Search on for export ‘heroes’

Despite its significant contribution to the nation’s overall export performance Western Australia is under-represented when it comes to recognition at the Australian Institute of Export’s annual awards.

In fact Western Australian exporters have won just 6 per cent of the nation’s Export Heroes awards since they were first held in 1997.

It’s a statistic the institute hopes to change, launching the 2005-06 awards in Perth recently with the help of some well-known trade heavyweights.

Former Clough Limited chairman Harold Clough, Austal chairman John Rothwell, and former Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Renwick, are the three previous winners from WA, all recognised for their outstanding export achievements.

But AIE executive director Ian Murray said this year’s awards would aim to identify some of the “unsung heroes” in Australian international trade.

“It really is an opportunity for us as a community to recognise those sorts of people who have made an outstanding contribution to driving what has become a very important part of the Australian economy,” he said.

In contrast to the Australian Export Awards, the Export Heroes Awards is not as much about “dollar achievements”, Mr Murray said.

“It’s as much about passion and dedication as it is about the business,” he said.

WA accounts for nearly a third of merchandise exports from Australia, which reached their highest level in 2004-05 at $162.3 billion.

Speaking at the Perth launch of the national awards, parliamentary secretary to the deputy prime minister and minster for trade, Senator Sandy Macdonald, said the initiative recognised not only those who had achieved export success in their own organisation, but had also made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Australia’s export culture.

Also among the past ‘heroes’ is Doug Anthony, who was recognised for his role as a former deputy prime minister and trade minister.

“I would encourage the exporting community of WA to nominate those people who have made significant contributions to a state export industry, which is worth $38 billion per annum,” Senator Macdonald said.

Sam Walsh, Chris Renwick’s successor at Rio Tinto Iron Ore and a guest speaker at the launch, said while the three WA recipients of the awards to date more than deserved the title ‘Export Hero’, the state’s overall achievement at the awards was not as strong as it should be.

“The state produces close to one third of the export dollars earned by Australia, yet we’ve earned just 6 per cent representation on the Export Heroes list since its inception,” Mr Walsh said.

“This statistic probably tells us that we don’t have a great track record of nominating qualified people for these awards.”

As the awards season heats up, the Export Heroes Awards list is considered by many in the exporting community as one of the more distinguished honours to receive.

Nominees for the Export Heroes Awards will be assessed by an independent council with about eight to 10 of those invited to join the register of Australian Export Heroes.

The awards will be presented in May 2006 in Brisbane.