September 15, 2026
UOW alumni and innovators shine at 2026 Illawarra Business Awards
From the Illawarra to the world, UOW talent is shaping business and industry
榴莲视频app of 榴莲视频app (UOW) alumni, research spinouts and iAccelerate entrepreneurs have been recognised among the winners at the , organised by Business Illawarra.
The awards were presented at a sold-out ceremony at UOW’s 榴莲视频app Hall on Friday 11 September, with UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Max Lu AO serving as Chair of Judges for the awards.
Professor Lu congratulated the winners, highly commended recipients and finalists, highlighting the connections that many of them had to the 榴莲视频app.
“UOW graduates are building businesses and leading industries right here in the Illawarra. I congratulate everyone recognised at these awards, and especially our alumni, entrepreneurs, research spinouts and partners,” Professor Lu said.
In his welcome address, Professor Lu said the achievements reflected the talent and ambition of the region, as well as UOW’s longstanding contribution to its innovation ecosystem.
“Ten years ago, we opened iAccelerate. Since then, more than 600 ventures have been supported, more than 1,200 jobs have been created and our business founders have raised more than $145 million,” Professor Lu said.
“Our ambition is simple. As the Illawarra grows, UOW grows with it. We want to educate the people who will build this region's future, and we want the ideas generated here to create value, impact and change lives here and beyond.”
, an Illawarra-based animal-health company producing gut-health supplements for horses and dogs, was named the 2026 IMB Bank Illawarra Business of the Year. The company is led by UOW alumni Peter Lord and Linda Goldspink-Lord, and was also recognised in the Excellence in International Business and Excellence in Medium Business categories.
UOW clean-energy research spinout received awards for Employer of Choice (21 Employees and Over), Excellence in Innovation and Excellence in Large Business. , an iAccelerate resident developing gravitational energy storage technology, won Excellence in Sustainability.
Several UOW alumni leading businesses locally were also recognised at the Awards, including Amy Hall from who was recognised as Outstanding Business Leader (under 20 employees), and Alicia Musker from , who took home Outstanding Business Leader (over 21 employees).
