On a standout evening in Sydney, the 2017 ARN ICT Industry Awards continued its tradition of celebrating and rewarding excellence across the Australian channel.

And it’s a healthy channel we’re in — with a power line-up of partners dominating the agenda.

In total, more than 50 partners made the shortlist in 2017, as well as over 20 technology start-ups from across the country.

This stellar list of partner finalists included managed service providers; system integrators, ISVs, born-in-the-cloud providers, GSIs, consultancy firms, startups, application developers and value-added resellers.

The result was the most diverse and wide-ranging partner line-up in the history of the Awards, with the biggest night on the channel calendar playing host to the leading innovators of the past 12 months.

Completing the finalist line-up, more than 35 vendor organisations were also in the running, alongside over 15 distributors.

In recognition of the changing ecosystem within the channel, 2017 heralded the launch of a new Start-up category, acknowledging the emerging businesses disrupting the status quo across the market.

Because ARN acknowledges that a new breed of partner has emerged. This is the new channel. A channel which looks, thinks and acts differently.

These start-ups aren’t bound by traditional channel tags — they are builders of code, developers of software and specialists of industry.

They don’t resell, instead they go deep, deep into specific sub-industries, segments, line of business and geographies.

They may be born in Australia, but they have global ambitions from day one.

But as this new channel flourishes, ARN equally acknowledges the foundation with which the industry is built, and the bedrock of partners that have excelled throughout the decades. Because longevity remains a key hallmark for success.

As illustrated through an expansive and varied list of finalists, the staying power of partners in the channel is outstanding.

During the past 12 months, the channel was relentless in going the distance to remain relevant over a period of decades, with more than 50 partner finalists making up more than 500 years of IT experience.

500 years. That means for over half a millennium, nominated partners have delivered customer value, time and time again.

Sticking around is one thing, but being consistently at the top of your game is another matter entirely.

Collectively, this shows a channel innovating at both ends of the spectrum, from emerging businesses to fully-fledged providers.

Whether you’re a six-day-old start-up, or a 60-year-old integrator, the Awards highlighted that both have a crucial role to play in this market.

Special thanks must also go to a judging panel comprising of over 140 of the industry’s leading influencers, who dedicated time and energy to selecting the winners.

ARN congratulates all winners, highly commended, finalists and nominees, and toasts the channel on a standout 2017.