Australian Experiential Learning Centre

Nicky Sandover, Michelle Ham, Benjamin Smith and Calvin Cayles – the final four WA Business Icon contestants announced tonight are winging their way to Singapore overnight before fronting up to the Australian High Commissioner at 8.30 in the morning.

The finalists were taken to the airport from tonights Networking function at Westpac in a very funky white stretch limo courtesy of Bellagio Limousines.

Their task now is to create an innovative campaign for Contact Singapore that attracts young Australian Professionals to live and work in Singapore.

Contact Singapore is an organization within the Singapore government.

The contestants have a hectic itinerary ahead if them meeting representatives from Singapore government and business.

The finalists will be presenting their campaigns at the final in Perth on Monday.

In their second task, 24 young leaders had to plan and host a cultural themed event at The Melbourne Hotel to raise funds and awareness for Opportunity International.

Fundraising event at the Old Melbourne Hotel

With only 48 hours up their sleeves, the contestants pulled off an amazing evening of performance, auctions and speeches raising over $18,000 for the charity.

Contestant Adele Pisano

The contestants arranged for an array of auction items ranging from some 2 night getaways to designer jewelry, signed memorabilia and everything in between. The auctioneer, Terry Harding pumped up the crowd and everything was sold.

The crowd of over 50 people also enjoyed a cultural delight of singers and dancers from the countries that Opportunity International supports.

Task two is now done and all involved couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

The remaining twelve contestants are now working on the problem of developing up sustainable living communities in the Pilbara and other remote areas. They have been told to front up for judging tomorrow afternoon with their passport and a bag packed. The results will be announced during a networking event at Westpac in St Georges Terrace tomorrow evening. The four chosen finalists wont be going home that night, they’ll be heading straight for the airport and on to the next incredible international final task!

Don’t miss the outcome of this when the exhausted finalists face the judges next Monday midday at the Hyatt in Perth. Tickets are available but numbers are limited for this truly impressive event. For further information, visit wa.australianbusinessicon.com/final-event/

WA is off and running at the AELC offices in Midland, WA. 40 eager young contestants working on a complex strategy around a major children’s event.

Contestants working at the first task on day 1 of the Business Icon WA competition

Many were here a good 30 minutes before the briefing began at 7.30 this morning.

A major difference with this years Business Icon is the advent of cameras filming their every move, big brother style. Tomorrow at 4pm is the deadline and judges line up to hear the teams’ presentations and make their decisions. Who is going through to the next round?

Rosie Thomas - Business Icon Victoria 2010 Winner

Some of Victoria’s most entrepreneurial young minds have just come to the end of one of the most gruelling weeks they have ever experienced; pushing themselves and their resilience to the brink.

Victorian Business Icon 2010 saw 32 young entrepreneurs battle it out for the title. All of the competitors excelled in the four business focused tasks they were given and shocked the sponsors with their creative, innovative ideas; especially given the very short time frames for completion.

At the final event luncheon held at the CQ Function Centre and MC’d by Channel seven reporter Amy Parks, the final four contestants presented their final task to a crowd of over 200 and a panel of six high profile judges. They were then asked eight minutes worth of tough business focused questions. In the end a winner was chosen based on the judge’s decision and an audience vote.

The 2010 winner, Rosie Thomas, is a Melbourne local who co-founded PROJECT ROCKIT, an anti-bullying/youth leadership program. Rosie is a highly creative and innovative youth professional, dedicated to facilitating the hopes and dreams of young people.

The following are highlights of an article printed in the Sunshine Coast Daily about the Queensland Business Icon competition.

SOME of the best and brightest young business minds have just come to the end of one of their most gruelling weeks ever.

“This is a great networking opportunity even if you don’t get to the final,” 24-year-old Marlene Pulls said. “You get to meet all these amazing people who are driven, cool and have a different focus in their lives. It makes you so inspired and enthusiastic about your life.

“I had three hours sleep last night, the intensity is at 1000% and we are all working our butts off because we all want to win.

“In my group, we are all leaders, so sometimes you have to back off. Part of being a good icon is to communicate the right way, respect other people and work as a team.

“You don’t have to be the loudest, but you do have to assert yourself and get your ideas implemented.”

Fellow contestant Aron Du-Shane, 23, is doing a dual degree in business marketing and interactive entertainment at QUT.

The Brisbane man also runs his own company helping small businesses with marketing strategies.

“In a word, this competition has been busy,” he said on Thursday. “When I heard it was going to be on the Sunshine Coast, I thought it would be lots of fun and that I might get to the beach.

“But the tasks have been very time-heavy and there are lots of really talented people here who keep you on your toes. . .”

Mr Du-Shane said the week had been a blur.

“I called a friend of mine on the first night and she asked me how I was holding up,” he said. “I said it’s like The Amazing Race on steroids.

“It is very intense. We are all such big personalities and we all have big opinions. We’ve had a couple of conflicts in our group, but nothing too serious.”

Read the full article at the Sunshine Coast Daily.