Prime Super Northern Inland Innovation Awards 2009

Website: www.niia.com.au

The Prime Super Northern Inland Innovation Awards were held on Saturday night, 30th May 2009 following an Innovation Expo in Narrabri’s Crossing Theatre, which featured 10 guest speakers, including AusIndustry Regional Manager, Tim Cotter.

The biggest gong of the gala presentation night, the Prime Super Northern Inland Innovation of the Year Award, went to Armidale based, Training Resource and Multimedia Studio (TRaMS). This rapidly growing company develops animated, interactive multimedia applications, tailored to the training needs of corporate clients. “TRaMS has harnessed internet and multimedia technologies to create a effective and efficient evolution from face-to-face classes and relatively boring text books or manuals. As a regional innovative business, TRaMS really stood out. In all respects, it represents what the Prime Super Northern Inland Innovation Awards are all about,” said Chair of the Northern Inland Regional Development Board, Meryl Dillon.

TRaMS’ Commercial Director, Ross Maclennan said that the accolade from the Prime Super Northern Inland Innovation Awards means a great deal to him, personally, and to TRaMS. “As a fledgling technology company, we are already catering for the training needs of national clients, from right here in the New England. We are proud of what we have achieved and this Award will help us to promote ourselves and our achievements.”

What is Innovation?

Innovation is the application of creative thinking to initiate or introduce improvements in a skill, product, methodology or process.

The innovation must be:

• Unique to or developed in the Northern region
• Better than the status quo
• Sustainable in all applications
• Have a viable outcome

About The Awards

The Northern Inland Regional Development Board is pleased to have Prime Super as the major sponsor for the 2009 awards. Other supporters are AusIndustry, New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development and the University of New England.

Objectives

• Recognition of contribution made by business to economic prosperity and well being of the region's communities and residents
• To showcase and promote initiatives, products and services
• To establish formal and informal linkages between key stakeholders who are capable of assisting in developing business innovation and creativity
• To represent the region as a dynamic, forward thinking, global participant

Category - Agriculture/Horticulture and Associated Services

Winner

Manuka Chaff Pty Ltd, Quirindi

Finalists

Break it Down Composting, Manilla
Pasture Perfect Pork, Ashford

Category - Tourism/Leisure and Related Services

Winner

Cottage on the Hill, Nundle

Finalists

Executive Oasis Quality Serviced Apartments, Armidale
Emmaville Museum, Emmaville

Category - Professional and Retail Services

Winner

Treloars of Tamworth, Lingerie Dept Tamworth

Finalists

Plant-A-Genda, Balala
New England Credit, Emmaville

Category - Manufacturing and Engineering

Winner

GC Agriculture, Uralla

Finalists

Ozzy Cranes, Moree
Andromeda Industries, Moonbi

Category - Research and Education

Winner

Training Resource & Multimedia Studio, Armidale

Finalists

Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri
NSW/DPI, Narrabri