A social enterprise that trains and employs younger information analysts with autism has been recognised at The University of Queensland’s 2023 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards.
Australian Spatial Analytics, which creates secure and lengthy-time period employment for neurodiverse individuals, took out the Social Enterprise of the Year Award.
The annual awards have a good time excellent entrepreneurs and mentors throughout UQ who’ve made important contributions to the financial system and created job alternatives of their communities.
UQ’s Head of Entrepreneurship, Mr Nimrod Klayman, mentioned it was a improbable alternative to see the broader entrepreneurship group come collectively to have a good time the people who find themselves driving change and innovation.
“We have an incredible group of gifted college students at UQ and I’m frequently impressed with the ingenuity of our college students and the longer-time period impression of their work,” Mr Klayman mentioned.
“The University is a melting pot of expertise and our give attention to collaboration throughout disciplines is a part of the key of its success.”
Working in Brisbane, Cairns and Melbourne, Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA) is a not-for-revenue organisation preserving information extraction and analytic companies onshore, whereas additionally using a various vary of individuals.
Company founder and UQ alum Geoff Smith mentioned round 80 per cent of the 120-robust ASA staff is neurodiverse – largely with Autism Spectrum Disorder – which they’ve discovered to be a strategic benefit.
“Employers are beginning to recognise that hiring autistic individuals could make good enterprise sense,” Mr Smith mentioned.
“Our various and inclusive work setting permits us to profit from a largely untapped pool of a extremely succesful, enthusiastic, expert, and neurodiverse workforce.”
Congratulations to the award winners:
Student Entrepreneur of the Year: Anish Lal
Anish Lal is a primary 12 months Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours) scholar. He based AdGrowth Solutions in 2017, a digital advertising company specialising within the automotive trade. Services vary from search engine optimisation and social media administration to ppc promoting and content material advertising.
Startup of the Year: Analog Quantum Circuits (AQC)
Analog Quantum Circuits (AQC) develops microwave applied sciences for superconducting quantum computer systems, that are probably the most promising platforms being pursued globally. The startup was based by EQUS, the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems and entails a number of UQ teachers together with Professor Tom Stace.
Mentor of the 12 months: Andy Galloway
Andy Galloway is founder and director of Do.NATION, a digital brokerage that helps shoppers assist not-for-revenue organisations, and CharityPIG, an e-Commerce platform that helps Australian NFPs to fundraise. He additionally teamed up with a bunch of medical doctors and entrepreneurs in 2018 to co-fund Yumm, a social enterprise that makes use of chocolate to attach younger Australians with psychological well being instruments and assets.
Media: UQ Communications, [email protected], +61 (0)429 056 139.
https://www.uq.edu.au/information/article/2023/08/students-founders-and-mentors-recognised-uq-entrepreneurship-and-innovation-awards
