Jones tops E&Y awards

WESTERN Australian entrepreneurs swept the board at the annual Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year awards, winning three of the five categories and taking home top prize.

The entrepreneur of the year accolade went to Rod Jones, managing director of global education services provider, Navitas.

Mr Jones founded the educational services business for international students in the mid 1990s.

Navitas is now the largest provider of university pathway education, teaching more than 12,000 students on campuses at 10 universities around the county, as well as operations across Asia, Africa, Canada and the UK.

Navitas is also the largest provider of English language programs to international students, teaching about 16,000 students each year.

Mr Jones won the services division of the awards before receiving the overall honour and now goes on to represent Australia in the world E&Y entrepreneur of the year awards in Monte Carlo in May 2009.

Other winners included the top executives at industrial garnet producer GMA Garnet Group, in the technology and emerging industries division, and shipbuilder Strategic Marine in the products category.

GMA Garnet Group managing director Torsten Ketelsen was recognised for transforming a questionable mineral deposit into a profitable business that now holds an international market share close to 50 per cent.

Mr Ketelsen has also pioneered recycling technology that allows the products to be used more than five times.

Strategic Marine founder Mark Newbold, whose business specialises in the construction of aluminium and steel ships, won the products category.