WITH the average age of the winners in the inaugural WA Business News 40under40 Awards just 33.8 years, there’s plenty of time for these talented young achievers to gain admission into the WA Business News 40 under 40 Hall of Fame – an honour bestowed upon those who win three 40 under 40 Awards or are appointed the First Amongst Equals.
The statistics also indicate that most WA Business News 40under40 applicants hold a degree, with study at the University of Western Australia most common.
A total of 80 per cent of this year’s finalists hold degrees, almost exclusively from WA institutions.
Of the finalists, 15 of the winners studied at UWA, seven at Edith Cowan University, seven at Curtin and two at Murdoch. Three hold TAFE qualifications. Four of the WA Business News 40under40 have studied and obtained degrees from overseas institutes, and seven hold Masters of Business Administration.
There is a slightly better than 50/50 chance that a winner will have changed profession at least once during their career.
A breakdown of the WA Business News 40under40 showed a gender split of 26 men and 14 women.
Seven are business owners and eight have played a part in the founding of the business they now work for.
The most common occupation has proven to be one in retail and/or tourism, with nine of the 40 working in that field.
In second place lies a role in financial services and banking at six, with the remainder spread throughout numerous other occupations.
Despite the commitments of their occupations, a number of the winners have had children.