AVALON 2023: Innovation Pitchfest showcases Australian innovators

Innovation Pitchfest judge Geoff Thomas with Best Aerospace Innovation winner, Mr Henry Bilinsky, MicroTau. Image: AMDA Foundation Limited

The AVALON 2023 Conference Centre had standing room only for the Innovation Pitchfest on 1 March at which three pitches were awarded prizes for their engaging presentations.

A total of 20 pitches covered a diverse range of Australian innovations and technologies, from training systems and virtual reality to satellite control, laser systems and software solutions to fleet management. The ‘pitchers’ were given training pre-event on the most effective way to present their innovation, research collaboration or project and all were able to put their best pitch forward to today’s audience.

A seven-strong judging panel was made up of South Australian venture capitalist Geoff Thomas, Victorian Defence Advocate John O’Callaghan, Anthony Lazzoppina from Bondi Partners, a representative from the Japanese Space Agency, Dr Mel Laws from DST Group, Group Captain Michael Burgess-Orton, Director – Jericho Disruptive Innovation Royal Australian Air Force and Dr George Feast from CSIRO.

The winners were:

• Best Innovation – Dr Nigel Greenwood, TheMachineGenes Group for how their lightweight Artificial Intelligence platform is quick to train and can be used to determine engine performance characteristics on very little flight time.
• Best Aerospace Innovation – Mr Henry Bilinsky, MicroTau for its shark-skin style riblet sheeting for aircraft wings to reduce drag and enhance the ability for the aviation industry reduce its carbon footprint.
• Best Pitch – Ms Anne Bettens, Deneb Space for a satellite control system based on reaction motors that is miniaturised, more power efficient and incorporates sensors that allows it to be used for satellite navigation as well as satellite orientation.

Craig Butler, Engagement Manager Defence Science Institute and organiser of the Innovation Pitchfest said the Best Pitch was awarded to Ms Bettens for the way she was able to explain a complicated technology to a general audience.

“The presentation was understandable to a layman who probably had no idea how satellites are orientated, it gave a real passion for the technology and a small team that had a vision of where it could go and the potential longevity of its impact,” he said.

Innovation Pitchfest is part of the greater AVALON 2023 Innovation Program which is sponsored by Synergy Group.