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Melbourne

Calling Melbourne — a significant player to enter!

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting the home city of Melbourne to invite ambitious companies and visionary...

6 August, 2024
Hobart

Calling Hobart — an emerging hub to enter!

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting the home city of Hobart to invite ambitious companies and visionary...

26 July, 2024
Canberra

Calling Canberra — with most daring new ideas to enter!

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting the capital city of Canberra to invite ambitious companies and visionary...

16 July, 2024
judjes 2024

Meet final judges and why they love Pause Awards

The Pause Awards 2024 continue to be a beacon of innovation and excellence, bringing together some of the most distinguished...

15 July, 2024
Judges 2024

Meet even more judges and why they love Pause Awards

The Pause Awards 2024 continue to be a beacon of innovation and excellence, bringing together some of the most distinguished...

8 July, 2024
Judging Panel

Meet more judges and why they love Pause Awards

The Pause Awards 2024 continue to be a beacon of innovation and excellence, bringing together some of the most distinguished...

5 July, 2024

Calling Adelaide — dynamic centre for innovation to enter

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting the city of Adelaide to invite ambitious companies and visionary individuals...

4 July, 2024
Perth

Calling Perth — an emerging innovator to enter!

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting city of Perth to invite ambitious companies and visionary individuals to...

25 June, 2024
2024 predictions

Read a thrilling mid year predictions by the judges

Despite the half year being gone and us now in July, there is still time for 2024 to surprise us...

24 June, 2024

Calling Brisbane — a rising star to enter!

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting the city of Brisbane to invite ambitious companies and visionary individuals...

19 June, 2024
Pause Awards 2024

How to choose the right category for the Pause Awards?

Entering the Pause Awards is an exciting opportunity to showcase your business’s achievements. But with so many categories to choose...

17 June, 2024
Pause Awards 2024

Success stories of past Pause winners

If you’re considering entering the Pause Awards but need a little extra motivation, this is for you. We’ll highlight three...

17 June, 2024
Pause Awards 2024

Your guide to the Pause Awards entry process

Entering the Pause Awards is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business’s achievements. Understanding the entry process is crucial for...

17 June, 2024
Pause Awards 2024

Understanding the breakthrough question

Today, we’re going to talk about the Pause Awards Breakthrough question. This question is a key part of the entry...

17 June, 2024
Pause Awards 2024

Top 10 tips on how to enter Pause Awards

If you’re thinking about entering the Pause Awards, you’re in the right place. We’re here to give you some valuable...

17 June, 2024
Sydney

Calling Sydney — a powerhouse of opportunity to enter!

We are embarking on a journey across Australia, visiting the city of Sydney to invite ambitious companies and visionary individuals...

6 June, 2024
Entering first-timers

Entering Pause Awards for the first time?

Entering the world of business awards can be daunting, especially for first-timers. But at Pause Awards, we believe in the...

21 May, 2024
Pause Awards 2024 - Maeve

Inside the Pause Awards 2024: A universe of possibility

As we step into 2024, the Pause Awards, now in their seventh year, continue to be a beacon of innovation...

14 May, 2024
Pause Breakthrough Sweater

What’s a Pause Awards breakthrough?

In the competitive world of business, the term “breakthrough” often conjures images of groundbreaking inventions or once-in-a-lifetime achievements. However, at...

14 May, 2024
Dom Pym, Co-Founder, Euphemia

The power of relationships with Dom Pym at Pause Awards Night

As the founder of the Pause Awards and an advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing...

19 December, 2023
Judging Board

Meet the new addition to the Judging Board ‘23

And lastly, we introduce you to the Pause Awards ‘23 powered by VicGov incredible Judging Board. Learn what excites them...

4 September, 2023
Compass map Australia

How Pause Awards can put your brand on the map

Discover the unmatched influence of Pause Awards in bolstering brand reputation and how it serves as a reality-check for businesses...

30 August, 2023
Pause Awards Growth Mentors Board

Tech legends unite to guide growth and foster innovation

Tech industry legends come forward to mentor winners at Pause Awards ‘23, unlocking unprecedented growth and transformative insights for the...

22 August, 2023
Pause Awards judges

The new faces of Pause Awards in business and the product officers

These are the final few impressive profiles of the Pause Awards 2023 judges. From tech titans at Amazon and fintech...

21 August, 2023
Pause Awards judges announce

The new faces of Pause Awards from agency and media innovation

Discover industry leaders from top agencies and innovators in media growth. An inside look into their career accomplishments and anticipation...

