Researchers into mobile robotics, stem cell medicine and children’s hearing loss were among the Brisbane scientific and technology pioneers recognised with support from Brisbane’s inaugural Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant.
Seven successful applicants have been awarded a share of A$25,000 (US$19,255). They will be able to use the funding to attend international conferences and lobby for their sectoral events to be brought back to their home city.
The recipients received their awards at a conference attended by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, who explained the grant programme had been developed to support Brisbane’s up-and-coming professionals and researchers, while also attracting high-profile conferences and the world’s brightest minds to Brisbane.
“The Brisbane 2022 New World City Action Plan commits to winning more conventions and business events, and [for Brisbane] to be globally recognised in the top 50 cities for international association conferences. The Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant is just one strategy we have to achieve this,” Cr Quirk said.
“Conventions and business events generate economic prosperity for our city through tourism, trade and investment opportunities, as well as important social change via contributions to Brisbane’s knowledge economy.
“The seven grant recipients demonstrate leadership and passion in their chosen fields, and will represent Brisbane’s expertise and depth of talent across sectors such as scientific research, health and technology.”
Brisbane Convention Bureau general manager Juliet Alabaster said the application process sought to identify innovators, pioneers and ground-breakers passionate in equal measure about their area of expertise and Brisbane.
“We hope that through the connections, knowledge and insight gained from the grant recipients attending relevant international conferences, the Bureau can successfully bid to attract these events to Brisbane in the future,” Ms Alabaster said.
“Conventions and business events are big business for Brisbane, generating more than A$257m for our economy in 2016-17 alone.
“Along with the economic benefits, the grant recipients will offer considerable insight into Brisbane’s industry strengths, which is a key selection criterion for conference organisers when choosing a destination.”
Brisbane’s 2018 Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant recipients are:
Emma Rushbroke, clinical director at Hear and Say (HAS), a Queensland not-for-profit providing early intervention services for children with hearing loss.
Michael Piper, a research scientist at The University of Queensland (UQ), studying how stem cell differentiation regulates the formation of the brain, and how abnormalities to stem cell function can give rise to brain cancers.
Johan Rosengren, a senior research fellow at UQ, working primarily on bioactive peptides.
Christina Schroeder, a research academic at UQ, working in the field of bioactive venom peptide research.
Tom Allen, a lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Griffith University. He leads Impact Boom and currently works with Brisbane City Council to deliver the Elevate + Social Enterprise Accelerator Program.
Louise Baldwin, a researcher in health promotion at QUT. Her research covers chronic disease prevention.
Feras Dayoub, a research fellow at QUT, focused on enabling mobile robots to navigate and understand their surroundings using computer vision and machine learning.
