VIRGIN AUSTRALIA MICRO BUSINESS AWARD
Winner: Little Change Creators
Little Change Creators is an innovative toy brand with a commitment to creative play and caring for our environment. Founded by former police artist and mum-of-two, Paige McInnes, the Brisbane-based brand is revolutionising playtime through toys that encourage families to disconnect from tech and reconnect with each other. Little Change Creators’ compact and convenient activities also come with a unique social-impact twist, inspiring young changemakers to support its partner charities. Since launching in November 2021, Little Change Creators has won numerous awards for sustainability and product design.
ACCENTURE AUSTRALIA PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Genics
Genics provides early pathogen detection, biosecurity management and breeding programs for the national and global shrimp industry. Genics helps farmers reduce risk and boost productivity and sustainability to meet increases in global food demand. Genics’ flagship product Shrimp MultiPathTM tests for 13 pathogens of prawns in a single test in an affordable, highly sensitive and accurate manner. For the first time, it allows farmers to identify pathogens up to four weeks before they know they have sick prawns, empowering them to make data-driven and smart management decisions that can make the difference between a successful harvest or not harvesting at all.
Special Mention: Vaulta
Dominic Spooner founded Vaulta with the core mission to eliminate battery waste. Dominic spearheaded the development of a battery casing design architecture that better enables repair, re-use and recycling of battery packs. Additionally, Vaulta has developed a highly thermally conductive, yet electrically insular polymer for use in battery packs, meaning heat can be pulled from battery packs without adding design complexity. Through this award-winning patented technology developed from 2020 to 2022, Vaulta now locally manufactures battery energy storage products for residential and commercial use, and undertakes development battery projects in fields of electric vehicles, defence, consumer and entertainment.
CISCO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AWARD
Winner: Circa
Circa Contemporary Circus is one of the world’s leading performance companies. Since 2004, from its base in Brisbane, Circa has toured the world – performing in 40-plus countries to over 1.5 million people. Circa’s works have been greeted with standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out houses across six continents.
Circa is at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus – pioneering how extreme physicality can create powerful and moving performances. It continues to push the boundaries of the art form, blurring the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus. Compelled by the question “what is possible in circus?” Circa is leading the way with a diverse range of thrilling creations.
AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LNG BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION AWARD
Winner: Australian Country Choice
Australian Country Choice (ACC) is a third-generation, privately owned, Queensland-based cattle, beef and food processing company.
Part of the Lee Group Pty Ltd, the business started in 1955 and grew into the world’s largest family-owned, vertically integrated cattle and beef supply chain.
It sources cattle from four million Queensland acres across 42 properties, processing up to 300,000 head/year at the Cannon Hill plant, exporting to 17 countries and employing up to 1500 people from more than 61 nationalities.
Modifications to the ACC business model required a $50 million upgrade to the processing plant, completed in 2023 with no disruption to production.
Special Mention: Street Science
Street Science is Australia’s leading STEM educator, traveling the country while providing highly engaging and explosive science education experiences for Aussie kids. The business was founded in 2012 by Steve Liddell, who saw a need to change the way we teach children in schools. Street Science is now the largest provider of science outreach activities in the country, and has established itself as the go-to partner for schools who are looking to improve student engagement and increase teacher capacity. Street Science is a proud Brisbane business continually punching above its weight and isn’t afraid to innovate and consistently break new ground.
URBAN UTILITIES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS AWARD
Winner: Vaulta
Dominic Spooner founded Vaulta with the core mission to eliminate battery waste. Dominic spearheaded the development of a battery casing design architecture that better enables repair, re-use and recycling of battery packs. Additionally, Vaulta has developed a highly thermally conductive, yet electrically insular polymer for use in battery packs, meaning heat can be pulled from battery packs without adding design complexity. Through this award-winning patented technology developed from 2020 to 2022, Vaulta now locally manufactures battery energy storage products for residential and commercial use, and undertakes development battery projects in fields of electric vehicles, defence, consumer and entertainment.
Special Mention: Circonomy
Born from the World’s Biggest Garage Sale initiative in 2013, Circonomy is a certified social enterprise leading tangible action towards a world without waste. Circonomy takes still-useful things that are lying dormant or are destined for landfill and works diligently alongside partners to give these goods the opportunity to have a second (or third) lease on life. Circonomy is transforming Australian businesses through a journey of circularity and sustainability. Through partnerships and case studies, Circonomy has developed innovative and structured sustainability practices to help businesses scale up to align with current values among the community and addresses the impact of commercial waste in Australia.
HUTCHINSON BUILDERS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD
Winner: Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative
Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative (NCEC) is a social enterprise established to create meaningful work for people with intellectual and cognitive disabilities. It started in 1998 as a small jobs club and has grown to employ more than 40 disadvantaged workers and train more than 30 others annually. NCEC has been a leader in the social enterprise space for 25 years, pioneering social procurement with Brisbane City Council, mentoring new social enterprises, and co-founding the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC), the first peak body for social enterprise in Australia.
BUSINESS CHAMBER QUEENSLAND SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Winner: Adina Watches
Adina Watches, a venerable Brisbane-based watchmaking house with over five decades of expertise, is renowned for crafting high-quality wristwatches tailored to the unique demands of the Australian lifestyle. Its unwavering commitment to excellence is upheld by a highly skilled team of watchmakers and apprentices. Adina Watches stands as a beacon in the watch industry. Embodying a steadfast dedication to redefining watches and what they mean to their owners, through collaboration with seasoned professionals in design and horology Adina Watches produces watches that resonate with individuals on a personal level. Each watch is meticulously handcrafted, catering to the distinctive preferences and requirements of its wearer, to ensure an unmatched and truly Australian watch experience.
