An esteemed Australian fashion designer and QUT lecturer, and several QUT alumni are in the mix today for the 10th anniversary of Australia’s leading edge awards celebrating founders, innovators and advocates of creative industries.
Creative3, an initiative of QUT subsidiary Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA), takes centre stage at Brisbane Powerhouse from 1pm.
Lydia Pearson is a finalist in The Rising Star: Fashion Business category for Shilo and Lydia, a collaboration with artist Shilo Engelbrecht producing unique and custom garments.
The category is for start-up fashion businesses that have traded for less than five years, released at least two collections and generated product sales. Other finalists including QUT fashion design graduate Erin Lightfoot, who designs and hand-produces contemporary vases (below right) and jewellery blending traditional ceramic techniques with modernist design and geometric motifs.
In another category - The Rising Star: Creative Tech – the team behind ANTI Ordinary protective headwear, which combines the comfort of a beanie with the safety of a helmet, is a hot favourite. QUT medical engineering student Rob Joseph co-founded the ANTI start-up with QUT business student Liam Norris and engineer Brodie Robinson to create their world-first product.
The Creative Trailblazer award, meanwhile, is for an individual who creates enterprises and opportunities and who advocates, mentors, donates, educates and advises within Australia’s creative economy. Finalists include Peter Laurie, entrepreneur-in-residence at iLab and for the QUTCEA Collider Accelerator Program.
Professor Robina Xavier, Executive Dean of the QUT Business School, will present an award and said Creative3 has played a major role over the last decade in fostering the growth of a sector increasingly important to the Australian economy.
“Guests can expect to leave today feeling inspired and filled with a sense of excitement for the future of creative industries and start-ups in this country, and especially in Queensland,” Professor Xavier said.
Caption: QUT medical engineering student Rob Joseph (left) with student colleagues Liam Norris and Brodie Robinson
“Along with the award presentations, there will be keynote speeches by four internationally renowned experts who will share their creative insight – marketing and advertising guru Carolyn Miller, Oscar-winning animator Adam Elliot, fashion business leader Mareile Osthus, and business designer, strategy consultant, business model coach and facilitator Nick Rakis.”
Led by CEO Mark Gustowski, QUTCEA was established in 2008 to bring together creative excellence and business acumen by offering a supportive network, and a variety of programs and events tailored for growth. In that time more than 4,000 entrepreneurs have engaged in its services and more than 500 companies have been supported.
Visit Creative3 for more information.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
