Last week’s CommBank SmallBiz Week was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the country’s young entrepreneurs, with anointment of the Young Hero Awards. The winners were:
- Entrepreneur of the year: Michael Ramsey – STRONG Pilates
- Rising Star Award: Mia Plecic – SLICKHAIR
- Innovator of the Year: Shoaib Iqbal – Esper Satellite Imagery
- Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year: Ruby Heard – Alinga Energy Consulting
- Sustainable Entrepreneur of the Year: Julia Kay – Great Wrap
- Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year: Angelique Wan – Consent Labs
- Startup of the Year: Timothy Aquino – THDR Group
- Excellence in Marketing: Brandon Efron – Blitz Bar
- Best Place to Work: Tamara Haddow – Black Diamond Agency
- Outstanding Growth Award: Joe Zhou – Aces Group
- Most Innovative Product: Tim Veron – Vively
- Most Innovative Product: Elysia Krstevski – Meke Baby
Michael Ramsey, the Co-Founder of STRONG Pilates praised his team for their contribution in helping him gain the accolade of Entrepreneur of the Year.
“It’s easy to win an award when you have an amazing team behind you,” Ramsey said. “For any entrepreneur starting out, focus on your business model, then brand and build the right team around you who support your vision and objectives.”
Another standout among the winners was Ruby Heard of Alinga Energy Consulting who won the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Adrian Towsey, Area Vice President for Growth Business at Salesforce, sponsors of the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award, said that he was “deeply impressed by the contributions from First Nations women entrepreneurs” in the category.
“Ruby’s work not only respects and continues the practices of traditional custodians in preserving our environment but also strengthens Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by boosting skills and enhancing economic opportunities through sustainable practices,” Towsey said. “Ruby’s commitment to nurturing future careers in STEM for women from diverse backgrounds truly embodies the innovation and community leadership that this award seeks to celebrate.”
Ben Campbell, Nine’s Director of Data and Advertising, congratulated the winners, saying that their achievements are an example of the talent and innovation that Australia’s young entrepreneurs and business leaders display.
“At Nine Ad Manager, we are dedicated to championing and empowering small business growth,” Campbell said. “It was an honour to sponsor the event and show our support for these young heroes. The evening was truly inspiring, showcasing the passion and dedication that drive our economy forward.”
