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, Joel Hanna, Nathan Connors, Evan Davey, Angus Tait, David Constantine, Patrick Tam and Adam Mortimer.

The Pause Awards ‘23, in partnership with VicGov, is open for entries until 1st September. The Early Entry deadline is this Friday 16 June, at midnight AEST.

At the very heart of Pause Awards, you’ll find a panel of astute, accomplished and passionate judges. Their collective wisdom and experience (over 1,000 years) are what shape the credibility of the awards to measure your ambition and effectiveness. Today, we lift the curtain on the dynamo individuals who will be charting the course of the Pause Awards, one of Australia’s most acclaimed national awards.

Presenting our ‘Founders Shaping the Industry‘ and the ‘Product Design & Experience Pioneers‘ — a bold league of experts who’ve not just broken glass ceilings but crafted their own skyscrapers in the world of innovative companies. From startups to tech giants, these individuals have led, nurtured, and transformed businesses, setting the new industry benchmark with Pause Awards this year.

Kick-starting our revelation is Ashwin Ramachandran, the visionary CEO of Sapyen. An effective rainmaker, Ashwin has raised an impressive $200m+ for healthcare and life sciences startups. No stranger to ambitious companies, his career spans across UN, Nike, and Estée Lauder. Ashwin stands eager to elevate dedicated innovators shaping the Australian startup ecosystem through the Pause Awards.

Joining Ashwin is Nikki Shah, the multi-talented Founder of MyMuse. Transitioning from a semi-pro tennis player and physiotherapist to a health-tech entrepreneur, Nikki’s journey exemplifies resilience. Her diverse pursuits including rallying and philanthropy are a testament to her belief in making a tangible impact in the world.

Warwick Peel, Founder of Startup Boardroom, brings a wealth of experience in building climate and ESG ventures. Warwick’s authentic community impact extends beyond his ventures as he serves on the board for the United Nations Association of Australia.

We then have Craig Gillam, Brand Director and Co-founder of Little Phil, whose strategic design expertise of over 15 years has been committed to designing a world that’s a little better than how he found it. He deems the Pause Awards as an exciting and honourable avenue for celebrating impactful innovation.

Joel Hanna, the Founder of Big Little Brush, brings his expertise as a sustainability leader. As a three-time founder, he’s no stranger to the hustle of tech startups and is thrilled to witness the talent emerging from Australia’s vibrant startup community.

Onto our Product Design & Experience Pioneers, meet Nathan Connors, the Director of Product at Granicus. Nathan is at the helm of building the world’s most comprehensive Government Experience Cloud, bringing digital engagement to over 5000 government agencies globally.

Evan Davey, VP Growth (APAC) & Partner at DEPT®, adds a wealth of experience in digital product development. His work with startups across diverse sectors gives him a unique lens to recognise local trailblazers reshaping industries through Pause Awards.

Angus Tait, Principal Product Designer at Xero, brings in his expansive design acumen. His work revolves around capturing the stories of business owners to create exceptional product experiences. Angus sees the Pause Awards as a unique platform to celebrate Australians driving change through innovative design.

David Constantine, Principal and Director, Design at Ellis Jones Consulting, brings creativity and impact to the table. He eagerly anticipates front-row seats to Australia’s brightest sparks in the innovation space through the Pause Awards.

We also have Patrick Tam, Head of Digital Experience Design at Westpac, an industry veteran with a passion for designing a better tomorrow. Patrick is intrigued by the transformational power of this era, shaping norms and reinventing paradigms, which he’s eager to witness at Pause Awards.

Finally, rounding up our panel is Adam Mortimer, Director of Strategy & Partnerships at Spaces Interactive. A believer in the power of ideas, Adam is devoted to harnessing emerging tech to improve societal experiences and is eager to credit and celebrate innovation at its finest.

They are pioneers who’ve scaled the summits of their respective fields, and through their illustrious careers, demonstrated what it means to be truly innovative. They know all about the breakthrough moments, the hustle, the setbacks, and the victories that the journey of building the most ambitious companies entails. Stay tuned for more.

Pause Awards ‘23
Pause Awards recognises the most ambitious and effective companies in Australia, powered by over 60 independent senior experts who set an industry benchmark for evaluation criteria annually. We take a more holistic approach to awards, by entering your breakthrough moment we measure how ambitious and effective your company is. And from this year, how investable you might be!