ERG is considered WA’s standout innovation success by Perth’s business elite, capturing the business world’s attention by becoming a global leader in smart card and transit ticketing systems.
Five of the 10 inaugural members of Business News – Business Panel placed ERG among their choice of up to five top WA innovators.
The news came during one of the worst weeks in what has been a trying few months for ERG’s shareholders, who have seen a big drop in share price since late last year
Some of those nominations were made before last week’s disclosure that key stakeholder Motorola intended to unload its shares in ERG, but several came after the news had hit the market.
And the share market news does not take away from the fact that ERG and its chief Peter Fogarty have overcome some severe odds to win major contracts in what is considered a cutting edge line of business.
“Few companies have been able to achieve what Peter Fogarty and his team has managed to do at ERG.,” said one panellist.
Shipbuilder Austal is another innovator which has won the support of several members of the Business Panel, in their first attempt to help Business News highlight issues of importance to WA’s business community.
Austal has become a world leader in the fast ferry market, producing massive car-carrying catarmaran transporters which have earned a place in markets from Europe to Asia.
Asked who WA’s top innovators are, the Business Panel also found the founders of Matilda Bay Brewing, Professor Fiona Stanley’s Institute for Child Health Research, Q-Vis and Wesfarmers or its subsidiaries as popular nominations.
WA’s resources industry gains recognition for the reputation it has carved in this globally competitive sector, with Sons of Gwalia and Anaconda Nickel lining up next to Shell and its stockmarket target Woodside.
There are a number of other quiet achievers from the world’s medical research, e-commerce, marketing and design and energy which have been highlighted by our panel.
When the chiefs of several of WA’s leading companies, some of the best talent in business administration, media and the arts, science, marketing, venture capital and investment banking have their say, it is always worth listening.
We invite you to turn inside to review the Business Panel’s selection of WA’s Top Innovators.
