Anchor Impact Group Named NSW Growth Award Winner at the 2026 Telstra Best of Business Awards

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Anchor Impact Group (AIG) has been officially named the NSW Growth Award winner at the prestigious 2026 Telstra Best of Business Awards, recognising the group’s extraordinary expansion, sustainable commercial performance, and transformative leadership across the aged care, childcare, and social impact sectors.

Originally established in August 2018 through its flagship aged care advisory brand, Anchor Excellence, Anchor Impact Group has evolved into a multi-brand ecosystem providing end-to-end strategic, governance, financial, policy, and educational solutions for purpose-driven organisations. Led by Founder and Managing Director Cynthia Payne—a former aged care CEO with decades of industry governance experience—the Group has demonstrated exceptional resilience and strategic momentum.

The Telstra Best of Business Growth Award celebrates small and medium businesses that have demonstrated sustainable growth, sound financial management, and clear strategic direction. Anchor Impact Group’s recognition highlights its rapid business expansion, including the strategic acquisition of SAGE Study Tours in 2023, the launch of Impactful Leaders in 2024, and the expansion into early childhood governance with Anchor ChildCare in 2025.

“We are deeply honoured to be recognised as the 2026 NSW Growth Award winner,” said Cynthia Payne, Founder & Managing Director of Anchor Impact Group. “Great organisations don’t happen by chance; they are built through exceptional leadership, strong governance, capable people, and the courage to embrace change. This award reflects the dedication of our entire team, the trust of our clients, and our unwavering commitment to empowering leaders and delivering meaningful, measurable impact across the care sectors.”

Driving Impact Across Purpose-Led Sectors

Anchor Impact Group unites a comprehensive suite of specialist brands working seamlessly together to serve executive leaders and boards:

• Anchor Excellence: The founding aged care advisory firm delivering strategy, governance, complex business and finance advisory, and risk management.
• Anchor Policy: Providing compliant frameworks, governance document suites, and operational policies adapted to evolving sector regulations.
• Anchor Academy: Delivering specialised industry education, learning pathways, and workforce capability building.
• SAGE Study Tours: Acquired in 2023 to offer global best-practice study programs across seniors living, social housing, and dementia care.
• Impactful Leaders: Launched in 2024 to foster cross-industry leadership development and executive performance.
• Anchor ChildCare: Established in 2025 to extend expert governance and compliance advisory services into early childhood education.
• My Care My Way: Published in 2026, “My Care My Way” is a simple guide to Australia’s funded aged care system, written by four members of the Anchor Excellence team with more than a century of combined experience in the aged care sector.

With strong financial performance and expected annual growth of between 15% and 29%, Anchor Impact Group continues to strengthen its digital and operational infrastructure to scale its services nationwide. The Group now advances to the national stage as a finalist, with national winners to be announced in late November 2026.