to follow in your footsteps?

My first piece of advice is that there is no need to follow in anyone’s footsteps. Be brave, be respectful, be reflective and be inspiring and those that work with you will help you create your own path forward. Celebrate successes and don’t be afraid to admit when you are wrong; in fact it is even alright to fail often, just make it fast and find the learning and opportunity every time. Finally, never forget that as a CEO you are part of a privileged few and with this privilege comes responsibility. For me, this includes thinking wisely, acting compassionately and influencing assertively to create a world where people are not judged on issues such as gender, culture, religion, etc. but one where we value the dignity of each and every human being and see in them the potential to prosper and contribute in all that they do.