Vaxxas CEO David Hoey has won an award for excellence from the American chamber of Commerce

The CEO of biotechnology company Vaxxas, which pioneered a needle-free vaccination patch, has been recognised by the US chamber of Commerce.

Vaxxas chief executive David Hoey at the company’s factory producing needle free vaccines patches.

Vaxxas chief executive and president David Hoey has been awarded the 2024 AmCham Alliance Award for Excellence in Biotechnology from the American Chamber of Commerce.

Attended by over 600 proponents of the partnership between Australia and the United States, including US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, AmCham Australia Chair Dr Larry Marshall and AmCham Australia CEO April Palmerlee, the Gala event in Sydney celebrated the pathfinders in industries of AI, Biotechnology, Digital Economy, Clean Energy, Quantum, and Space, who are shaping future economic collaboration between the two countries.

Since its inception in 2011, Brisbane-based Vaxxas has forged partnerships with the US Government and US-based industry and philanthropic organisations including the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organisation to develop its needle-free vaccination technology platform, the high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP).

Vaxxas chief executive David Hoey with the needle free vaccine patch.

Designed to provide an alternative to the 170-year-old needle and syringe for vaccination, Vaxxas’ HD-MAP technology uses a small patch with thousands of vaccine-coated microprojections to deliver vaccine to the abundant immune cells directly below the skin surface.

Upon accepting the award, Hoey says: “There aren’t too many jobs where you can get up every day knowing that the work you’re doing has the potential to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of billions of people.”

Vaxxas’ HD-MAP technology has completed five successful Phase I clinical trials involving over 500 participants with vaccines that address some of the world’s biggest health challenges including Covid-19, the flu, and measles and rubella.

Hoey says Vaxxas has grown from a team of just six people to a highly skilled workforce of over 150 scientists, engineers, and quality and regulatory professionals.

“They all work tirelessly to support the development of our technology which we believe will have a profound impact on global public health. I am proud to share this recognition with them.”

Awards night

More than 1000 people whooped it up at the 2024 Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s (REIQ) Awards for Excellence at The Star Brisbane on Saturday night.

Spanning 29 award categories, the 33rd annual awards celebrate the best of the best in the Queensland real estate industry across the state’s diverse regions and professional fields.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella says the annual awards were a reflection of the exceptional talent and character of Queensland’s real estate professionals.

The REIQ's Residential Salesperson of the Year Tristan Rowland from Stone Real Estate Aspley.

“The awards season is always an exciting time for us to showcase all the professionals who are pushing the boundaries of excellence and service in our state,” she says.

One of the most popular and highly anticipated awards is Residential Salesperson of the Year, which was claimed by Tristan Rowland (illustrated) from Stone Real Estate Aspley.

Some of the other award winners were Yianni Mooney from Yianni Mooney Property who won Auctioneer of the Year; Commercial Salesperson of the Year went to Adam Grbcic of Kollosche Commercial; Commercial and Industrial Agency of the Year was won by Rod Brown’s Chase Commercial and; Sales Agency SEQ in Settled Transactions was won by COASTAL Property Agents.

Joining the REIQ Hall of Fame was Chris Gilmour – Residential Salesperson, SEQ, Settled Transactions 2021, 2022, 2023; RE/MAX Success – Sales Agency Regional Settled Transactions 2021, 2022, 2023 and; RE/MAX Success – Sales Agency Regional Settled Commissions 2021, 2022, 2023.

Recognition