Three win Land Forces 2022 Innovation Pitchfest prizes

Three Australian companies have won prizes in the Land Forces 2022 Innovation Pitchfest. The even provides a platform for innovators to present new products and research projects to an international audience of potential customers, partners and investors.

In 2022, the Innovation Pitchfest, sponsored by Synergy Group, was held on Thursday 6 October at Land Forces 2022 with 20 representatives from industry, government and academia pitching their ideas to a panel of judges which included a representative from the Australian Army.

Pitchers presented their ideas each within a strict three-minute timeframe and at the conclusion of the program three awards were presented:

• Best Presenter: Lachlan Poppins (represented himself)
• Best Overall Innovation: Dr. Richard Parsons, Kite Magnetics
• Best Land Innovation: Luke Townsend, Federation University

“Thank you to all participants and to the panel of judges who had a very difficult task selecting from the display of Australasian innovation, R&D and collaboration at its finest,” said Pitchfest organiser Mr Craig Butler of the Melbourne-based Defence Science Institute. The judges were:

• Colonel Robin Smith – Director RICO, Australian Army
• Melissa Laws – DSTG, Group Leader Next Generation Technologies Fund
• Mr Kevin Hernan – Associate Director Defence Innovation Hub
• Mr John O’Callaghan – Victorian Defence Industry Advocate
• Mr Geoff Thomas – Principal, Axant Corporate Advisory

The Innovation Pitchfest is organised by the Defence Science Institute (DSI) in partnership with LAND FORCES 2022 organiser, AMDA Foundation Limited, the SA Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP), NSW Defence Innovation Network (DIN), WA’s Defence Science Centre (DSC), and Queensland Defence Alliance (QDSA).