Will the world’s next wave of environmental entrepreneurs emerge this week at QUT?
Up to 130 participants from 39 countries are taking part in the MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp – Future of Sustainability (see gallery below) at the Gardens Point campus from February 10-16 in partnership with Advance Queensland.
They will use their entrepreneurial nous to come up with real world answers to some of the pressing environmental issues of the era including climate change, carbon footprint, mine site rehabilitation, water usage and waste reduction through a series of sustainability challenges.
Top speakers at this year’s event include:-
- MIT’s Professor Bill Aulet – directs the Martin Trust Centre for MIT Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneur Jocko Willink – decorated retired Navy SEAL officer, author of #1 New York Times bestselling book Extreme Ownership
- Susan McDonald – Australian entrepreneur and managing director of Super Butcher
It is the second year in a row MIT Bootcamps has chosen Queensland to deliver its entrepreneurship program, in partnership with Advance Queensland.
Professor Bill Aulet returns to Australia to lead the teaching of disciplined entrepreneurship to this year’s crop of Bootcamp recruits.
Professor Aulet said last year entrepreneurship attracted those who had “a spirit of a pirate” but cautioned successful entrepreneurship “needs the discipline of a Navy SEAL”.
With that advice, decorated retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink joins the Bootcamp as a special motivational coach.
Leading industrial and resources companies have taken a keen interest in the event by setting specific challenges for Bootcamp participants to tackle.
These include challenges about water useage, rehabilitation of mining sites, reducing waste and energy efficiency.
Solutions to those major challenges must involve clear business plans, ready for scale up and be pitched to leading investors by the week’s end.
Some of the participants got an early start to the challenges being set by travelling to the Great Barrier Reef’s Lady Elliot Island (see photo gallery below), where they were encouraged to think and plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of industries important to Queensland’s economy.
The coral cay at the southern tip of the reef is located in the Marine National Park “green zone” that protects the reef’s biodiversity.
As the bootcamp swings into action, QUT’s new Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil begins her leadership of the university. She’s expected to tour and meet with MIT officials.
Queensland Government Minister for Innovation Kate Jones said the Palaszczuk Government was delighted to again support the intensive one-week MIT Bootcamp being held at QUT.
“This is a world-class event, as proven by the success of the inaugural Brisbane MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp last year which attracted 120 participants from 35 countries.
“With events like these being hosted in Queensland we continue to build our position as one of Australia’s most innovative States.”
Media contacts:
Debra Nowland, QUT Media, 07 3138 1150 (Mon/Wed/Thurs) or media@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
