Ego Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Officer and Director Dr. Jane Oppenheim has been named CEO of the Year at The CEO Magazine Executive of the Year Awards, recognising her leadership in Australian manufacturing and skincare innovation.
Dr Oppenheim received the night’s highest honour after first securing the award for the Manufacturing category, as revealed in a news release.
Ego Pharmaceuticals said the recognition highlights Dr Oppenheim’s long-standing contribution to Australian manufacturing and her commitment to advancing production standards over more than three decades.
As Scientific and Operations Director of Ego Pharmaceuticals, Dr Oppenheim has led the company’s growth and innovation in dermatological skincare, expanding advanced production facilities, embracing new technologies, and delivering science-driven products.
The company said her leadership has focused on upskilling employees, improving workplace satisfaction, and supporting sustainability initiatives that reduce carbon output, water and energy usage, and waste.
“This accolade highlights Dr. Oppenheim’s exceptional leadership, her pivotal role in driving industry innovation, and her unwavering commitment to advancing Australian manufacturing and production standards over more than three decades,” Ego Pharmaceuticals stated.
The company noted Dr Oppenheim’s recognition follows her recent induction into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame’s Honour Roll for Service to Industry.
The evening also saw Jan Owen AM receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to social innovation and youth advocacy. Owen, Co-Founder and Principal of AdaptabilityQ, has reportedly built cross-sector alliances and led global campaigns advancing education and youth empowerment.
“It’s an incredible honour to receive this recognition,” Owen said. “My life’s work has been about empowering young people to imagine and build a better future – for themselves and for all of us.”
The CEO Magazine Founder Chris Dutton said Owen “represents everything this award stands for – purpose, leadership and unwavering commitment to making a difference.”
In addition, eight companies were recognised through Virgin Unite’s 100% Human at Work initiative, led by Sir Richard Branson.
The 2025 recipients—Deloitte Australia, AMP, Commonwealth Bank, Hays Specialist Recruitment, SMEC, SunRice, Future Skills Organisation, and Capability.Co—were acknowledged for their human-centred approach to addressing the nation’s skills challenges.
Virgin Unite Programs Director Anna Gowdridge said, “This collective demonstrates what it means to work together to drive impact, creating a better future for current and future generations.”
The awards were judged by leaders across Australian business, including Louise Baxter, Jose Da Silva, John Karagounis, Jérôme Debreu, James Thornton, Colleen Callander, Jason Price, Christian Stevens, Chris Dutton, and Anna Dutton.
