Applications for the 2023 Premier of Queensland's Export Awards are now open!
In a changing and challenging global environment, it has become more important than ever for Queensland businesses to identify new markets and ways in which to meet international demand for the best our state has to offer.
Applying for an Export Award is a great way to showcase your company’s achievements, and being named a finalist or winner will elevate you above others in your sector.
Submitting an application is straightforward and involves collating readily available information that demonstrates your company’s exporting prowess.
Why apply?
There are many benefits of applying for the Export Awards and progressing as a finalist, including:
Global brand awareness, marketing and PR
Elevate your business profile, open doors to new markets and help your business reach its global potential.
Networking
The award program provides ample opportunity for businesses to network, with fellow exporters, industry and government representatives.
Several events are held throughout the program that provide networking opportunities.
- Applicant masterclasses – for all applicants
- Governor's afternoon tea – for all finalists and partners
- Awards Gala – open to all
- Winner's luncheon – for all winners
- Other opportunities with TIQ pre and post awards.
National recognition
Winning a Premier of Queensland's Export Award, in one of the 13 national categories, means your company automatically becomes a finalist at the Australian Export Awards.
Applicant handbook
Prepare your application and download the application handbook to learn more about:
- 2023 categories
- application questions
- judging criteria
- hints and tips.
Export Awards Resources
We have many resources available to support your application preparation. Choose from a number of masterclasses and workshops hosted by TIQ and Austrade.
Masterclass 1: Exporting in Queensland
Participants will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing export businesses in Queensland from industry experts at BDO and Export Finance Australia.
You will also learn how exporters in Queensland can improve their business reputation and explore new markets by participating in the Export Awards.
Masterclass 2: How to write an award-winning application
Ruth takes you through the key elements, strategies and tips to get your application ready for the Export Awards. Ruth will cover:
- Benefits of winning award / award development process
- Key imperatives to successful award application development
- Export business plan framework
- De-mystify information required and criteria weightings
- Application questions – recommended approach and pitfalls
- Industry specific sections – high level focus with diverse examples
- Preparation of financials, market share data and HR content
- Leveraging the award / logo and marketing
- Queensland specific categories – First Nations and Women in International Business.
Workshop 1: Australian Export Awards application workshop
Hosted by Austrade, learn all the tips and tricks for preparing your application, the workshop will touch on why you should apply for the Australian Export Awards, what makes a good application, judging tips and how to apply.
Workshop 2: How to write an award-winning application
Hosted by Austrade, this workshop has been tailored to suit First Nations entrepreneurs and business owners who are interested in taking their business to the global stage.
Success stories
Hear from previous finalists and winners to learn how the Export Awards propelled their business internationally.
Helitak – Winner
‘Advanced Technologies’ 2022
Plungie – Winner
‘Emerging Exporter’ 2022
Plasvacc - Winner
‘Small Business’ 2022
Eligibility criteria
When considering your application for 2023, please review your businesses eligibility. All businesses can enter multiple categories and refer to activities primarily in the 2022/2023 financial year. Some questions do require up to three (3) years of evidence.
- Earn foreign exchange.
- Hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Operate as a separate business if part of a larger organisation.
- Maintain appropriate business ethics and demonstrate a commitment to legal obligations including anti-bribery laws and laws to combat modern slavery, both in Australia and overseas markets.
- Government entities as defined in the “A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999” are not eligible, except where they are registered education and training providers.
- Sponsors of a State or Territory Export Awards program or the Australian Export Awards program are not eligible to apply.
- goods made in Australia from Australian primary products;
- goods made overseas, mainly using Australian primary products;
- goods made in Australia from Australian and imported components;
- goods elaborately transformed in Australia;
- goods made overseas using substantial Australian value-add, intellectual property (IP) or know-how, including design;
- services delivered in Australia to foreign individuals or entities; and
- services delivered overseas using substantial Australian value-add, IP or know-how.
- The applicant must demonstrate delivery of net foreign economic returns to the Australian economy in terms of profit repatriation and employment in Australia.
- Applicants must provide three (3) years of export sales, unless they are applying for the Emerging Exporter Award.
- Applications containing inadequate financial details will not be accepted.
- Applicants that are unable to provide actual export sales for the 2022/23 financial year must provide estimates that supported their demonstrated export efforts.