25 July, 2023
Pause Awards Judges

The new faces of Pause Awards in strategy and leadership

The stellar lineup of judges keeps expanding to include: Stephen Foxworthy, Alan Kirszner, Jessica Williams, Damon Pezaro, Eneko Bilbao, Jodette...

4 July, 2023
Pause Awards Night, Birchal, Startup Vic, AWS

We’re building the community for the most ambitious people

Dive into the world of Pause Awards: a thriving community for the ambitious, driving Australian innovation to new heights while...

27 June, 2023
sparkle

It was worth waiting for these unique features

Delve into the unique offerings of the Pause Awards 2023. Experience the power of the Investable Score™, expanded award levels...

26 June, 2023
Championing breakthrough

Championing breakthroughs in today’s business world

Discover the transformative journey of the Pause Awards, a unique business accolade that propels Australian innovation to the global stage....

21 June, 2023
Pause Awards - Announcements 1

Top 5 compelling reasons why you should enter

Find out why the Pause Awards should be on your radar and discover the top five reasons that make them...

18 June, 2023

Pause Awards vs Webby’s, Cannes Lions and Effies

Dive into an in-depth comparison of the Pause Awards with other prestigious awards such as the Webby’s, Cannes Lions, and...

18 June, 2023
Pause Awards Judges 2

The new faces of Pause Awards in startup, product and experience

Meet the stellar lineup of judges, champions in their own right, including: Ashwin Ramachandran, Nikki Shah, Warwick Peel, Craig Gillam,...

15 June, 2023
How does it work, Pause Awards

Inside out of Pause Awards

Experience the prestige and advantage of Pause Awards, Australia’s leading recognition programme for innovative businesses. Learn how our rigorous and...

5 June, 2023
Pause Awards Judges

The new faces of Pause Awards in strategy, growth and innovation

This year’s prestigious judge lineup includes: Monique Alvis, Trevor Townsend, Doug Rathbone and Stuart B Richardson from the ‘Growth &...

30 May, 2023
Pause Awards - The Australian benchmark for business excellence

Where business recognition gets a paradigm shift

Delve into the uniqueness of Pause Awards, an exceptional platform that recognises ambition, innovation, and real-world achievements in Australia’s business...

24 May, 2023
Pause Awards Trophy Design 2022

The first look at the new wearable trophy design

The awards are nothing without the trophy which crowns the winner. For the 2022 trophy design we present you the...

13 October, 2022
newsroom, news, ecosystem, founder stories, insights, advice, product, growth, learnings

We’re giving a voice to our community with a stylish newsroom design

Pause Awards isn’t a single night or week of celebration. It’s a perennial reminder to uplift and highlight the ongoing...

10 July, 2022
George Hedon, Founder & CEO, Pause Awards

Our new vision:
The home for champions

You’ve seen the new website. You’ve heard how it was built. Now, it’s time to get down to the intent...

27 June, 2022

See 2024 Winners

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Category tracks

The Culture track seeks entries that exemplify the development of an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture, crucial for organisational success and growth. Submissions should illustrate transformative strategies implemented across core business functions, reflecting expertise, leadership, and a clear vision. These strategies should demonstrate a positive impact on the business, its employees, stakeholders, and customers, showcasing how a nurturing culture contributes to overall growth and innovation.

The Excellence track celebrates businesses that have demonstrated remarkable success and impact within their industry, regardless of their size. Entries for this category should illustrate how the business's strategic execution, guided by visionary leadership and exceptional expertise, has significantly influenced the industry. The focus will be on the tangible outcomes of these strategies, highlighting the company's ability to innovate, lead, and leave a lasting impression in its field.

The Good track is focused on recognising companies dedicated to their mission of creating a positive societal impact. Entries should highlight innovative solutions aimed at addressing global challenges such as environmental sustainability, social equity, and community well-being. Successful submissions will demonstrate how their initiatives contribute to significant changes, tackling issues like gender inequality, social imbalance, and injustice, thereby setting a precedent for responsible and impactful business practices.

Awarded to a single entry in a category, Grand Prix is the top accolade in that category. To win the Grand Prix, the entire Judging Board must unanimously agree that the entry deserves the accolade of being the best in that category.

The Growth track is about showcasing how businesses have enhanced productivity and execution to make a significant impact in their market. Entries should highlight innovative strategies that have optimised the customer journey, leading to increased engagement and commercial success. This track is for those who have effectively used their understanding of the market and customer needs to scale their business and achieve notable growth.

The Operators track seeks entries that showcase leadership in fostering innovation within their ecosystems. Ideal submissions will highlight how your initiatives have catalysed the creation of new products or services, bolstered by a culture that uplifts internal teams and the wider community. This track celebrates those who drive progress by empowering voices and forging transformative connections in their industry.

