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WSAA Hall of Fame
The WSAA Hall of Fame honours and recognises the outstanding achievement of individuals who have made a very real and positive contribution, and have demonstrated a prolonged commitment to the development of the window shading industry in Australia.

The inaugural year for the Hall of Fame Award was in 1999, and the Award is made in the year of the SuperExpo.

Eligibility
Nominees must either be currently in the industry and a current financial member of the WSAA, or recently retired from the industry and held WSAA/BMAA membership for 10 years or more.

Criteria
Nominees must have given outstanding service and/or have contributed significantly to the industry, with any volunteering work for the Association also taken into consideration.

Nominees should demonstrate a history of:

  • Prolonged industry experience and a record of achievement.
  • High integrity and professional respect within the industry.
  • Contribution to product innovation or the introduction of new technologies or practices.
  • Active and voluntary involvement in WSAA/BMAA activities.
  • Promotion of the industry’s reputation and public awareness.
  • Investment in workforce development, skills training or mentoring.
  • Charitable contributions or broader community service beyond the industry.


2026 Nominations
Nominations are now open and must be submitted by COB Wednesday 15th April 2026.

Nominate HERE

Inductee Announcement
The 2026 Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at the Gala Dinner & Awards night (Thursday 11th June 2026) at The Star on the Gold Coast.

Inductees:

1999 – Matti Ruonala, Uniline
2001 – Bill Young, Windsor Products
2004 – Gerald Saltman, Hunter Douglas, and Albert Walmsley, Westral Home Improvements
2007 – Claudette Shakespeare, Helioscreen and Tass Zorbas, Sharatan Wholesalers
2010 – Joe Turner, Image Blinds
2013 – Ross Emms, Ireland Blinds, Peter Hartland, Hartlands Blinds, Carmelo Licciardi, Acmeda, Kristine Brown, Decor Blinds and Ron Bayley, Ozroll
2014 – Peter Meyer, Blinds by Peter Meyer
2015 – Robert Bailey, Bailey Blinds
2016 – Frank Cairns, Decor Blinds Australia Pty Ltd
2019 – Christopher Nolan, Nolan Group, and Tony de Maaijer, Ziptrak
2023 – Tony Politis, formerly Hunter Douglas, Dr Ibrahim Elassaad, CW Products and Bruce Turner (Wynstan)

Other WSAA Industry Awards and Recipients:

  • Award of Excellence – awarded to John Watson in 2007
  • Directors Award – presented to Peter Schweinsberg in 2007
  • Lifetime Recognition Award – presented to Eric Brice and Ernie Brice in 2016
  • Life Membership – Presented to Joe Turner and Ross Emms in 2023
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2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

Dr Ibrahim Elassaad (left) and Bruce Turner (absent Tony Politis)

In June 2023, the following persons were inducted into the WSAA Hall of Fame:

  • Tony Politis, formerly Hunter Douglas Ltd
  • Dr Ibrahim Elassaad, CW Products
  • Bruce Turner, Wynstan
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2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

Christopher Nolan and Tony de Maaijer

Christopher Nolan, Managing Director of the Nolan Group

Chris is the Managing Direcor of the Nolan Group, a national distributor of industrial textiles and outdoor blind and awning fabrics and related fittings, trading from seven locations nationally.

Chris was elected to the WSAA Board of Directors in November 2010. He has been the Chairman of the committee that has organised the three WSAA/STA extremely successful SuperExpos that have been held.

Tony de Maaijer, Managing Director of Ziptrak

Tony is the founder of Ziptrak Pty Ltd and inventor of Ziptrak Outdoor Blinds. Tony and his wife have had a significant impact on the industry as the popularity of the new track-guided outdoor blind category has resulted in job creation throughout Australia with many small and large businesses that distribute, fabricate and retail Ziptrak products.

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

Dr Ibrahim Elassaad (left) and Bruce Turner (absent Tony Politis)

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2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

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