- The Awards program operates as a two-tier process. Applications are first judged in an individual state or territory Export Awards program. Each state or territory program will have 13 or more categories. Only winners in the 13 national categories will automatically proceed as Australian Export Awards finalists. They will then be judged in the Australian Export Awards against other state and territory national category winners.
- An application can only be submitted in the state or territory program where the organisation’s head office is located or where the majority of operations are established.
- Applications are only accepted online via the Export Awards application website and must be submitted in full by the closing date to be considered.
- Organisations can apply in one or more category but will only be eligible to win one award at the national level.
- Winners in a state and territory category (outside of national categories) do not proceed to the National Program.
- Regional Exporter: organisations with a non-metropolitan Head Office or majority of operations are eligible to apply for this award
- Metropolitan areas are define as: any business whose head office located in Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council and City of Gold Coast jurisdiction
- Small business: organisations with total annual sales not exceeding $10 million are eligible to apply for this award
- Emerging Exporter: organisations with three years or less of export sales are only eligible to apply for this award.
- Winners from previous years are eligible to apply, except for inductees in the Australian Export Awards national Hall of Fame.
- Where an organisation is a state or territory Hall of Fame inductee, please check with your state or territory Awards Coordinator regarding eligibility in applying into a state or territory awards program.
Judging criteria
Areas to focus include:
evidence of sustainable competitive advantage
export success and growth potential
leadership and innovation in international business and marketing strategies
commitment to diversity, inclusion, sustainability and/or positive social impact
value and contribution of exports to business expansion
overall commitment to growth in international business.
Section 1: Business details
Section 2: National award category selection
Section 3: Introduce your company
Section 4: About your business and product/service (25% weighting)
- 4.1-4.2 Criteria
- Assess the viability of the business, including its product/service and unique value proposition, recent milestones and exports/international successes in the current year.
Section 8: Criteria for e-Commerce category
- What are the innovative online practices/strategies the applicant has implemented to maximise their reach overseas (look for innovation in platforms, tools used and customer engagement).
Sections: 5 to 17
- Assess the business’s activities against the selected national category they have applied in. Do these activities clearly reflect and effectively demonstrate leadership and innovation in the selected industry sector?
Section 18: International business marketing strategy (40% weighting)
- 18.1 Criteria: Quality of business and marketing strategy taking into consideration scope of the applicant's international competitive advantage.
- 18.2 Criteria: Value or impact of any diversity and inclusion, sustainability and/or social impact strategies the applicant implemented in their business.
- 18.3-18.4 Criteria: Assess the level and sustainability of international revenue considering:
- Exports as a proportion of total sales revenue.
- Export value, and year-to-year percentage change in value, over the last three years or since the applicant commenced exporting.
- Total export earnings from major overseas markets, and diversity of export markets.
Section 19: Business management (25% weighting)
- 19.1 Criteria: Assess how/if the business’s employment figures and human resources strategies support export growth.
- 19.3 Criteria: Assess the structure of the business’s export/international operations, their systems to effectively respond to international sales and whether the business is appropriately resourced for export expansion.
- 19.4-19.9 Criteria: Soundness of financial strategy for international business. Look for examples of a sound capital base (substantial net profit) and sufficient capital (cash and resources) to support export activity. Do they support the applicant's international plans for the coming year (e.g. new markets, additional staff, different marketing strategies).
Section 20: International business planning and direction (10% weighting)
- 20.1 Criteria: Assess evidence of effective measures and business commitment to international business growth.
Categories
There are 15 award categories – 13 national and two Queensland state-based – that businesses and individuals can apply for.
Winners of the 13 national categories become automatic finalists in the Australian Export Awards that are run and managed by Austrade.
A summary of all categories is provided below
National award categories
Queensland winners of these categories progress to the Australian Export Awards.
- Advance Technologies
- Agribusiness, Food and Beverages
- Creative Industries
- e-Commerce
- Emerging Exporter
- International Education and Training
- International Health
- Manufacturing and Advances Materials
- Professional Services
- Regional Exporter
- Resources and Energy
- Small Business
- Sustainability and Green Economy
Queensland only award categories
Queensland winners of these categories do not to the Australian Export Awards.
- First Nations
- Women in International Business