| Welcome to the October 2009 special edition of ExportActive, detailing the winners of the 2009 Tasmanian Export Awards. The past year has been another successful one for Tasmania in the area of export performance. Despite being a challenging year with a volatile Australian dollar and the global financial markets in disarray, Tasmanian exporting businesses have risen to the challenges and posted some remarkable results. All Tasmanian Export Awards category winners now advance as finalists to the prestigious 2009 Australian Export Awards with the winners being announced on the evening of 20 November 2009 in Canberra. Congratulations to all category winners and in particular, Richardson Devine Marine Construction Pty Ltd which was named the Minister’s Tasmanian Exporter of the Year 2009. I would also like to congratulate Allen Hansen for being honoured with the 2009 Tasmanian Export Leadership Award. This is an individual award given to those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and whose individual contribution has had a significant impact on their entire business sector and Tasmania as a whole. Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the awards, their commitment to honouring our export heroes and their individual contributions to Tasmania’s continued success in international markets. I look forward to the upcoming 2009 Australian Export Awards where Tasmania’s Export Award winners will vie with other state and territory winners for national award success.
The Minister’s Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award 2009The Minister’s Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award 2009 is selected from the individual category award winners. The winner of the Minister’s Tasmanian Exporter of the Year 2009 winner is: Richardson Devine Marine Construction Pty Ltd From its beginnings 30 years ago, Richardson Devine Marine Constructions has grown to become a cornerstone of Tasmania’s export success in the maritime industry and is a shining example of the benefits of providing for the global market’s needs. Richardson Devine Marine’s lightweight aluminum vessels ply some of the most majestic waterways in the world, from our own Gordon River to New Zealand’s fiords and Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. Directors Toby Richardson and Ron Devine have charted a course for the business’ success by combining their extensive experience in marine construction with their talented workforce’s ability to deliver hand crafted vessels that exceed their customers’ expectations. The business’ reputation rests on its ability to consistently deliver the best quality vessels and the volume of repeat purchases Richardson Devine Marine enjoys is testament to the fact that the business is regarded as a leader in its field. Richardson Devine Marine is a worthy winner of the 2009 Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award and with vessels presently under construction the company will continue to promote the quality of Tasmania’s products to our global audience.  Minister for Economic Development Michael Aird and Jane Richardson (Richardson Devine Marine Constructions) Back to top 2009 Tasmanian Export Leadership AwardThis award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the export industry in Tasmania. Allen’s hobby of abalone diving while living in California attracted him to Tasmania where he pioneered the commercial abalone export trade. He formally established his company, Tasmanian Seafoods Pty Ltd in 1969. Tasmanian Seafoods is a processor, wholesaler and exporter of a range of seafood products including abalone. Allen has built a company that is now the largest abalone canner in the world and the largest sea cucumber exporter in Australia. His company has operations in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Allen has built a seafood business that is strategically sound with considerable diversification that can continue to grow and employee more than 200 people. Allen has over the past 40 years directly marketed Tasmania and other seafood products to Asia and other parts of the world thus helping to establish a premier reputation for these products. He is well recognised as a ‘developer of seafood industries’ in Australia. He has been a member of the Tasmanian Abalone Council Ltd since its inception and he held a position on the Executive Council for all but two years. He continues to serve on a range of committees. Allen’s contribution to the Tasmanian Abalone Council was acknowledged in 2006 by his appointment as a ‘Life’ member of the organisation. In January 2001, Allen was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government for leadership to the seafood industry and contribution to the community. This award acknowledges those who contributed to the success of Australia’s first hundred years by building a solid foundation for the future. He was also invited by the Federal Minister for Fisheries to participate in the inaugural Australian Fisheries and Seafood Forum in June 2004 and remains a member of this ongoing forum. Allen has made a significant difference to the Australian abalone industry. Allen pioneered the production of abalone steaks in Australia and developed export markets that have considerably assisted in increasing the Tasmanian abalone beach price from approximately $1/kilogram to as high as $50/kilogram. The value of exports of abalone from Tasmania for the financial year ending 30 June 2009 was approximately $95 million. Export figures from 1969 are difficult to confirm likely to the small value of the industry at that time. However in 1981/82 the value of abalone exports was just over $21 million. Not only has he been innovative in canning and marketing of abalone thus establishing Tasmanian abalone as one of the premier seafood products in the world, he has directly helped over 20 individuals to become abalone unit holders. Allen is truly an industry ‘builder’ and has made an outstanding contribution to developing the premier image of Tasmanian abalone.  