Bruce Rock Engineering managing director Damion Verhoogt was named First Amongst Equals at the 2021 40under40 Awards, which were announced at a gala event in Perth on Wednesday night.
This year’s 40under40 also marked the 20th anniversary of the event, which celebrates Western Australia’s top young business talent across a diverse mix of sectors, from finance and health, to law and community leadership.
The 2021 gala was held at Crown Perth, with guests enjoying entertainment from the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, singer Catherine Summers, and the string quartet and drum band AQUILA.
The night featured an appearance from the 2020 First Amongst Equals Rachael Ferguson, who spoke to guests about her experiences and achievements in the past year. Other First Amongst Equals alumni in attendance included Raleigh Finlayson (2018), Bill Beament (2013) and Suzanne Daubney (2010).
Business News senior editor and chief judge Mark Beyer said a record number of entrants applied this year, making selecting a winner a challenging task.
“The judges were looking for people with a track record of sustained success, over several years,” Mr Beyer said.
“We also looked for the entrepreneurs, people who were willing to take a risk rather than follow the safe path, people who drove change.
“While the awards are fundamentally about business success, that can come in many forms.
“It includes people who find time, in their busy lives, to contribute to their community.”
Mr Verhoogt was named this year’s First Amongst Equals for his work growing his parents’ modest business and turning it into a robust, diversified operation.
After pursuing a career away from the family business, Mr Verhoogt returned in 2003 to work as engineering manager and became managing director in 2014.
During the past 17 years, he has helped grow Bruce Rock Engineering from a staff of three to nearly 200 employees across six sites, and increased its product range from two to 12.
The business is now one of the largest trailer manufacturer and service provider to the road transport industry in WA.
Living in a small town, community is a priority for Mr Verhoogt, who is a founding board member of Bruce Rock Community Services, a fire captain for the Bruce Rock Volunteer Emergency Services and serves on the committee of the Bruce Rock Squash Club.
Mr Verhoogt also received the prize for the Family Business Category Award.
There were three other finalists for the First Amongst Equals: Delorean Corporation co-founder and director Joe Oliver; Lightning Brick Pavers principal and managing director Paul Claxton (Medium Business); and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research rare disease genetics and functional genomics group lead Gina Ravenscroft (Intrapreneur).
Mealtime Enterprises founder Kyla Smith won Murdoch University People’s Choice Award and Delorean Corporation’s Mr Oliver was awarded the City of Perth Strategic Alliance Award.
Other category winners were: Fuel Trans Australia co-owner Neale Crawford (Large Business); Standing Strong founder Kim Smith (HBF Community, Social Enterprise and Not-for-Profit); Pentanet co-founder and finance director Timothy Cornish (Start-up Business); and Allen & Overy dispute resolution lawyer David Jenaway (Professional Services).
Congratulations to the 40under40 class of 2021
Aaron Teo: AVID Group
Adam Santa Maria: Discovery Capital Partners
Alex Dorsch: Chalice Mining
Andy Wood: Microsoft
Ben Aldridge: 30 Foot Drop
Ben Hollings: Blue Ocean Monitoring
Brendan Parker: Advanced Mining Production Systems & LiveMine Solutions
Brittany Garbutt: Pretzel Australia
Cameron Scadding: Source Certain International
Christian Stanes: Peritas Group
Damion Verhoogt: Bruce Rock Engineering
Daniel Estrin: Estrin Saul Lawyers
David Jenaway: Allen & Overy
Dawn McAleenan: Essential Personnel
Ella Hickman: Hickman Family Lawyers Perth
Erin Studsor: Traffic Force
Gina Ravenscroft: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
James Staples: SFDesign
Jaydon Hirst: JMH Group
Jess Karlsson: Cahoots
Jo Hawkins: University of Western Australia
Joe Oliver: Delorean Corporation
Justin Linney: Linneys Jewellery
Kate Holsgrove: Perth Airport
Kate Kirwin: Spacecubed
Katie Day: Fortescue Metals Group
Kim Smith: Standing Strong
Kyla Smith: Mealtime Enterprises
Melissa Strutt: Roobix
Michael Bartier: BGC Housing
Navik Shah: Flex Fitness Equipment
Neale Crawford: Recharge Petroleum
Neil Miles: Planted Passion
Paul Claxton: Lightning Brick Pavers
Rebecca Epworth: Coterra Environment
Rob Mason: WA Fuel Supplies
Sophie Doyle: Alf the Label
Steven Russell: Blasta Brewing Co
Tim Cornish: Pentanet
Wade Jolly: KTrans
