Westpac Bank recognises Expert 365 as one of its 200 ‘Businesses of Tomorrow’.
Expert 365 is proud to accept Westpac Bank’s recognition and inaugural award as one of the 200 ‘Businesses of Tomorrow’ that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of Australia’s economy in the coming years and decades. In line with typical IoT strategies, our vision is to drive a paradigm shift in approaches and practices in the Agricultural industry. With our efficiency and productivity-boosting AgTech solutions, QWI365 and QWIC365, and with the support of Westpac, that industry change we are hoping for will surely become a reality.
Westpac today committed to supporting Australia’s transition to a knowledge and ideas economy, with the launch of its $10 million investment in the 200 Businesses of Tomorrow Program in Sydney.
Chief Executive Officer, Mr Brian Hartzer, said Businesses of Tomorrow was another way Westpac was backing Australia in the lead up to its 200th anniversary.
Launching the program at a lunch attended by the Prime Minister, The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Hartzer said the program was designed to give businesses access to knowledge, networks and insights to thrive in the new economy.
“Australia needs to continue to adapt as we transition from a mining to a services economy. We have great potential, but research shows Australian businesses have one of the lowest levels of investment in innovation at six per cent compared to the OECD average of 18 percent.
“As Australia’s first bank we feel we have a responsibility to back those businesses that can make a difference to the country by giving them what they have told us they need: knowledge and access.
“While other companies take their Executives to Silicon Valley, we’re going to take the best and brightest businesses there.
Mr Hartzer said the program will be shaped by an advisory panel of ten business leaders with collective experience spanning over 250 years in creating, innovating, and sustaining successful businesses across Australia.
The 200 businesses will be chosen based on qualities such as their capacity to transform, disrupt and create, their demonstration of service leadership, an ambition to develop new markets overseas, or a focus on social change.
The 200 ‘Businesses of Tomorrow’ will be announced at Westpac’s Bicentennial Celebrations in April 2017. The top businesses will receive a range of knowledge-based experiences funded by Westpac, including a global study tour to Silicon Valley or China, a mentor from a pool of senior Australian business people, and dedicated professional advice to grow their businesses.
The launch comes as Westpac also today celebrated its first 100 Bicentennial Foundation scholars. The $100 million Foundation was launched in 2014, supporting 100 scholars a year, forever.
“We are very proud of this program. We have partnered with many of Australia’s leading academic institutions and have been impressed by the calibre of applicants and their potential to shape the Australia of tomorrow.
“The Westpac Bicentennial Foundation’s first scholars include Dr Antonio Tricoli, who is working on melanoma prevention through wearable technology, and Dr Elizabeth New, who is developing hand-held devices that detect toxins.
“When we started the Westpac Bicentennial Foundation we wanted to support Australians from all walks of life who have the potential to shape Australia’s future. We have been so inspired by its success we are pleased to be able to do the same for Australian businesses. Working together will help strengthen links between universities and the business community,” Mr Hartzer said.
Link: https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/media/media-releases/2016/6-April/