Inside the voting for 40 Under 40 Queensland
The InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards recognises the achievements of Queensland’s best innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders helping to shape our state. This year’s panel of judges has reviewed the nominations – so it’s time to decide who has taken out the top spots. We sat in on the judges’ meeting to see how the deciding process panned out …
Weeks before the chosen 40 finalists and category award winners are announced at the InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday August 21 at Howard Smith Wharves, a group of judges gathered behind closed doors to discuss, evaluate and decide on the most deserving candidates.
Application appraisals
The seven-judge panel includes representatives from a range of different industries to ensure decisions were well-rounded and unbiased, with sectors including investment, media, education and justice.
All of the shortlisted nominations have been read by Sarah Smith, a veteran in the start-up growth and investment space who has more than 22 years’ experience as a leader, business owner and board director.
The nominations and judges are equally divided into two groups, with judges tasked with reading every application in their respective group before choosing their top ten choices and assigning points from one to ten. The judges’ points are then tallied and the nominees ranked in order of total votes.
With a shortlist of 93 applicants, the judges have had their work cut out for them narrowing down their list of favourites – choosing who ultimately makes the final cut. The ranking helps to guide who stays in the top 40 but isn’t definitive. Underdogs can still creep their way back up the list if they catch the eye of one of the judges.
Before the discussion is properly underway, the judges talk among themselves about this year’s voting process.
Some of the judges joke that the finalising process may get heated if preferred candidates are not given a spot on the final list. Clearly this year’s applicants have been so impressive that the judges are ready to defend their preferences.
Donna Kramer, co-founder of Aruga and first-time 40 Under 40 judge, speaks about how inspiring and exciting it was to read through the nominee’s profiles. Sarah Smith agrees that the level of achievement in this year’s applicants was impressive. “It makes you feel inadequate, reading all of the applications,” she jokes.
The selection process
Back to business. The first job of the day is to agree on the final 40.
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James Frostick, editor of The Weekend Edition, vigilantly points out a name that made the top 40 back in 2023, therefore making them ineligible to be nominated again. They are promptly bumped from the list.
While revising the list, QUT professor Paige Hilditch-Maguire opens a discussion about the merit of a particular business owner. Their business has grown exponentially in a short amount of time but the top 40 is about more than just scale – or is it?
“As a business owner, if you have growth, you are innovating,” Donna Kramer says.
Several judges make clear any possible conflicts of interest by pointing out the nominees that they know personally, from acquaintances to close friends. When it is proven that no judge will benefit in any way from any applicants placing on the list, it is decided that friendship will not be factor that removes someone from the list.
Someone makes an observation that there are several media agencies represented on the list. Could the possibility that these nominees may have a better skill for representing themselves be an advantage?
Paul Venus, a partner at Piper Alderman who has represented at all levels of the Australian Court system, disagrees. “Should it matter how many there are if they’re all worthy?” he says.
A particular leader in the creative industries is discussed to much acclaim. “They haven’t only created something new, they’ve created a whole new lane of entrepreneurship,” Donna Kramer says.
A few contenders are representing the same company, and the question arises of whether the judges will be able defend their choice of picking one over the other.
“We’re giving the spot to the individuals, not the business,” Paige Hilditch-Maguire says.
After an hour of discussion, we get to the end of the list and there has been some shuffling. People have been bumped off the list and few candidates with no votes have worked their way into the top 40 after some rediscovery and discussion. But it’s official – we have our top 40, a hand-selected list of Queensland’s most deserving and innovative leaders.
Allocation of awards
Now on to the major awards. Many of the judges already have standouts in mind for each title.
First up is the highest honour of the program – the First Among Equals Award, sponsored by InDaily. The award recognises the finalist who the judges deem to best exemplify the spirit of the program. Each judge has been harbouring their standouts for the position and it’s time to decide.
Five names thrown into the ring for consideration, which the group quickly narrows down to three when it is reasoned that some names would better suit other awards. The judges whittle down the list to one and decide who is most deserving.
Donna Kramer has her favourite. “I couldn’t wrap my head around their business growth – I had to reread their application three times,” she says.
But the applicant who scored the most points in the ranking system also garners a lot of praise. Once their application is reconsidered by the panel, it becomes clear they embody most what 40 Under 40 is about.
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Next up, The Creative Thinker Award, sponsored by Aruga, recognises out-of-the-box ideas. Almost immediately a common name offered up for consideration. While there is almost unanimous appreciation for this nominee, another name is suggested and discussion ensues. Both contenders have managed to create something distinctive in their field using their creative fair to great results. But, in the end, the choice is obvious.
“If there was anyone who could have ‘Creative’ as their middle name, it would be them,’ James Frostick says.
The Weekend Edition’s Entrepreneurial Award recognises the risk-taker with outstanding lateral thinking and business flair who has caused positive disruption in their industry. In one of the most debated awards of the day, three nominees are up for consideration. It’s between a co-founder, a managing director and a co-owner, all showing exceptional entrepreneurial skills.
Sarah Smith bats for her favourite. “They seem very well-rounded, and have overcome a lot of challenges. I was really impressed with them,” she says. However the rest of the panel seems to be favouring another.
“They have to have disruptive practices, it’s not about the revenue or the dollars,” Paige Hilditch-Maguire says.
“But others are characterised not so much by disruption but by pure energy; they introduce something against the odds in an established industry,” Paul Venus says.
“They’ve cornered the market in that respect,” James Frostick says.
In the end, Sarah Smith comes around on the new candidate. “I remember thinking that was a very well-written application,” she says.
The Game Changer Award is for someone who has re-written the rules of business to challenge and spark change in their industry. The award is sponsored by Hotel X.
Four names are considered, from founders and co-founders to company presidents and owners.
One candidate, who has already been praised during this meeting, stands out. “They’re delivering a service that is quite game changing,” Paige Hilditch-Maguire says.
QUT is the sponsor behind The Industry Innovator Award, which recognises a leading innovator in their field who is contributing to the future of Queensland. Only two names are thrown into the ring, and it’s a quick decision.
The discussion turns to the topic of exceptional leadership as the judges consider who deserves The Inspiring Future Leaders Award, sponsored by Piper Alderman.
The judges have been holding out for this one and the choice is unanimous. One deeply committed and hands-on leader whose work empowering others has moved the judges so much that their name has come up in discussions for other awards.
“As long as they get one of the awards, I’m happy,” James Frostick says.
InDaily Queensland is sponsoring The Rural and Regional Award this year, given to the individual who exemplifies influence and leadership in a rural or regional community.
To the judges, the choice is instantly obvious. “She’s a great mix of female leadership in a male-dominated industry,” Paige Hilditch-Maguire says.
The Inspiring Female Leaders Award, sponsored by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, recognises women who lead, inspire and push boundaries. It’s another quick decision from the judging panel, with one outstanding contender who has been empowering women through her industry for more than decade.
The last award of the day is The Food Innovation Award in recognition of excellence across the board in the food and beverage industry, sponsored by Betty’s Burgers.
Despite the food and beverage industry being well represented amongst the top 40, one name has been bouncing around since the start of the meeting, creating a buzz with their impressive application.
Sarah Smith vouches for the contender. “The sense of community they have built is amazing – they’re doing great things,” she says.
It’s not much of a discussion. The last decision of the day is an easy one.
The 40 Under 40 Awards program is helping to bring attention to a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in the state. The winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner on Thursday, August 21. Purchase tickets here.
