Li Cunxin AO among Brisbane’s brightest taking top honours at Lord Mayor’s Business Awards

Brisbane innovations in technology, sustainability and the arts were among leading local businesses recognised last night at the 2023 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.

Li Cunxin, artistic director of Queensland Ballet.

Li Cunxin AO, the celebrated ballet virtuoso and acclaimed author of the best-selling memoir ‘Mao’s Last Dancer,’ was honoured as The Courier Mail’s Business Person of the Year at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards ceremony last night.

Just a few months shy of retirement as artistic director of Queensland Ballet, Mr Li was recognised for his ongoing work and dedication to transforming Brisbane into a world-class performing arts destination.

Mary Li, and her husband Li Cunxin in Ben Stevenson's Sleeping Beauty

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said 13 awards were presented in total, recognising world-class innovators and change-makers who are driving Brisbane’s economic future.

“Their dedication to sustainability, growth, and community impact is inspiring and showcases the immense talent of individuals and organisations within our city,” he said.

“As we look ahead to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I’m confident that the

businesses we celebrate today will play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter, more sustainable

future for Brisbane.”

Mathew Allan, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Australian Droid And Robot (ADR) was named Port Of Brisbane Young Business Person Of The Year, for pioneering a new era of intelligent robots to improve safety for heavy industries including mining, defence and marine.

With a vision to “go where no human must, and do what no machine can,” ADR made headlines last year when its robots helped reopen a collapsed US mine when agencies like NASA failed, turning the 33-year-old into a global robotics leader.

“I don’t think everybody knows that Brisbane is probably the best place in Australia for robotics and robotics development and startups,” said Mr Allen.

“I think the biggest thing to really amplify is the fact that Brisbane is the place for world leading robotics. And if you’re interested in robotics or really deep technology, you should be here.”

Mathew Allan, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Australian Droid And Robot (ADR) was named Port Of Brisbane Young Business Person Of The Year,

To round out the awards, family-owned and operated Adina Watches received the Business Chamber Queensland Small Business Award, as well as the overall Optus Platinum Award, while the Hutchinson Builders Social Enterprise Award went to Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative.

Howard Smith Wharves received the Better Brisbane Award, while Circa won the Cisco International Business Award and Vaulta took home the Urban Utilities Environmental Sustainability In Business Award. Genics received the Accenture Australia Product Innovation Award, Little Change Creators won the Virgin Australia Micro Business Award category, while Askable was the recipient of the ANZ High-Growth Business Award. Australian Country Choice was recognised with the Australia Pacific LNG Business Transformation Award, and Vaxxas received the ISPT Investment In Brisbane Award.

GALLERY: All the fun from last night’s event at City Hall

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Originally published as Li Cunxin AO among Brisbane’s brightest taking top honours at Lord Mayor’s Business Awards