SSE’s CEO Dr Sarah Jones was named the Innovation Leader of the Year at the 2023 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence in Sydney last night (1 November).
Receiving the Award from The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong (Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology), InnovationAus describes the category of Innovation Leader of the Year as “honour[ing] the individuals who have shown outstanding leadership of teams in guiding the successful development of a product or service or driven a successful commercial research outcome and social impact.
“These are leaders who are driven by the big picture end goal of a project, but who are also across the minutiae of detail. They are mentors to high performing individuals and have demonstrated an ability to get individuals and teams working together in building maximum commercial value or social impact.”
InnovationAus plays a vital role as an independent publisher in driving conversations and influence across policymakers, business leaders, and the research and education fields in Australia. So, for not only Sarah as our CEO but for SSE as an organisation, it’s an immense honour to have had the important and collaborative work we are doing with so many diverse and inspiring communities recognised and celebrated on this national platform.
We wholeheartedly believe in the transformative power of education to change lives for the better. Every Australian deserves to be empowered with the skills, capability, and learning opportunities needed to overcome barriers to employment and education, no matter their background, and as a team we feel immensely privileged to work with and for so many incredible and inspiring communities around the country to build a future-Australia brimming with possibilities!
Our Strategy 2023-2026 is an embodiment of these goals, and this Award is a celebration of just how far we’ve come.
Under Sarah’s leadership, each one of us is encouraged and empowered to unleash our versions of creativity, collaboration, and innovation; to think boldly, and give our all to SSE’s shared vision.
“I’d like to acknowledge that we are gathered here tonight on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation,” Sarah said. “To all our First Nations colleagues, the original innovators, entrepreneurs, and place-makers of this country, thank you, for all the work you do with and for SSE.”
“Together, we’re absolutely driven every day by our mission to build a nationwide culture of entrepreneurialism and shared prosperity,” Sarah said, “and it’s exciting and exhilarating to see that mission now being realised.”
SSE extends its heartiest congratulations also to Sarah’s fellow Finalists, Bronwyn Le Grice, Founder and CEO of ANDHealth and Professor Sharath Sriram, Professor and Director, Discovery to Device at RMIT University and President-elect at Science and Technology.
Sarah Jones was also named a finalist in the category of Not-For-Profit Executive of the Year for the The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards.
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