Allen Hansen and Minister Michael Aird Back to top Tasports Agribusiness AwardThis award is presented to the business which demonstrated outstanding export achievement in the field of agricultural products, services or technology, including processed foods and beverages and the forestry, fisheries and fibres industries. Switching its focus from the domestic market to incorporate sales into the massive United States (US) market has seen Frogmore Creek Wines win this year’s Agribusiness Award. Three years ago the southern Tasmanian winery decided to invest its marketing energies into launching into the US market and that decision has borne fruit. The recruitment of five extra staff in Tasmania and a US-based sales manager has been a strong part of the company successfully boosting its already formidable sales. And, just as importantly, the decision has exposed its two labels – Frogmore Creek and Forty-Two Degrees South – to a vast pool of potential new buyers. Astute leadership and clever marketing has seen Frogmore target specific restaurants and bottle-shops in the United States. Additionally, its ‘in-market’ sales professional, wine show results, and positive critiques for its award-winning wines has proved advantageous to Frogmore; consolidating its position as a leading winemaker and award-winning agribusiness in Tasmania and internationally.  David Phillips (Tasports) and James Skabo (Frogmore Creek) Back to top Australian Government AusIndustry Emerging Exporter AwardThis award is presented to the business which has demonstrated outstanding export achievement in any industry sector and which has been exporting goods or services for three years or less. The winner of the 2009 Australian Government AusIndustry Emerging Exporter Award is: CBG Systems Pty Ltd CBG Systems Pty Ltd is winning its battle to achieve global recognition as a major supplier and installer of lightweight structural fire protection systems developed for the niche market of marine applications. Structural fire protection systems are a vital safety feature built into vessels and CBG Systems, previously known as Colbeck & Gunton Pty Ltd, has specifically targeted the high performance, military and commercial vessel markets. CBG Systems has pursued a strategy to broaden penetration of their products in international markets through the use of technological innovation and rigorous product testing. CBG Systems’ hard work has paid off in a number of ways as it readies itself for delivering its products into major vessel building programs planned and underway around the globe.  Senator Carol Brown and Noel Richardson (CBG Systems) Back to top Tasmanian Government Information and Communications Technology AwardThis award is presented to the business that has achieved outstanding export achievement in the field of information and communication products, technology or services. For the third year in succession, the winner of the 2009 Tasmanian Government Information and Communications Technology Award is: The Learning Edge International Pty Ltd The Learning Edge International seems to have all the answers when it comes to providing software solutions to the global education market. This year it went straight to the top of the class with recognition at Australia's leading ICT awards program, the Australian Information Industry Association's iAwards when the company went home with the coveted national iAward for e-Learning. In Tasmania we already know that The Learning Edge is an A-grade business as it has already won this award twice previously, and last year cemented its place as an exporter of note when it won the Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award. The Learning Edge is experiencing strong growth in export revenues and it now boasts a client base of around 100 institutions across 10 countries, including one of the largest higher educational organisations in North America. The company’s flagship product is EQUELLA, a digital repository designed by educators, for educators. However, The Learning Edge International is not resting on its laurels and continues to innovate introducing a new product, EQUELLA Student, which is designed to address a market deficiency in the area of effective student content management.  Alan Campbell (Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts) and Bob Cupitt (Learning Edge International) Back to top Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Small Business AwardThis award goes to the business which has shown outstanding export achievement with total annual sales not exceeding $3 million. The winner of the 2009 Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Small Business Award is: Currawong Engineering Pty Ltd The sky really is the limit when it comes to the export potential of Currawong Engineering Pty Ltd, a Tasmanian engineering company specialising in the development and manufacture of systems and components for unmanned aerial vehicles. Currawong has won this year’s Small Business Award for its work in a fairly new field of aeronautics that has had significant military and surveillance applications in recent years. This specialist manufacturer produces products almost exclusively for the US and European markets, where the quality of its mechanical components is much admired. These components include electronic fuel injection systems and stabilized camera gimbals. Currawong’s skilled staff, its cutting edge manufacturing machinery and the engineering know-how it brings to the design table all combine to ensure that this business will be able to reach for the skies in a section of the aeronautical industry that is likely to grow in leaps and bounds as unmanned aerial vehicles become more common in the years ahead.  