The winners are… young entrepreneurs

The next generation of young entrepreneurs gathered for the 2008 National Young Achievement Australia awards on Wednesday night, to celebrate the end of the program and the excellence of their peers.

Secondary and tertiary participants from all over Australia witnessed Sophie Alpen (Futya) from Wade High School in Griffith named the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia Secondary Business Person of the Year and Richard Thomas (Dubya) from the Australian National University take home the Tertiary Business Person of the Year award.
 
Tertiary Company of the Year, Desiya, had entrepreneurs inside their product as well as on their team. Sponsored by Ernst & Young, the company produced a DVD that featured interviews with some of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, among them founders of Boost Juice, Gloria Jeans, Atlassian and Wotif.com, and on sold the intellectual property at the end of the six-month program.
 
Secondary Company of the Year, Ya Ya Bitsi, sponsored by Moreton Bay Regional Council, used their environmental imitative to produce a Gen Y Care Book that saw them attain the Amcor Environmental Sustainability Award as well as the Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign Secondary Outstanding Product Award.
 
Network Ten will broadcast a 30-minute highlights program of the National Awards Event at 12 noon on Sunday 14 December 2008.

The Young Achievement Australia program is a not-for-profit, non-government initiative that provides secondary and tertiary students with a practical experience at running a company with guidance from four mentors.
 
For a list of winners, or more information about the program, see www.yaa.org.au