Beyond Recognition: Awards as Catalysts for Startup Growth & Engagement

Putting your business forward for industry awards can be beneficial even for those who don't win - especially for start-ups trying to get a foothold in a crowded marketplace. Hear from Banksia Foundation CEO Graz Van Egmond, 2022 Banksia Award winner Sascha Rust and judge (and Boomerang Labs mentor) Belinda Chellingworth about the value of awards that goes beyond the clout of having an established organisation vouching for you, including: 

- Visibility in front of different types of VIPs from investors and potential clients to collaborators, plus other networking benefits.

- A reason to perform a self-analysis, which businesses (especially start-ups) don't always prioritise.

- Getting feedback and business advice from experts in the field. 

Register now and let us know your questions - we'll include plenty of time for discussion and Q&A.

About the speakers

Graz Van Egmond is a passionate innovator, disruptor and changemaker currently leading the Banksia Foundation team to communicate inspirational solutions and promote optimism and action. She has extensive experience working in the Health, Tourism and Telecommunications Industries, creating the Telstra Business Women’s Awards and heading up Telstra’s Small Business Development division. Her skills, experience, determination, and panache contribute towards making meaningful, memorable and valuable events and campaigns from conception to delivery.

Born in Queensland, Sascha Rust moved South to Melbourne for the cold and a career in food. He initially trained as a chef at several of the city's awarded venues before a drive to understand the whole journey of food took him overseas to work with farmers, markets, and food businesses in France. On his return, he opened multiple restaurants, marking the start of an entrepreneurial career. This initiated an exploration of the food system from a sustainability perspective, looking at both the production and supply chain by leading a national conservation program supporting the sustainability of the seafood industry. These learnings provided the jumping off point to engagements with AgriTech ventures focused on advanced digital technologies to drive positive food system outcomes. In 2022, Sascha received the Youth as our Changemakers award from Banksia, Australia’s longest-running sustainability awards program. His work has spanned not-for-profit, academic and commercial spheres, where he loves supporting work on systemic and challenging problems.

Belinda Chellingworth has more than twenty years’ experience implementing circular economy principles and ESG, in Australia and overseas. She has a strong track record of delivery in government, not for profit and large organisations, and has previously led the circular economy portfolio for several influential businesses including the London School of Economics, The GPT Group, Australia Post, and ALDI Stores AU. Belinda is now the Director and Principal Consultant of BC Consulting Pty Ltd, a trusted circularity advisor to Australian businesses. She also moonlights as the 'Garbologist' in the Australian media, and was recently recognised for her legacy and long standing commitment, being named Planet Ark's Australian Circular Leader 2023. She is a Banksia Awards judge, and a mentor for Boomerang Labs.

About Boomerang Labs

Boomerang Labs is Australia's first Circular Economy Accelerator. In addition to our hands-on programs for circular startups, Boomerang Labs is an Innovation Exchange; a hub connecting companies, government bodies and other organisations with founders and innovators to tackle challenges of design, resource use and resource recovery in their organisations and supply chains.

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