Cubic wins business award for Innovation

Cubic Defence Australia has been named the winner of the Innovation category at the Townsville Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business Awards.

The innovation award recognises ‘game-changing businesses or companies operating in Townsville that have developed nationally or globally competitive products, processes or services. Nominations can be for a single product or service initiative, or an overall strategy.’

More than 320 people attended the awards event representing businesses across a range of industries.

Cubic’s Senior Manger Proposals and Communications Cathy Weis accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Cathy said Cubic’s award spanned four business initiatives with the team working on some exciting projects during the past 12 months.

“The award recognised the team’s work to develop and deliver our Enhanced Personal Area Network (EPAN) soldier kit. EPAN is the next generation of equipment enabling live instrumentation of soldiers across vast, remote training ranges,” Cathy said.

Other initiatives in which the team has excelled include development of a deployable waste to energy system using microwave assisted pyrolysis, working with James Cook University and TEi Services.

“Teams have also made significant strides in enhancing drone effects for simulation in training activities,” Cathy said. “And it has been a busy time developing course materials for the new Certificate III in Simulation and Interactive Technologies due to be piloted during 2024 and 2025 with the support of the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland initiative.”

Cathy thanked the awards sponsors and independent judges and congratulated all nominees and award winners.

Other winners in the 2024 business awards were:

• Micro business of the year – Hansen Engineering.
• Small business of the year (sponsored by the Telstra Business Technology Centre) – McClure Refinishing.
• Business of the year (sponsored by NQAV) – Gallivanter Travel.
• Business transformation of the year – Gallivanter Travel.
• Employer of the year (sponsored by wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers – selectability.
• Employee of the year – Melanie Olsen, Australian Institute of Marine Science.
• Young employee of the year (sponsored by The Ville Resort-Casino) – Abbey Clarke, Apricus Health.
• Young businessperson of the year (sponsored by James Cook University) – Tim Hansen, Hansen Engineering.
• Encouragement award – The judges were so impressed with one very young businessperson entrant 11-year old Georgia from Blended, that they created an encouragement award.
• Raising Regions award (sponsored by Powerlink Queensland/CopperString 2.0) – Townsville Enterprise.
• Social responsibility award (sponsored by Bravus Mining and Resources) – Pynmanto Equine Encounters.