On 6 May 2026 in Sydney, Nicole Bilman was named runner-up for Emerging Leader of the Year at the Smart Energy Council Excellence Awards. The category is judged by an independent panel from the national industry body. Nicole represented an outnumbered Western Australia in the category.
For a Perth homeowner choosing a solar company, here is what that means.
Brief
- A runner-up placement is top two in the country, judged by a national industry panel against published criteria. Not a popularity vote, not a marketing exercise.
- The recognition is for how Nicole runs the business. That covers the standards behind every install: training, accountability, the audit benchmarks that have to hold up year after year.
- Perth Solar Warehouse was also a national finalist for Smart Employer of the Year on the same night. We did not place as runner-up or winner in that category. Finalist standing alone, alongside companies from across Australia.
When you choose a solar company in Perth, most of the trust signals are about the product. Panel brand, inverter brand, battery brand. Those matter. But the part that determines whether your system actually works well in five and 10 years is who runs the company that installs it.
A national leadership recognition is a signal that decisions at the top are being made correctly. Tesla Premium Certified Installer status held every year from 2022 to 2026. ISO 9001 quality, 14001 environment and 45001 safety certified through Bureau Veritas. NETCC Approved Seller, renewed through to May 2027. SolarQuotes Legendary status held three years running. Those credentials do not renew themselves. They are reviewed on a fixed cadence, and they require documented evidence to maintain.
Nicole points to a team effort
Leadership awards land on one name. The standards behind them are held by the team. Installers, electricians, designers and customer service. The independently audited 4.8 out of 5 Tesla satisfaction score, set during the busiest year the industry has ever seen, was held by them.
Being recognised twice in one night, on a national stage, is something we are sharing with the people who actually do the work.
Image: Derek McKercher (Director), Nicole Bilman (CEO), John Grimes (Smart Energy Council, CEO)
If you are comparing quotes for solar, a battery upgrade, or an EV charger right now and would like to talk to the team behind the recognition, request a free quote, and we will scope it against your actual roof and energy usage.
For a detailed wrap of the award, our PSW Energy companion piece goes deeper on what the recognition reflects about how the business runs.
Published 20 May 2026 · Last reviewed 11 June 2026