Special Mention: Everybody eBikes
Being brave enough to help those less able sometimes requires a fresh approach, drawing on a mix of both complex and simple design, engineering and passion to get things done. From its base in Brisbane, EveryBody eBikes has embraced the challenge, with results that are being appreciated throughout Australia. Adaptive mobility requires an individualised approach, as one size does not fit all. Achieved outcomes for riders from all ages and abilities has led to new and returning riders embracing improved activity levels; able to participate socially and in their community, benefiting daily from improved physical and mental wellbeing.
ANZ HIGH-GROWTH BUSINESS AWARD
Winner: Askable
As businesses strive to make their digital experiences exceptional, Askable is the go-to platform for understanding what users really think. Think of it as a matchmaker between companies, providing user feedback, and experts skilled in testing digital experiences. From sourcing the right testing participants to delivering actionable insights, Askable streamlines the process using cutting-edge technologies like automated recording, speech-to-text, and AI analytics. Already trusted by big-name brands in Australia and making waves in the UK and Europe, Askable is shaping the future of digital experiences for the better.
ISPT INVESTMENT IN BRISBANE AWARD
Winner: Vaxxas
Brisbane-based, clinical-stage biotech company Vaxxas is rethinking the way vaccines are delivered with its needle-free vaccine skin patch. This year, with support of the Queensland Government, Vaxxas opened its first advanced manufacturing facility in Brisbane’s Northshore.
When fully operational, the company will produce millions of vaccine patches from the site for late-stage clinical trials and first commercial use.
Vaxxas has contributed almost $100m to the Queensland economy since its inception in 2011. With a growing team of more than 130 highly skilled employees, the company is proud to be a part of Brisbane’s vibrant biotech sector and thriving business community.
Special Mention: Thomas Dixon Centre
Reopened in 2022, the heritage-listed Thomas Dixon Centre is now a world-class performing arts destination, home to Queensland Ballet’s full-time company of emerging and established artists, and arts workers. Through the $108 million investment to transform the Thomas Dixon Centre, in partnership with State of Queensland, represented by the Department of Energy and Public Works, as the site owner, project funder and delivery agency, Brisbane has gained an invaluable and iconic destination.
As a flourishing cultural and community hub and state-of-the-art venue, Thomas Dixon Centre will continue to make economic impact for the surrounding community by attracting audiences, injecting tourism dollars into the local economy, while activating a suite of engagement offerings. Thomas Dixon Centre will underpin the transformation of the Montague Road area as a thriving destination.
BETTER BRISBANE AWARD
Winner: Howard Smith Wharves
Since opening in 2018, Brisbane’s agenda-setting entertainment and dining precinct Howard Smith Wharves (HSW) has challenged the status quo, including its approach to sustainability.
With ambitious sustainability goals, HSW’s core sustainability focus has been ensuring waste generated from the many venues across the precinct is separated, segregated and recycled. In total, 18 different waste streams are separated and recycled including brewery and food waste, cardboard, plastics, metals and oyster shells.
Due to the hard work and dedication of over 1,000 team members, supported with the guidance of the HSW Sustainability team, HSW diverts over 90 per cent of waste from landfill each year.
PORT OF BRISBANE YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner: Mathew Allan - Australian Droid and Robot
Mathew Allan is the CTO and co-founder of Australian Droid and Robot (ADR), a Brisbane-based robotics company specialising in rugged, intelligent machines for challenging environments. ADR’s flagship Explora robots enhance safety and productivity in heavy industries worldwide. ADR has garnered global acclaim for ground-breaking achievements, notably the deepest exploration of underground mining tunnels using a coordinated team of 10 robots. This endeavour not only saved a mine, but also the local economy. These same robots are also indispensable assets for major mining corporations, effortlessly collecting data in inaccessible locations. Mat and the team at ADR continue to push the boundaries of robotics, delivering tangible benefits on both national and international fronts.
THE COURIER-MAIL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner: Li Cunxin AO – Queensland Ballet
Li Cunxin AO’s journey is simply remarkable. Born into utter poverty in Mao’s Communist China, his astounding drive and relentless work made him one of the best dancers in the world. Li was awarded the Queen’s AO honour for his distinguished service to the arts and ballet. As artistic director of Queensland Ballet, Li transformed the company into world-standard. Since 2013, Li has been at the helm of Queensland Ballet, where his daring vision and devotion to artistic excellence were the catalyst for a decade of transformation and growth. Over $144 million has been invested into Brisbane throughout Li’s tenure, notably the Thomas Dixon Centre redevelopment, and the staff headcount has doubled to over 300 employees.
OPTUS PLATINUM AWARD
Winner: Adina Watches
Adina Watches, a venerable Brisbane-based watchmaking house with over five decades of expertise, is renowned for crafting high-quality wristwatches tailored to the unique demands of the Australian lifestyle. Its unwavering commitment to excellence is upheld by a highly skilled team of watchmakers and apprentices. Adina Watches stands as a beacon in the watch industry. Embodying a steadfast dedication to redefining watches and what they mean to their owners, through collaboration with seasoned professionals in design and horology Adina Watches produces watches that resonate with individuals on a personal level. Each watch is meticulously handcrafted, catering to the distinctive preferences and requirements of its wearer, to ensure an unmatched and truly Australian watch experience.