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YBMA 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT – The Hunter’s Young Business Minds of 2024

Career Links, the organization behind the Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA), is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 awards. On Tuesday evening 12 November, around 200 students, teachers, parents, sponsors, and innovation industry representatives converged on the I2N Hub at Honeysuckle to network, celebrate and engage with the Hunter’s youngest business minds.

The YBMA has enjoyed a record number of entries this year with 45 entries, representing 13 schools from across the region and around 150 students and teachers. To win, students and teachers entered a video pitch outlining their big idea which was then judged by sponsors and business representatives.

The categories and winners were:

•          Secondary and Under 25s competed across five categories.

  • Sustainability winner was Samuel Varughese and Levi Troyer from Hunter Christian School with their project Second Chance Soil – repurposing and revitalising contaminated soil and turning it into community garden beds.
  • Business Enterprise winner was Max and Matthew Sharpe who were individual entrants featuring their business Edu Wiz which teaches students practical financial skills that aren’t taught at school.
  • Social Enterprise winner was Akash Enjeti from Merewether High School with his project Chill Out which is an app where you can interact with other users to teach mindfulness and essential coping mechanisms for students in stressful situations in life such as exams.
  • Design & Technology winner was Joshua Pidgeon from Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College with his project Guardian ADS which addresses the problem of unexploded landmines of which there are as many as 110,000,000.
  • Creative Industries winner was the Coastal Currents team from Rutherford Technology High who created a prototype for a sustainable and fiberglass free surf board that would cause no damage to our waterways and environment.

•          Primary students competed in a Sustainability category and the winner was the Creative Creators team from Shoal Bay Public School with their Native Australian Stingless Bee Hives school project which aims to encourage schools to have their own beehives in order to increase their population after the recent varroa mite infestation.

•          Teachers were also recognized for innovation in the classroom and the winner was Jade Bassett from Rutherford Technology High with her project Women in STEM Industries Initiative which aims to capacity build STEM skills and career pathways for young women.

This year there was an encouragement award presented to Charles Cohen of Newcastle Grammar School. He had entered four different projects in the awards and the judges wanted to recognize his enthusiasm.

The Young Business Mind of the Year award went to James Chesterfield and Jed Pennington of Belmont Christian College with their project Salare which addresses the cost-of-living crisis by providing an app to track grocery spending and use-by dates, and even suggests recipes to reduce household waste.

The boys were quick to point out that what began as a school project is already a business with a website up and running and the app in development which they are hoping to release in January 2025. You can follow the business on Instagram at @salare_official.

Joshua Pidgeon, who won the Design & Technology category was one of last year’s winners and couldn’t believe that he won a second time. “It’s such a different project I didn’t expect to win again. I want to go into engineering, mechatronics or aerospace one day.”

Winner of the Teacher Innovation award, Jade Bassett, is most proud of ‘her girls’, the young women that she trains in STEM. “I started this initiative because I asked the girls in my class what they wanted to be when they left school. Their answers were mostly limited to teaching and nursing. I wanted to prove to them that girls could do so much more. With a supportive school principal we were able to visit 16 industries in ten weeks instead of attending sport. I’m so proud of my girls and how far they’ve come,” said Jade.

The MC and speaker of the night was Ryan Muir, himself a young successful entrepreneur, one of last year’s YBMA participants and CEO of RAM Manufacturing. He spoke on Risk Taking and Courage in Entrepreneurship. Sponsors presented the awards to the successful students and teachers while proud parents watched on. Sponsors included AGL as Gold Sponsor, Hunter Water, University of Newcastle – I2N, Spectrum Comms, Intouch Magazine and Hunter IF (the organization behind the Hunter Innovation Festival).

“As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship in young people is a way to shape our future and drive positive change that helps our young people to thrive,” said Career Links CEO, John Purcell. “The Career Links YBMA helps to build confidence and inspire future career pathways.”

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YBMA 2024

Ryan Muir – Speaker & MC at YBMA Gala Awards Night

The Young Business Mind Awards culminates in a Gala Awards night on the 12th of November and will feature a speaker who has a deep understanding of youth entrepreneurship and innovation. This year, the speaker and MC of the event will be Ryan Muir, CEO of RAM Manufacturing.

