During the month of August, the GSEA held three live competitions in the regional capitals of Australia. The competitions were held in the cities of Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. Twenty of Australia’s top student entrepreneurs presented their businesses to distinguished entrepreneurial judges.
The competitions had the student entrepreneurs each give a 15 minute presentation of their businesses followed by a 10 minute question and answer period with the panel of judges. The students presented in a board room setting at the offices of Ernst & Young in Melbourne and Sydney and in the executive board room of Nova Radio 106.9 FM in Brisbane.
The winners were announced at the evening awards gala hosted by the respective sponsors. The top two students from each competition were presented with trophies and cash. The first place winners from each competition have been provided an expenses paid trip to compete at the 2008 Global Finals held in Chicago, Illinois USA during November 6th.
The 2008 GSEA Australia winners are:
1st Place Winners:
Melbourne - Damian Panozza - Balance Psychology Pty Ltd. - Swinburne University
Brisbane - Trent Kirk - South Brisbane Grass Cutters - Griffith University
Sydney - Natasha Wood - The Kitchen Guys - Macquarie University
2nd Place Winners:
Melbourne - Andre Hoeppner-Lang - Cash For Computers - Monash University
Brisbane - Lida Magshoodi - So Juicy - Queensland University of Technology
Sydney - Niccole George - PetMedics - Macquarie University
With these high level student entrepreneurs from Australia, the Global Finals will most certainly be a GSEA competition which will go into the history books as a major success. Australia is now the second largest contributor of Global Finalists amongst all other countries.
Much of the success is attributed to the National Sponsorship of Ernst & Young who decided to expand the program to three Australian cities for 2008. Ernst & Young has awarded paid flights and accommodation for the winners to compete at the Global Finals, board rooms to host the competitions, executive catering, cash prizes, absolutely gracious hospitality, and much more. The GSEA and the Australia students involved deeply thank you for caring about the future of Australian entrepreneurship. Additionally, Ernst & Young conduct the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year awards and have supported global entrepreneurship through their awards program.
Please take the opportunity to visit each of the winners Web sites and learn more about how these student entrepreneurs drive for success.
