Meet the Hot 30 Awards 2022 Judges

The 2022 Hot 30 Awards are almost here. Nominations have now closed and our team of Judges are now reviewing each of the candidates to see who will and won’t be included in this year’s Hot 30.

Designed to celebrate innovation across the mining and energy sector, Hot 30 Judges are looking for start ups, scale ups and SMEs that have successfully used innovation or technology to solve a key issue facing the energy and mining sector.

This year the Judges are keen to understand what the technology or innovation is, the magnitude of the problem it is solving or how the technology is automating or streamlining existing processes either on site or in mining offices across the country.

In 2022, there are 6 awards categories in which 6 companies will receive additional recognition for outstanding contributions to their sector. These awards include:

• CORE Innovator of the Year Award

• METS Ignited Emerging Industry Award

• WRAYS Sustainability Innovation Award

• CORE Women-Led Innovation Award

• SA Department of Energy & Mining SA Excellence Award

• WA Excellence Award

The 4 judges will be looking for traction within the marketplace and how likely a company will be able to scale or grow its business.

Let’s Meet The Judges!

ALEX BLOOD

Executive Director
SA Department for Energy & Mining

Alex brings more than 20 years diverse industry experience having held various roles at state, national and global levels for a wide variety of mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and industrial projects across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Asia- Pacific and Africa. She sits on the National Board for environmental professional certification and has held past global and national corporate sustainability, business planning and technical advisory roles. In 2012 Alex became the first woman to be named Environmental Practitioner of the Year by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.

KYLAH MORRISON

General Manager WA & SA
METS Ignited

Kylah is a highly experienced mining executive, and beyond her role with METS Ignited is a Non-Executive Director for Province Resources (ASX:PRL) and is the current WA Representative for Women on Boards.

Kylah has over 14 years’ experience working in private companies in the oil & gas industry, indigenous organisations, not-for-profits, and start-ups. From 2016 to 2019 Kylah championed regional economic development as the President, then CEO of the local Chamber of Commerce, and Founding Chairperson of the Pilbara Universities Centre.

RENEE HAKENDORF

National Innovation Hub Lead
CORE Innovation Hub

Renee is the manager of CORE Innovation Hub overseeing all the day-to-day operations and running of our business and helping to power the human enterprises of tomorrow in the mining and energy sectors. 

Renee is a well-rounded professional with an impressive career spanning marketing, HR and innovation. Her broad background spans multiple industries including automotive and academia, with specialist expertise in managing research and innovation hubs. Renee is helping to take CORE Innovation to new heights in 2022 and beyond. 

CHARLIE GUNNINGHAM

Director, Innovation
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation

JTSI leads Western Australia's economic development, international trade and investment, and tourism, and promotes the defence, international education, science and innovation sectors.

Charlie is responsible for admisitering the 'New Industries Fund', which includes the Innovator Booster Grants, WA Innovator of the Year, X-TEND WA program, 3 Innovation hubs and various sponsorships. Aim is to support and boost early-stage tech/entrepreneurial and startup sector in WA, creating exciting new businesses and jobs through innovation.

SCOTT VILÉ

Principal
Wrays

Scott’s passion is in developing commercially relevant IP strategies to protect innovations. As a senior patent and trademark attorney with over 19 years’ experience, Scott specialises in mechanical technologies across a variety of industries and has a strong background in strategic intellectual property development for start-up companies and SMEs.

Prior to entering the world of intellectual property, Scott was employed as a mechanical engineer in a variety of roles within the mining industry as well as equipment performance monitoring. This experience gives Scott a unique perspective and understanding of the commercial realities of business operations.