Categories

  • Always Evolving New

    Acknowledges a culture of continuous learning and improvement within a company, encourages employee development, and always looks for ways to optimise and innovate operations.

  • Big & Mighty Culture New

    Recognises companies (51-1000 employees) for their exceptional efforts in cultivating a culture that champions innovation.

  • Diverse Co.

    Celebrates workplaces dedicated to fostering innovation through a vibrant tapestry of diverse talents and perspectives.

  • Small & Mighty Culture New

    Applauds small teams of fewer than 50 employees for their remarkable ability to foster innovation and set new benchmarks in their domain.

  • Work Sweet Work

    Acknowledges companies that have achieved extraordinary employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, creating an exemplary workplace culture.

  • Company of the Year

    Honours an outstanding company that not only showcases exemplary leadership and resilience but also demonstrates a clear, quantifiable impact over the past year.

  • Customer Obsessed New

    Applauds prioritisation, understanding and meeting the needs and expectations of their customers, including feedback, personalised services and ensuring high satisfaction.

  • Defiant Ones

    Recognises firms that lead technological innovation, setting new standards and defining the future of their industries.

  • Hammer

    Celebrates companies that have not only defined success on their own terms but have also concretely demonstrated their triumphs over the past year.

  • I Wish I'd Done That

    Applauds ingenious, simple solutions in niche markets that spark a universal sentiment of admiration.

  • On the Rise

    Celebrates early-stage startups, under 4 years, that have shown remarkable progress and success in their initial years.

  • Prodigy

    Recognises young visionaries under 30 with outstanding talents and achievements, setting them apart in their fields.

  • Singularity

    Highlights AI-driven companies that are pioneering new services or integrating AI to create innovative products.

  • Women in Business

    Celebrates female entrepreneurs and leaders who are forging paths for future generations by creating more equitable opportunities.

  • B-Good

    Recognises businesses that redefine commercial success by positively transforming our economic system for the benefit of all stakeholders.

  • Circular Pioneer

    Celebrates companies at the forefront of circular economy practices, making substantial and sustainable differences.

  • Ethical Leadership New

    Commends companies exemplifying leadership in environmental and social governance, setting standards in corporate responsibility and ethical practices.

  • Going Green

    Acknowledges companies leading large-scale sustainable initiatives, addressing critical areas like clean energy and environmental justice.

  • Collab New

    Honours strategic partnerships and alliances with other businesses to leverage complementary strengths, access new markets, and share resources for synergistic growth and innovation.

  • Design First

    Celebrates companies where design is the heartbeat of innovation, engaging the whole team in crafting groundbreaking products.

  • Going Global New

    Applauds companies that have expanded their reach globally, showcasing exceptional growth and international success.

  • Great Pivot

    Acknowledges companies that adeptly navigate change, leveraging insights to pivot towards delivering outstanding products.

  • Movement

    Recognises unforgettable event experiences that resonate emotionally, drive social change, or achieve viral status.

  • New Model

    Honours businesses revolutionising markets with elegant and disruptive business models.

  • Next Level New

    Applauds companies which had successful strategic acquisition and integration of another entity, staff or an asset that allowed them to further grow and scale their services.

  • Wildfire

    Celebrates companies that have rapidly and significantly impacted their marketplace, online and offline, setting new standards for success.

  • Angel

    Honours visionary angel investors who've significantly contributed to early-stage startups, guiding them toward success.

  • C-Suite

    Recognises exceptional leadership qualities in high-ranking executives, showcasing their management and interpersonal excellence.

  • Creative Maverick New

    Honours unconventional thinkers with exceptional abilities to execute typically unimaginable initiatives, expertly coordinate teams, secure funding or successfully launch multiple ventures.

  • Ecosystem Star

    Celebrates individuals who energise and nurture their communities, fostering engagement and advocacy.

  • Future Builder

    Recognises the determination and resilience of founders who've embarked on the challenging journey of starting their own ventures.

  • Quiet Achiever New

    Applauds the unsung heroes whose behind-the-scenes efforts have led to flawless project executions and exceeded expectations.

  • Splash Down Under New

    Acknowledges international companies making a noteworthy entrance into the Australian market, enriching the local business ecosystem.

  • TopCoder

    Recognises developers for their outstanding technical skills, clean code, and collaborative spirit.

  • Venture Cap

    Salutes venture capital firms with a track record of backing transformative businesses, contributing significantly to Australia's economic growth.

  • Visionary New

    Recognises effective leadership by setting a clear vision, motivating the team, and making strategic decisions that guide their business towards its goals.