For the past two decades, Business Events Perth (BE Perth) has recognised Western Australia’s best talent through its Aspire Awards program, and has last week announced eleven of the state’s researchers, academics and professionals as the recipients of Business Events Perth’s 2022 Aspire Awards.

The successful Aspire Awards applicants who are outstanding candidates in their fields, receive travel grants to support their attendance at international conferences, allowing them to showcase their expertise on a global stage, network with like-minded professionals, and explore new avenues for collaboration, research, innovation and trade.

BE Perth chief executive, Gareth Martin said BE Perth was proud to recognise some of the state’s brightest minds and provide them with opportunities to showcase WA to the international community, through this program.

“The recipients of the 2022 Aspire Awards represent the diversity of Western Australia’s research and entrepreneurial strengths and exemplify the innovation that Western Australia is renowned for globally,” Martin said.

“The advantages of attending in-person conferences are invaluable and we are honoured to provide the opportunity to share these benefits with some of Western Australia’s brightest individuals. Meeting face-to-face facilitates positive collaboration and networking opportunities.

“We’re extremely honoured to be supporting our 2022 Aspire recipients to attend international conferences, where they will meet with other leaders in their fields and create opportunities to bring those conferences to Western Australia in the future.”

Among the 2022 recipients is the University of Western Australia’s Dr Ben McAllister, whose work in the fields of quantum technologies and dark matter are helping solve one of the universe’s biggest mysteries; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science’s Dr. Marzena Pedrini, whose research focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of MS and the role of genetics, immune regulation, and environmental factors in disease susceptibility and, Murdoch University’s Dr Bob Du whose research is contributing to the improved production capacity and profitability of Australia’s grain industry and the effective management of biosecurity risk and insecticide resistance to the food supply chain.