A QUT director of innovation has been recognised at international business awards for female leadership by winning gold and silver honours.
Gemma Alker, who is the Director of Innovation Central Brisbane (ICB), an initiative co-founded by QUT's Faculty of Business and Law and technology company Cisco, was in New York for the Stevie Awards ceremony held on November 10.
Ms Alker won the Gold for Female Executive of the year in her category and Silver for Female Innovator of the Year.
“This is one of those moments where you just have to pinch yourself,” Ms Alker said about the win.
“The true magic of partnerships lies in bringing together a diverse group of people to create something they could not do alone.
“Innovation is a team sport that inspires collaboration, community and creation.”
Ms Alker was pivotal in founding QUT’s partnership with Cisco to accelerate digital transformation and build digital skills across Australia.
“These awards recognise all those who believe in the Cisco/QUT partnership, and who have put in so much heart to make it what it has become,” she said.
“Thank you to everyone involved at Cisco, to the team and colleagues, and to the partners who have been part of the Innovation Central Brisbane journey.”
The awards recognised the seven-step methodology called CONNECT Ms Alker developed to build impactful partnerships between universities, industry, government and big tech for innovation ecosystems.
Another key program Ms Alker has helped spearhead include Queensland’s Youth Research Forum with QUT students designing innovative future food digital prototypes.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business recognise female entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organisations they lead worldwide.
Ms Alker was nominated for Female Executive of the Year and Female Innovator of the Year for government or non-profit with 10 or less employees.
The Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie awards placements were selected from more than 1,600 nominations.
Submissions came from organisations in 26 nations including Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
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