During the Somerset Celebration of Entrepreneurship we welcome Entrepreneurs from across Australia, who have made an impact not only nationally but around the world.
We are extremely fortunate to have many Entrepreneurs support the Celebration of Entrepreneurship and we look forward to further Celebrations to come.
Giulia Badalotti is a passionate public relations professional with over seven years of experience in the industry, working with locally and internationally recognised travel brands, destinations and attractions, plus a host of events, festivals and corporates. Her expertise lies in helping clients drive visitation to their events, engage stakeholders and raise personal and business profiles through media exposure.
Prior to starting YCL Jewels, Fabienne was working as a nurse in an aged care facility while she completed her nursing degree. Two units shy of graduating she left to focus on building YCL full time. She began making jewellery as a hobby at her desk at home during high school and is completely self-taught.
Wayne Gerard is a passionate entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of RedEye, one of Australia’s fastest growing startups. Wayne plays an active role in the development of Queensland and Australia’s startup ecosystem, he is currently a member of the QLD Premier’s Business Advisory Council and the Advance Qld Expert Panel. In 2015 Wayne was awarded the Queensland Entrepreneur of the Year Pearcy Award.
Edda originated from a small country in the North Atlantic, Iceland. At the age of five, she joined her mum and step dad for a three-year exploration, sailing the seas from Europe to the Americas to the Pacific to Australia (her adopted home). This rich experience at such an early age gave Edda a sense of adventure, but also a deep respect for cultures, people and the natural environment, which has had a profound influence on her life and work.
Sharon Hunneybell and Sam Winter became synonymous with student entrepreneurialism when, back in 2013 they pioneered Australia’s first high school accelerator program ‘Startup Apprentice’ on the Gold Coast and were founding partners in the Gold Coast City Council Mayor’s Telstra Technology Awards. Their support and encouragement of thousands of young innovators to bring their ideas to life earned them the title of ‘Innovation Champions’ from the Queensland Government in 2014.
For decades, Australian surfboard shaper and Gold Coast icon Nev Hyman shaped boards for world champions, but now he is shaping something quite different: affordable, cyclone-proof housing. After launching three surfboard brands - the first in 1973 - Mr Hyman initially invested in plastics recycling.
Dr Christine McDougall is an Integrity Architect for Businesses committed to a world that works for everyone.
Born and raised in Scotland, I spent my childhood school holidays working on berry and potato farms in my native Scotland, to help make ends meet for my family.
In October 2014, two best mates had a crazy idea to put two washing machines and two dryers in the back of a van, and wash and dry clothes for free. Nicholas Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, the 2016 Young Australians of the Year, founded Orange Sky Laundry – a world - first, free mobile laundry service for the homeless.
John Margerison, an entrepreneur and strategy expert, brings 20 years of experience as a consultant and company director in key sectors: Capital Markets, Finance, Trade, Health, Retail, Infrastructure, Banking, Legal, Funds Management, Property, and Information Technology.
Michael is the Founder of Kynd, a Gold Coast startup that is reimagining the ‘care’ industry. Kynd empowers people of all-ages and all-abilities to choose and use the right carer, based on unique needs. It introduces a high-value, low cost model with locals caring for locals, using mobile apps.
Ben Southall is a presenter, digital journalist and adventurer. His achievements include beating 35,000 to win the Best Job in the World in 2009 and became the ‘Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef’ in Australia.
Mark Sowerby is the Founder of Blue Sky Alternative Investments Limited, an ASX listed (ASX: BLA) alternative asset manager investing across private equity, venture capital, private real estate, water, infrastructure, hedge funds and agriculture.
Born in New Jersey, Dr. John, together with his wife Natalie Surie, have three children, Sydney, Skylar and Saxon Surie. Dr. John is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractor (D.C.) in the United States of America since 1997 and Australia since 2015. He works with celebrities, elite athletes, and families to achieve maximum lifestyle performance and vitality.
Dr Clarence N.W. Tan is a futurist and was the Asia Pacific Ambassador for Singularity University (SU), a benefit corporation based on NASA’s research campus in Silicon Valley. He is the co-founder of Shamantech, the makers of Gogoboard, a world class personal mobility device and the Principal of Dr CT Pty Ltd, that is an ExO.Works partner. Dr Tan is an ExO.Works certified consultant, coach and agent. He was also the founder of Bond Wireless, an Australian-based award-winning wireless software applications and services company.
Baden is a passionate educator, an engaging speaker, and is a champion of innovation in both startups and existing firms. He has a keen insight into the enablers of innovation and how they can be deployed in organisations.