News

A total of 14 QUT graduates were recognised as outstanding young leaders in the awards, hosted by InQueensland and The Weekend Edition, which celebrate the passion, vision and achievements of Queensland’s young entrepreneurs and leaders helping to shape the state’s future.

QUT Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship) Professor Rowena Barrett congratulated the winners.

“We are so pleased to see that our education underpins the entrepreneurial activity of so many of these 40 under 40,” Professor Barrett said.

“QUT has just been named Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Asia-Pacific region, and these awards are further proof that we are helping our graduates achieve their dreams.”

The awards are open to business owners and executives or professionals who have made an impact for Queensland and are under the age of 40 at 1 July each year.

Category winners include:

• Entrepreneurial Award: Dan Argent (B. Justice), UrbanX
• Food Innovation Award: Cara Aprile (B. Nutrition), Lilly’s Little Lunchbox
• Creative Thinker Award: Dave Sleswick (B. Creative Industries – Drama), The Tivoli + The Princess Theatre
• Inspiring Future Leader Award: Lauren Fell (current PhD student – Quantum Cognition), Lunaria One 
• First Among Equals Award: Nicole Detsimas (B. Bus, B. Construction and M. Phil Construction), Belnic Constructions
• Game Changer Award: Nicole Dyson (B. Education), Future Anything

Also named among the top 40 movers and shakers in Queensland are QUT graduates:

• Adam Brunes (B. Journalism), Aruga
• Courtney Stewart (B. Creative Industries – Drama), La Boite Theatre
• Ellie Bakker (B. Bus Marketing), Splice Marketing
• Jed Dawson (B. Fine Arts Animation/Games Design), Screen Queensland
• Naomi Price (B. Creative Industries –  Drama), The Little Red Company
• Riye Arai-Coupe (B.Property Economics), Bluebird
• Sarah Moran (B. Journalism), Girl Geek Academy
• Shay Chalmers (B. Engineering Mechanical, M. Engineering Management), Graham Lusty Trailers