Western Australia Recognises Eleven of the State's Brightest Minds

Eleven of Western Australia’s exceptional researchers, academics and professionals have been announced as the recipients of Business Events Perth’s 2023 Aspire Awards.

For the past two decades Business Events Perth has been recognising Western Australia’s brightest minds through the Aspire Awards programme.

The successful Aspire Award applicants who are outstanding candidates in their field, receive travel grants supporting their attendance at an international conference.

The 11 recipients will showcase their expertise on a global stage, network with like-minded professionals, and explore new avenues for collaboration, research, innovation, and trade.

Among the winners is the Perron Institute’s Dr. Jamie Beros, an early-career neuroscience researcher who established Western Australia’s first optogenetics platform for in vivo neuroscience research. His current research is investigating Brain Plasticity helping further understand the brain in the context of developmental mood disorders and the efficacy of non-invasive forms of brain stimulation in adolescents.

The University of Notre Dame’s award recipient, Dr. Melissa Marshall is also making waves in collaborative management and conservation of rock art sites within the context of cultural landscapes. Residing in Broome, where one of the largest rock art collection’s is treasured by locals, her work is establishing management strategies for Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The Aspire Awards have once again demonstrated Western Australia’s excellence and our position at the forefront of global innovation.

Business Events Perth CEO, Gareth Martin, said Business Events Perth proudly recognises a group of Western Australia’s brightest minds who will showcase the State’s leading capabilities to the world.   

“The recipients of the 2023 Aspire Awards represent the diversity of Western Australia’s research and entrepreneurial strengths and exemplify the innovation that Western Australia is renowned for,” said Mr. Martin.

“Providing this opportunity for knowledge exchange allows a cohort of Western Australia’s exceptional researchers, innovators and professionals to connect with other like-minded, global leaders in their field.”

“As Australia’s western gateway to the world, meeting face-to-face facilitates positive collaboration and networking opportunities putting Western Australia on the map and potentially attracting these important global business events to the state.”

The Aspire Awards have led to a number of large-scale international conferences being confirmed for Western Australia over the years, including the 5th International Congress on Biological Invasions (ICBI2025) in which Murdoch University, 2022 Aspire Award Recipient Dr. Bob Du played an integral role in Perth’s successful bid.

Hosting ICBI 2025 will attract hundreds of delegates from around the world to Perth for the first time. The conference is estimated to inject upwards of $1.5 million into Western Australia’s economy.

2023 Aspire Award Recipient:

AMA (WA) Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Thomas Drake-Brockman (they/them); Curtin University Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Xiaomin Xu; Defence West Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Jeremy Bourhill; Edith Cowan University Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Jason Goopy; Harry Perkins Institute Aspire Award Recipient: Ms. Chiara Folland; Murdoch University Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Ashiwin Vadiveloo; Perron Institute Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Jamie Beros; The Telethon Kids Institute Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Vincent Mancini; The University of Notre Dame Australia Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Melissa Marshall; The University of Western Australia Aspire Award Recipient: Dr. Cristina Vulpe; THIS IS FREMANTLE Aspire Award Recipient: Ms. Natalie Marinho.