Mining technology a winner in business awards

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman officially hosted the awards evening and announced Andrew Jessett, founder and CEO of MineWare, as the winner of The Mercedes-Benz Young Business Person of the Year award.
MineWare is a world leader in sophisticated electrical and software technologies in the mining industry. According to the panel of four Brisbane leaders, including, Chairman John Puttick of GBST, a global technology services company, Andrew Jessett was uniquely identified for his commitment to building a strong Brisbane-based business and developing Queensland as a hub for mining innovation.
Jessett, aged 33, independently created and commercialised the world’s most advanced dragline monitor system (Pegasys) and, since 2005, has successfully grown MineWare into a recognised leader in mine and heavy equipment monitoring technology.
Commenting on the award, Jessett said, “It acknowledges our leadership role in the development of innovative technology that more efficiently and effectively monitors the operations of heavy, open-cut coal mining equipment such as draglines and shovels.”
MineWare forms part of Brisbane’s mining technology hub of the Pacific Rim, where nearly 200 mining companies are currently based. This emerging sector for Brisbane represents almost two thirds of the resource-rich Queensland market, serving much of Australia and many parts of the world.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said although this year has tested most businesses and leaders in many ways, the 10 award winners are examples of Brisbane businesses that have adapted creatively to the new economic order and continue to find inspiration and create innovation.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be part of Brisbane’s rapid growth and development in mining technology, which contributes more than $1 Billion to the economy,” said Jessett.
According to the Invest Brisbane report into the mining technology services sector, 60 per cent of the world demand for mining software is sourced from Brisbane, while the clear majority of Queensland’s 300 mining technology service providers operate in Brisbane.