Eight small Aussie businesses are set to shine at the 2024 Australian Export Awards, vying for top honours in a celebration of local innovation and global success. From skincare to sea salt, these homegrown heroes will compete for the prestigious title at a glittering ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra this Wednesday, November 20.
From skincare to salt, the eight small businesses are representing Australia’s small business excellence, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday night 20 November. The Australian Export Awards is a national program that celebrates the achievements of Australia’s most outstanding, innovative and inspiring exporters, and the far‑reaching impact they have on the nation’s economy.
Now in its 62nd year, this is one of Australia’s most prestigious and longest running business awards programs. It has recognised more than 2080 Australian exporters since 1963, who have achieved international success in diverse sectors, through their commitment and leadership.
The Program showcases national finalists, category winners and Australian Exporter of the Year on a global stage to drive demand for their products and services. Their stories inspire other Australian businesses to diversify their export strategy and go global. This program is proudly presented by the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade) in partnership with State and Territory awards programs. It is made possible through the valued support of Australia’s leading corporations, export facilitators and industry groups, and other Australian Government departments.
Now in its 62nd year, the Australian Export Awards is Australia’s longest running business awards program and celebrates the achievements of exporters and their contribution to Australia’s economic prosperity. In 2024, there were more than 360 applications submitted across eight states and territories and 88 national finalists. Collectively, these finalists generated more than $7.8 billion in export earnings in FY2023/24 and more than half were classified as small businesses.
Small business finalists
Mandurah (Mandjoogoordap), Western Australia
Clean & Pure is taking Aussie-made sustainable skincare to the world. The natural beauty and skincare company follows sustainable practices in manufacturing and supply chain management.
Clean & Pure sources the best local, organic, and Australian ingredients to create products that are low-irritant and non-toxic. The range includes lip balms, deodorant sticks, 100% organic sunscreens, skin balms, handmade soaps and moisturisers. In 2024, Clean & Pure relaunched the lip balm range in biodegradable, plastic-free packaging, introduced a natural deodorant, and transitioned to renewable energy for its manufacturing process. It is the only brand globally using real Manuka honey in solid lip balms.
Clean & Pure’s top export markets are China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, the US, Thailand, Macau and Hong Kong.
Visit Clean & Pure website.
Folktale
Barton (Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country), Australian Capital Territory
Folktale’s innovative approach to storytelling and data collection is a valuable way for organisations to understand their impact beyond numbers.
The subscription-based, software-as-a-service platform enables the collection of rich, qualitative data through community-led video storytelling.
Individuals are empowered to share experiences that enhance engagement and provide real-time insights, helping organisations connect deeply with the communities they serve.
Used in over 45 countries, Folktale makes impact measurement and reporting more dynamic, intuitive, and inclusive. Its top export markets are the US, Papua New Guinea, Switzerland, New Zealand and Italy.
Visit Folktale website.
Marine Air Flow International
Miami (Bundjalung), Queensland
Marine Air Flow International delivers marine ventilation equipment to vessels of all sizes and applications.
Founder Brad Marsden identified a critical issue that all vessels experience: salt mist and water damage in the engine room due to poor ventilation. This often leads to equipment failure in the engine room and increasing operating costs from frequent replacements.
Marine Air Flow’s custom-engineered ventilation solutions reduce salt mist and spray by up to 99%. This optimises engine room airflow, improving crew conditions, increasing equipment lifespan and lowering operating costs.
Marine Air Flow International’s top export markets are Singapore, Turkey and the US.
Visit Marine Air Flow International website.
Philip Agri
Durack (Larrakia), Northern Territory
Philip Agri is an agricultural consultancy based in Darwin. It harnesses more than 30 years of expertise to support clients in the global agriculture market.
The company’s services include agricultural management, climate smart agricultural solutions and consultancy, export strategy development and trade program management.
Philip Agri’s solutions address the complexities of modern agribusiness, enhance productivity, facilitate market access and ensure sustainability across the supply chain.
Top export markets are Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Turkey and Austria.
Visit Philip Agri website.
photoSentinel
Thomastown (Wurundjeri), Victoria
photoSentinel is a world leader in long-term timelapse and remote monitoring cameras for the photography and construction industries. It offers high-quality hardware and advanced cloud services for tracking and reporting on projects worldwide.
The company develops and manufactures solutions at its Melbourne head office. With regional offices in the United Arab Emirates and the US, the company has deployed over 5,600 cameras across more than 55 countries.
photoSentinel’s top export markets are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the US and the UK.
Visit photoSentinel website.
Planet Lighting
Bellingen (Gumbainggir), New South Wales
Building on a 110-year design and manufacturing legacy, Planet Lighting delivers sustainable lighting solutions to architecture, healthcare, and aquaculture projects globally.
Planet Lighting designs, manufactures and exports world-class, energy-efficient and sustainable lighting solutions to 15 countries. It solves compatibility and installation complexity by providing versatile, practical designs, including retrofittable solutions that extend product life and support a circular economy.
Its flagship product, the Planet LED Puck, features in projects across the globe, from architectural to public lighting and large infrastructure. Planet Lighting’s top export markets are the US, Norway, Sweden, France, Canada, Germany, United Arab Emirates and Chile.
Visit Planet Lighting website.
Tasman Sea Salt
Little Swanport (Paredarerme), Tasmania
Tasman Sea Salt offers a range of uniquely Tasmanian salts that are loved by chefs and home cooks across the globe.
Tasman Sea Salt harvests 100% natural, unrefined sea salt flakes from the crystal-clear sea water on the east coast of Tasmania. Infused by its natural environment, Tasman Sea Salt is a bright white sea salt flake with an incredible depth of flavour. Alongside its signature natural salt flakes, Tasman Sea Salt has a range of salt mixes, made from locally found and foraged ingredients.
Tasman Sea Salt’s top export markets are the US, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan.
Visit Tasman Sea Salt website.
Wilco Technologies
Kilkenny (Kaurna), South Australia
Wilco Technologies is making underground mining safer. The company designs and manufactures the Trajectaflex Resin Firing System. This system is a specialised technology for installing the support frameworks for drilling and blasting in mines.
The Trajectaflex Resin Firing system shoots resin capsules into a predrilled bolt hole for resin set bolting. This bolting supports the ground from cave ins. It’s a method that significantly reduces hazards and costs. It also increases productivity.
Wilco Technologies’ top export markets are Indonesia and Canada.
Visit Wilco Technologies website.
More here: https://bit.ly/2024ExportAwardsFinalists
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