Annual Convention 2025

Poolwerx Celebrates Franchise Excellence at Annual Convention

This year, Hilary and Richard Kelly from Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, QLD, were named the 2025 Franchise Partners of the Year, an award recognising exceptional performance within the Poolwerx ANZ network.

Poolwerx CEO, Nic Brill, acknowledged Hilary and Richard Kelly for their remarkable journey from newcomers to industry leaders.

“Hilary and Richard Kelly embody the very best of Poolwerx — vision, courage, and the relentless drive to turn ambition into reality. In just four years, they’ve built a powerhouse business from the ground up, achieving record-breaking growth while setting new benchmarks for service, leadership, and innovation. Their willingness to embrace challenges, support fellow Franchise Partners, and lead with both discipline and heart has left an indelible mark on our network. They are not only outstanding operators — they are true leaders, and we are proud to have them as the 2025 Poolwerx National Franchise Partners of the Year,” Brill said.

This is the first national Franchise Partner of the Year win for Hilary and Richard, who also recently acquired JC Pools Services, bringing them to four retail stores on Brisbane’s Southside.

"Winning this award is such a proud moment for us,” said Richard and Hilary Kelly. “We’re grateful for the unwavering support of the Poolwerx network and our amazing team, who share our passion for helping clients enjoy their pools year-round. It’s a real privilege to be part of a community that celebrates success together."

Throughout the three-day event, attendees also engaged in hands-on workshops and roundtable sessions covering thought-provoking and collaborative topics designed to spark innovative thinking and foster insightful conversations.

Two keynote speakers headlined the event - Mark Wales, Australian author and entrepreneur, and Amanda Stevens, a leading authority on customer experience and consumer trends. Both shared powerful insights from their respective fields, to support franchise partners with tools to set themselves up for success, ready for the start of summer.

“Poolwerx is more than a franchise -  it’s a community. We’re committed to equipping our Franchise Partners with the support, tools, and inspiration they need to thrive. Together, we’re ready to seize the opportunities ahead and take our growth to the next level,” added Nic Brill.

The full list of award winners is below:

• Retail Store of the Year, Poolwerx Wagga Wagga, NSW

• New Retail Store of the Year, Poolwerx Ellenbrook, WA

• Retail Team Member of the Year, Poolwerx Bay of Plenty, Connor Simpson, NZ

• Technician of the Year, Poolwerx Kotara, Jarad Boorer, NSW

• Operations Person of the Year, Poolwerx Rosebud, Jarrod Hilderbrand, VIC

• Employer of the Year, Poolwerx Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Andrina & Darren Tribbeck, QLD

• Brand Excellence, Poolwerx Caloundra, Emily King & Luke Knight, QLD

• Innovation & Entrepreneurial Excellence, Poolwerx Castle Hill, Bev and Tim Oldfield, NSW

• The Shane Doyle Rising Star, Poolwerx Bunbury, Ayrton Paris, WA

• Most Improved, Poolwerx Mackay, Rene & Shayne Wood, QLD

• Commercial Business of the Year, Poolwerx Bay of Plenty, Kelly & Brendon Woodhouse, NZ

• Top Sales, Under $3,000,000, Poolwerx Spearwood, Karlee & Cory Thomson, WA

• Top Sales Over $3,000,000, Poolwerx Upper North Shore, Prue & Malcolm Price, NSW

• Top Mobile Sales (Single Territory), Poolwerx Coffs Harbour, Shann & Ged O'Sullivan, NSW

• Top Retail Sales (Single Unit), Poolwerx Wagga Wagga, Melissa and Andrew McPherson, NSW

• Community Ambassador of the Year, Poolwerx Clarence Valley, Shauna Brigden, QLD

• Regional Operational Manager of the Year, Phil Colburn

• Poolwerx Support Centre Team Member of the Year, Learning & Development Advisor, Trinity Overduin

• Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Burpengary, Wendy & Grant Polglase,  QLD (Brisbane North & Central Queensland)

• Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, Hilary & Richard Kelly, QLD (Brisbane South, Far North QLD, Northern NSW & Northern Territory)

• Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Ringwood, David & Zivanja Copsey, VIC (Victoria & Tasmania)

• Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Greater Adelaide, Craig Bruins, SA

• Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Applecross, Steve Burn and Brett Jorgensen, WA

• Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Castle Hill, Bev and Tim Oldfield, NSW

• The Garth Parker Award, Regional Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Bay of Plenty, Kelly & Brendon Woodhouse, NZ

• Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, Hilary & Richard Kelly, QLD