Gavin Brett (Currawong Engineering) and Peter Field (EFIC) Back to top Commonwealth Bank Regional Exporter of the Year AwardThis award is presented to the business with outstanding export achievement whose head office is based in a non-metropolitan location. The winner of the 2009 Commonwealth Bank Regional Exporter of the Year Award is: Autech Software & Design Software developer Autech is no stranger to the Export Awards’ stage having been a four-time Tasmanian Export Award winner. Since its establishment in 1993, Autech has continually delivered software solutions that are focused on the export market – solutions that highlight Tasmania’s importance as a proponent of innovative thinking. Autech provides leading edge electronic colour software applications for the paint, building and home furnishing industries that help to de-mystify the problems of choosing colour. The result is a better response from consumers to their clients’ paint products, increased sales for their clients, and a more colourful world in which to live. As well as the export awards Autech’s innovative products and global marketing has seen the company take out a host of other accolades. Autech’s position as a global market leader is unrivalled and its software is now used in 25 countries – more than double the number of the previous year – so the future looks bright for this Tasmanian export titan.  Darren Alexander (Autech Software and Design) and Michael Goss (Commonwealth Bank) Back to top Austrade Services AwardThe Austrade Services Awards are presented to the businesses that have shown outstanding innovation and export achievement in a recognised services industry such as the consultancy, finance, insurance, legal, health, community, education and training services, expertise and curriculum, inbound tourism sector, cultural arts and design services, and engineering sectors. This year’s Austrade Services Award is split into two sections: small to medium services, and education and training services awards. (Small to Medium Services category)For the second consecutive year, the winner of the 2009 Austrade (Small to Medium) Services Award is: Pivot Maritime International Pivot Maritime International has spent more than a decade at the forefront of a niche market in maritime training and simulation that it created through its desire to service the maritime industry in new and innovative ways. It has evolved from a maritime training organisation to a globally recognised and highly regarded maritime simulation exporter that has broken the mould in terms of the manner in which simulator training is offered. Trainees seeking certification now have access to Pivot’s portable simulators that are affordable and offer world leading simulation training. Pivot has continued its drive to achieve technological advances and this has powered the company’s growth and sustainability. Today the company’s wide range of maritime simulators are designed to meet the needs of different industry sectors while Pivot harnesses feedback on its training and consultancy services to better enhance its simulation design. This synergy has enabled the company to continue to innovate in the provision of effective training services to the maritime industry; services that create futures for budding mariners and enhanced safety for sea goers.  Peter O'Byrne (Austrade) and Dr Jeff Hawkins (Pivot Maritime International) Back to top (Education and Training Services category)For the second consecutive year, the winner of the 2009 Austrade (Education and Training) Services Award is: The Hutchins School Boarding has been at the heart of the Hutchins School experience since the school commenced providing education for boys in 1846. The Sandy Bay school’s 60-bed boarding house today offers the school community the opportunity for cultural exchange as it is home to a mix of boys from rural Tasmania and students on exchange or long-term placement from countries in Europe, North America and Asia. The ability of the school to attract international students has allowed it to reinvest in its boarding facilities, making the Hutchins School an attractive destination for parents who want a quality education for their sons but want them to stay in facilities that are modern, warm and welcoming. During the past year the Hutchins School has benefited from being the temporary home of more than 70 international students who have been warmly welcomed into the hearts of the school community, which presently numbers more than a thousand boys and their families. The Hutchins School is a proud exponent of Tasmania’s ability to deliver educational services that are the envy of many countries around the world.  Peter O'Byrne (Austrade) and Warwick Dean (The Hutchins School) Back to top Aurora Energy Manufacturer AwardThe Aurora Energy Manufacturer Award is presented to the business which has achieved outstanding export achievement in the manufacturing sector. The winner of the 2009 Aurora Energy Manufacturer Award is: Richardson Devine Marine Constructions Pty Ltd Formed in 1989 and operating from Hobart’s waterfront, Richardson Devine Marine Constructions is a specialised builder of lightweight aluminium vessels that are used in commercial operations around the world. The business won this year’s Manufacturer Award for small to medium enterprises and the secret to the company’s success lies in the hands-on approach of directors Toby Richardson and Ron Devine. The pair combine their extensive experience in marine construction with the talents of their highly skilled workforce. The directors have spent more than 20 years working together and have developed a formidable skill-set when it comes to the construction techniques required to produce consistently well-crafted aluminium vessels. Richardson Devine Marine Constructions takes pride in designing and crafting innovative vessels that exceed their clients’ every expectation. With a roll call of clients from across the globe, Richardson Devine Marine Constructions is battening down the hatches for a busy year ahead; a year that will continue to see this Tasmanian company at the forefront of our state’s important maritime construction industry.  Toby Richardson (Richardson Devine Marine Construction) and Peter Davis (Aurora) Back to top If you have any Export and Investment Marketing queries please contact George Chambers on (03) 6233 5792 or email George.Chambers@development.tas.gov.au |
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