Griffith Business School has celebrated some of its remarkable alumni and partners at their Annual Gala Dinner. The night served as the perfect opportunity to announce the winners of the Outstanding Entrepreneurial Alumnus Award, the Outstanding Industry Partner Award, as well as acknowledge the recipients of the other Outstanding Alumni Awards, announced at the university-wide award ceremony held earlier in the year.
Queensland Airports was announced as the School’s Outstanding Industry Partner. The people-focused organisation has partnered with Griffith Business School for many years to provide Work-Integrated Learning opportunities and internships for students, helping to create responsible modern business leaders ready for the future world of work. Moreover, Queensland Airports have also employed a large number of graduates in a variety of roles over the years. Their sustained engagement and support of the School has contributed to a remarkable learning experience.
CEO Chris Mills was on hand to accept the award. “Thank you so much to Griffith University,” he said in his speech. “We have so many relationships at so many levels with Griffith. We have had something like nine interns in the past 12 months, and many more interns going on to permanent positions. It’s great to have them as a part of our team across our diverse business.
“I want to say on behalf of Queensland Airports that we take great pride in our relationships so thank you very much.”
Leesa Watego was announced as the Outstanding Entrepreneurial Alumnus of the year. The Managing Director of Iscariot Media–an agency that focuses on creative Indigenous solutions for small businesses–Leesa has worked tirelessly to empower Indigenous communities by developing opportunities across the business sector. The Bachelor of Commerce graduate also continues to be one of the driving forces of Indigenous Business Month.
“Thank you so much,” Leesa said on receiving the award. “I wasn’t expecting this at all… My business is really important to me and it’s growing and has been incredible since the Commonwealth Games, but my passion really is Indigenous Business Month and Black Coffee and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce… That’s where I think we can really make a difference.”
Also celebrated were Outstanding International Alumnus Jacob Hansen-Karaduman, Outstanding First Peoples Alumnus Dr Kerry Bodle, Outstanding Young Alumnus Sabrina Aripen, and overall Outstanding Alumnus Dr Jennifer Cronin as well as 2019 QBM Griffith MBA Responsible Leadership scholarship recipients Johanna Marsh and Mark Ryan.
The gala event saw the ballroom at the Sofitel decked out in Griffith red and full to bursting with 530 attendees eager to network, recognise the award winners, and commemorate the remarkable achievements of the Business School in 2019. The event also outlined what was in store for 2020 and beyond, and sought to raise valuable funds to establish a new scholarship for one student studying the new Bachelor of Business Innovation launching at the Logan campus in 2020.
If you would like to donate to this worthy and cutting-edge scholarship, click here.
To apply for the 2020 Bachelor of Business Innovation Scholarship, click here.