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Pause Index


Explore the Pause Index featuring the winners from all previous years.


Adventus | Pause Awards Winner

Adventus

Out Of The Garage
AirRobe | Pause Awards Winner

AirRobe

I Wish I’d Done That
Alex Goulios— Pause Awards 2022

Alex Goulios

Future Builder
Alicie Holmquest | Pause Awards Winner

Alicia Holmquest

Inception

Angela Harbinson

Women In Business
Aquarzon— Pause Awards 2022

Aquarzon

Hammer
Aussie Broadband

Aussie Broadband

Hammer
Bare Cremation— Pause Awards 2022

Bare Cremation

Defiant Ones, On The Rise
Birchal equity crowd funding australia

Birchal

Hammer
Bodd

Bodd

Defiant Ones, Company Of The Year
Booktopia | Pause Awards Winner

Booktopia

Hammer
Byron Scaf | Pause Awards Winner

Byron Scaf

Do You Know Who I Am
Carers Couch | Pause Awards Winner

Carers Couch

B-Good
Chelsea Newell | Pause Awards Winner

Chelsea Newell

Do You Know Who I Am
Christina Hobbs — Pause Awards

Christina Hobbs

Women In Business
Circle In — Pause Awards 2022

Circle In

Circular Pioneer
CorePlan — Pause Awards 2022

CorePlan

Defiant Ones

DiaperRecycle

Circular Pioneer
UP Bank — Pause Awards 2022

Dom Pym

C-Suite
Elena Kelareva | Pause Awards Winner

Elena Kelareva

Super Connector
Emma McAllister | Pause Awards Winner

Emma McAllister

Prodigy
envato | Pause Awards Winner

envato

B-Good
ettitude | Pause Awards Winner

ettitude

Going Green

evee

Going Green

Food Frontier

Wildfire
Gilbert Guaring, Pause Awards Judge

Gilbert Guaring

Do You Know Who I Am

Goterra

Circular Pioneer

Great Wrap

Defiant Ones, I Wish I’d Done That, Going Green
Guzman Y Gomez | Pause Awards Winner

Guzman Y Gomez

Hammer
Heaps Normal | Pause Awards Winner

Heaps Normal

I Wish I’d Done That, Hammer
Hipages Group | Pause Awards Winner

Hipages Group

Work Sweet Work

Honeycomb Strategy

Work Sweet Work

Hub Australia

Hottest Hub
Hungry Hungry | Pause Awards Winner

Hungry Hungry

Unexpected Twist

INCUBATE (University of Sydney)

Launch Pad
Inspiring Rare Birds | Pause Awards Winner

Inspiring Rare Birds

B-Good

Jordan Shreeve

Future Builder
Judy Anderson-Frith, winner

Judy Anderson-Firth

Super Connector

Kate Pollard

Women In Business
Kature Halleday | Pause Awards Winner

Katura Halleday

Fresh Blood
Labflow

Labflow

I Wish I’d Done That
LAVO | Pause Awards Winner

LAVO

Going Green
Law On Earth | Pause Awards Winner

Law On Earth

B-Good

Linkmate

B-Good
Linktree

Linktree

Out Of The Garage, Wildfire

LunchFox

I Wish I’d Done That
Lyre's Spirit Co | Pause Awards Winner

Lyre’s Spirit Co

Hammer

Mark Brownlee

Do You Know Who I Am
Marketplacer

Marketplacer

Hammer

Matrak

Out Of The Garage
Memories Group | Pause Awards Winner

Memories Group

Hammer
The Peers Project | Pause Awards Winner

Michelle Akhidenor

Prodigy

Michelle Mannering

Super Connector

Midnight Health

Wildfire
Mr Yum | Pause Awards Winner

Mr Yum

Hammer, Work Sweet Work, Defiant Ones
Music Health

Music Health

I Wish I’d Done That, Hammer, On The Rise

myDRIVESCHOOL

I Wish I’d Done That
Nick Hudson | Pause Awards Winner

Nick Hudson

Super Connector
Nuheara | Pause Awards Winner

Nuheara

Hammer
Ovira | Pause Awards Winner

Ovira

Out Of The Garage, I Wish I’d Done That, Hammer
Pentanet

Pentanet

Wildfire, Hammer
Portable | Pause Awards Winner

Portable

B-Good, Hammer
Providoor | Pause Awards Winner

Providoor

I Wish I’d Done That

PwC Australia

Work Sweet Work
Pyn | Pause Awards Winner

Pyn

Defiant Ones
QuadLock

Quad Lock

Design First, Out Of The Garage, Hammer
Removify | Pause Awards Winner

Removify

Defiant Ones, I Wish I’d Done That
Safely | Pause Awards Winner

Safely

Out Of The Garage
Seeing Machines | Pause Awards Winner

Seeing Machines

B-Good
Single Use Ain't Sexy | Pause Awards Winner

Single Use Ain’t Sexy

I Wish I’d Done That

Slava Kozlovskii

Future Builder
Slyp | Pause Awards Winner

Slyp

I Wish I’d Done That

STEM Punks

Out Of The Garage
Studio Ninja | Pause Awards Winner

Studio Ninja

Out Of The Garage

Switch4Schools

Defiant Ones
Swoop Aero | Pause Awards Winner

Swoop Aero

B-Good
Taxibox | Pause Awards Winner

Taxibox

I Wish I’d Done That

TernX

I Wish I’d Done That, Design First
Thankyou | Pause Awards Winner

Thankyou

Hammer

The People Spot

You’ve Got Ethics

The Separation Guide

On The Rise

Vanessa Doake

Women In Business
Verve

Verve

You’ve Got Ethics, Going Green

Wisr

Diverse Co., Work Sweet Work

Applications are now open


How to enter

Category tracks



Creating a safe and open space in which everyone thrives and the collaboration flows through all levels and titles with the power of the one team. The entries should demonstrate how the transformation has been achieved across core business functions, that have delivered a positive impact and growth for business, staff, stakeholders and customers. Judges will only refer to written entries during the evaluation process. No additional research will be undertaken, and for this reason, we recommend you give detailed and sharp answers.

