Nominations for the 2021 Hinkler Innovation Awards are open once again for the two categories, Junior Hinkler Innovation Award and Hinkler Innovation Award.
The Hinkler Innovation Award honours the spirit and legacy of Bert Hinkler by recognising an Australian whose pioneering spirit has contributed both locally and globally to innovation and entrepreneurship.
Nominations can be made online with a range of criteria that must be met by those being nominated, closing EOD Friday 5 November 2021.
The 2020 Hinkler Innovation Award Winner Jamie Olsen from CMB Capital said the award had provided him with extra motivation and connected him with a range of other local entrepreneurial people.
“It was truly a lifelong honour to receive last year’s award and the experience has given me extra motivation and inspiration to help develop and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs in Bundaberg,” Mr Olsen said.
“My goal is to find one or two entrepreneurs to back over the next couple of years and help develop a capability that keeps our best and brightest in Bundaberg as we have already proven we can conquer the world from here.
“I’ve met some genuine entrepreneurial talent who are building a range of interesting businesses in Fintech, Agtech and Digital Media.”
Jamie said the awards are a great acknowledgement of those making a difference across the region.
“The awards are a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate those making a significant contribution to innovation and entrepreneurship across the Bundaberg region,” he said.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said the Hinkler Innovation Award was a fantastic annual opportunity to recognise those helping to put the Bundaberg Region on the world stage.
“The Bundaberg Region has a proud history of innovation, testing the limits, challenging the theories and building smarter,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“We know we have people working year-round within our region achieving incredible goals and leading in their fields.
“This annual award provides us with an opportunity to stop and reflect on those achievements and continue to highlight the leaps and bounds our community is taking in fields as varied as research and data analysis to AgTech and engineering.”
Regional Business HQ and the Generator are proud of what the Hinkler Innovation Series and Awards have become.
Regional Business HQ Executive Manager, Brooke Fossey, said she strongly supports celebrating innovation in the region.
“The Hinkler Innovation Awards is crucial in continuing to drive innovation in the community,” she said.
“By recognising the great projects that come from the Bundaberg region, we are showing others that innovation is possible.”
The Junior Hinkler Innovation Award is open to those aged 25 years or younger, with the Hinkler Innovation Award open to all.
Nomination forms can be found here:
• Junior Hinkler Innovation Award
• Hinkler Innovation Award
The judging panels will consist of representatives from Bundaberg Regional Council, The Generator, Regional Business HQ.
Other stories: O'Brien Electrical finalists in excellence awards
