Remarkable founder Pete Horsley, a global leader in inclusive innovation and disability tech, has been recognised as the 2026 QUT Outstanding Entrepreneurial Alumnus.
The honour was announced at the annual QUT Outstanding Alumni Awards last night (October 29) at the university's Gardens Point campus in Brisbane.
Mr Horsley graduated from QUT in 1994 with a Bachelor of Built Environment, majoring in landscape architecture.
As founder of Remarkable, the disability and assistive tech venture and accelerator arm of Cerebral Palsy Alliance, he supports startups developing innovative solutions that break down barriers and enhance the lives of people with disabilities.
This has included supporting 211 start-ups and 581founders, and over six million customers served worldwide.
Mr Horsley is also co-founder of the Inclusive Innovation Network (+N), a global community advancing disability, ageing and mental health innovation, and is a sought-after speaker on technology, inclusion and social innovation
"Being a QUT Outstanding Alumnus definitely means a lot to me to bring extra attention to this mission," he said.
"One day I hope that this work won't have to exist, that we will have done our job and that all technology will equally benefit everyone.
"But until then, we need more attention to some of these things."
Mr Horsley’s commitment to the sector is deeply personal.
"I grew up with a sister with quite profound disabilities," he said.
"She was born blind, she is autistic, and she has intellectual disability.
"Some of the reason that I do the work that I do now is because of her. She shaped my life in a profound way, helping me to see and understand value in humanity."
Mr Horsley said his career may have taken him beyond landscape architecture, but the lessons he learned at QUT and in design continue to influence his work.
"I started my career as a landscape architect and certainly that might seem a far cry from where I've ended up in technology and startups and investment," he said.
"But for me, there is a through line of design impacting the world and what good design can do to create a better world that meets the needs of everyone."
Reflecting on his time at QUT, Mr Horsley said the friendships and professional connections formed during his studies remain one of his most valuable takeaways.
"I think one of the things that I take away from my time at QUT were the friendships of people that I met during my degree there and they continue to be friends to this day," he said.
"They continue to be part of my professional network as well as my friendship network and nothing can replace that."
Mr Horsley said he would encourage all current students to “go for it” and not feel limited by anyone’s expectations.
"I think the advice I'd give to students entering the workforce today is to be bold about the kind of future you want to see," he said.
"I think sometimes it's hard to bust out of what we think the world expects of us, and really the people that have made change in this world are people who have had a bold vision for it and then gone after it.
"So whatever you do, just go for it."
Media contact: QUT Media, media@qut.edu.au