Celebrating commercial effectiveness through success in the marketplace by leaving a dent in the universe, no matter what the size of the company. The entries should demonstrate the highest levels of expertise, leadership and vision in the application of their business strategies. Judges will only refer to written entries during the evaluation process. No additional research will be undertaken, and for this reason, we recommend you give detailed and sharp answers.

Standing up for your purpose and going beyond together as a team aligned on the single mission to positively impact the environment, people and community. The entries should demonstrate ideas intended to change the world; work which sets out to positively impact ingrained gender inequality, social imbalance or injustice. Judges will only refer to written entries during the evaluation process. No additional research will be undertaken, and for this reason, we recommend you give detailed and sharp answers.

Only awarded to a single entry in each category track, Grand Prix is the highest accolade in Pause Awards. To win the Grand Prix, the entire Judging Board must unanimously agree that the entry deserves the accolade of being the best in class.

​​Focusing on the productivity and elegance of execution to deliver impactful ideas to a market (or many) with the power to cut through the noise. Entries should demonstrate how the innovation and optimisation of the customer journey led to scaled consumer engagement and commercial success. Judges will only refer to written entries during the evaluation process. No additional research will be undertaken, and for this reason, we recommend you give detailed and sharp answers.

Elevating every voice in the ecosystem is not just important for its collective success, industry development but also for the future growth. The entries should demonstrate ingenuity which leads to the creation of new products and services, through leadership, by elevating the internal culture and communities they serve. Judges will only refer to written entries during the evaluation process. No additional research will be undertaken, and for this reason, we recommend you give detailed and sharp answers.


Categories


  • Diverse Co.

    For nurturing an inclusive environment. This award recognises a workplace that has successfully and intentionally encouraged innovation among diverse employees.


  • Large team culture

    For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with over 1000+ employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation.


  • Medium team culture

    For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with 21-999 employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation.


  • Small team culture

    For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with less than 20 employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation


  • Work sweet work

    For a great workplace culture. This award recognises a company that has managed to improve or attain outstanding levels of employee engagement, retention and satisfaction.


  • Company of the Year

    For the best company. This award recognises a company leadership, success, ambition to excel against all odds with the solid future development plans.


  • Defiant ones

    For new tech breakthroughs. This award recognises a company that defines the future of the industry they play in.


  • Hall of fame

    For a lifetime achievement. This award recognises a game-changer who paved the way by breaking new grounds and inventing new categories.


  • Hammer

    For nailing it. This award recognises a company's success – on their own terms – in the market.


  • I wish I'd done that

    For sheer brilliance. This award recognises a company's simple and clever idea in a niche market.


  • Indi

    For new and First Peoples. This award recognises a successful company with its founders from indigenous or ethnic heritage that gained success in the market.


  • On the rise

    For early stage mavericks. This award recognises an early stage startup that has done well in its first three years.


  • Prodigy

    For being exceptional. This award recognises a young person with exceptional qualities or abilities.


  • Women in business

    For breaking the mould. This award recognises a successful female leader and entrepreneur who is paving the way forward for the future generations.


  • B-Good

    For a good business. This award recognises a company that has done well to change our economic system to positively impact all stakeholders through their commercial practice.


  • Circular Pioneer

    For making a difference. This award category recognises a company that is pioneering their circular efforts.


  • Going green

    For delivering impact at scale. This award recognises a company that is actively leading and delivering impact and scale through sustainable efforts in clean energy, climate change, healthy environment, social and economic justice etc.


  • You've got ethics

    For the leadership in environmental social governance. This award category recognises a company that is promoting accountability, good governance, leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility and solving societal problems.


  • Design first

    For design lead products. This award recognises a company that is using design to drive product innovation with the entire company onboard.


  • Inception

    For visionary thinkers. This award recognises a person that came up with the transformative idea that can change the world for better.


  • Out of the garage

    For scaling globally. This award recognises a company's global growth, expansion, and success.


  • Unexpected twist

    For a great pivot. This award recognises a company that has taken an unexpected pivot in their business or career.


  • Wildfire

    For conquering a marketplace. This award recognises a company that has made a significant impact on the marketplace in the shortest amount of time.


  • Backbone

    For backing the future idea. This award recognises a VC firm with a portfolio of companies that have made a significant contribution to the growth and success of the AU economy.


  • Brave Angel

    For early stage support. This award recognises an angel investor that has garnered a portfolio of companies and has a good track record of helping founders succeed.


  • C-Suite

    For the best leadership. This award recognises the highest-ranking executive that has impeccable leadership, management and interpersonal skills.


  • Do you know who I am

    For the silent achiever. This award recognises a person that has been responsible for the success of their company from the backstage.


  • Future builder

    For grit to start a new venture. This award recognises a founder at any level and life stage who has decided to start jumping the hoops of their own business.


  • Hottest hub

    For the best community. This award recognises a co-working space that provides boutique experience, world class facilities with community management.


  • Launch pad

    For activating the support systems. This award recognises an accelerator that has a good reputation in providing the best startup program with industry connections.


  • Super connector

    For being the community champ. This award recognises a person for a significant contribution to the success of their clients or the community.

Pause Awards '23 is launching on 17 May
00d : 00h : 00m : 00s
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