Ryan grew up in Sydney and Port Macquarie completing his apprenticeship in the flooring industry before settling in Newcastle to begin his academic career. As an early leaver of high school Ryan started at the University of Newcastle completing an open foundation degree before moving on to study a Bachelors in Business.

Since 2021, Ryan has passionately dedicated himself to addressing critical issues within the flooring industry and tackling Australia’s waste plastics problem through the commercialization of Echidna Strip, a durable and sustainable alternative for carpet installation that transforms plastic waste into valuable construction materials.

Ryan’s commitment to confronting national challenges is matched by his deep appreciation for the Hunter region’s rich industrial legacy. Empowering the next generation with a can-do attitude while fostering a strong connection to country is vital to ensuring prosperity for the many generations to come.

With fresh memory of the challenges neurodiverse students face within the classroom, supporting the YBMA is a way for Ryan to channel his experience as a high school dropout turned qualified tradesman, turned entrepreneur into a program that shines light on students’ broader problem-solving abilities. His involvement in YBMA reflects his dedication to creating opportunities for young minds to excel beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Ryan is a member of the manufacturing committee of Hunter IF, the organisation behind the Hunter Innovation Festival, and is a passionate supporter of youth innovation programs such as YBMA.

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YBMA 2024

YBMA Mentorship: Unlocking Potential for Youth in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

older man helping younger man with woodwork

Here at the YBMA, we’re all about highlighting & encouraging the exceptional talent of young innovators and entrepreneurs. The awards and competitive process help us identify youth with potential and they are rewarded and recognised at our Awards Gala on 24 September. But what happens after that?

YBMA is part of Career Links, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transitioning young people from school to the next stage of their lives. This may be tertiary education, apprenticeships, jobs or self-employment. Career Links has a vast network of industry, business and educational connections that can be drawn upon to create bespoke mentorships for YBMA winners, enabling the exploration of further development for the winning projects and building industry connections for our young people. Each mentorship may look different and could include, meetings, incursions, site visits, and project development.

For the youth venturing into innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry, operating in a fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, having a mentor can be a game-changer. As the YBMA highlights the exceptional talent of young entrepreneurs and innovators, it’s essential to recognize how mentorship can significantly impact their journeys going forward.

Why Mentorship Matters

Mentorship offers more than just guidance; it provides a comprehensive support system that can accelerate a young innovator’s growth and success. Here’s how mentorship makes a difference:

1. **Guidance and Expertise**: Mentors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that can help young entrepreneurs navigate complex business landscapes. They provide invaluable insights into industry trends, strategic planning, and practical problem-solving, which are crucial for turning ideas into viable businesses.

2. **Network Expansion**: One of the most significant benefits of mentorship is access to a broader professional network. Mentors can introduce their mentees to key industry contacts, potential collaborators, and investors, helping to open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

3. **Confidence Building**: The entrepreneurial journey is often fraught with challenges and uncertainties. A mentor’s encouragement and constructive feedback can boost a young entrepreneur’s confidence, helping them tackle obstacles with resilience and a positive mindset.

4. **Skill Development**: Mentors offer tailored advice and training to help young innovators develop critical skills. Whether it’s mastering the art of pitching, understanding financial management, or refining leadership qualities, mentorship provides targeted support that is essential for personal and professional growth.

5. **Accountability and Motivation**: Regular interactions with a mentor can help young entrepreneurs stay focused and motivated. A mentor acts as a sounding board, helping to set realistic goals and holding the mentee accountable, which can lead to more disciplined and effective progress.

As the YBMA continue to celebrate the innovative spirit of Newcastle’s youth, it’s clear that mentorship plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of business leaders. By offering guidance, expanding networks, and building confidence, mentors help young innovators unlock their full potential, driving success in innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry.

For aspiring young entrepreneurs, seeking out a mentor could be the key to transforming ideas into impactful realities. It’s not just about having someone to guide you; it’s about having a partner in your journey toward making a difference in the world.

Career Links and YBMA are proud to offer mentorships to the winners of each category within the YBMA awards.

For business leaders interested in taking part in the YBMA/Career Links Mentorship Program, please contact Amber Glasper for further information at ybma@careerlinks.nsw.edu.au with MENTOR  in the subject line or call on 0402 504 886.