AIS double finalist in Queensland Lord Mayor’s Business Awards. Learning that you are one of the 48 finalists in such a prestigious business event as the QLD Lord Mayor’s Business Awards (LMBA) is exciting, but it’s twice as nice to learn that you are a finalist in two categories.
That was the experience for Australian Innovative Systems (AIS) this week with CEO Elena Gosse being named as one of five finalists in the Channel 7 Business Person of the Year category and AIS’ ground-breaking, EcoLine freshwater chlorine generation technology one of six finalists in the Brisbane Times Award for Business Innovation category.
For Elena, being a Business Person of the Year finalist is particularly gratifying given her former career history in the entertainment industry in Russia. Making the switch from a life in the performing arts to one in the manufacturing industry was challenging. After arriving in Australia as an immigrant some 20 years ago, Elena steered AIS from a small family business with three staff to the international success story it is today. The company is currently in expansion mode after recently purchasing a fourth manufacturing facility which will enable AIS to triple its production capacity and create up to 60 more jobs.
“As the LMBAs celebrates its tenth year I am honoured that AIS’ reputation for innovation and quality has been recognised in this way, AIS CEO Elena Gosse said.
“We are a proud local company which makes a sizeable contribution to Brisbane’s financial and knowledge economies and we are shining the spotlight on Queensland manufacturing on a global scale.
“From a personal perspective it is a great privilege to be chosen as a finalist alongside such high achievers as Andrew Coronis, Don Meij, Lorna Jane Clarkson and Peter Wyatt. I think we all personify the spirit of business in Brisbane and what is possible to achieve here with hard work, determination and a desire to be the best.”
The LMBA winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner at Brisbane City Hall on Friday 30 October.