Populous named national exporter of the year

Queensland-based global design firm Populous has been named 2019 Australian Exporter of the Year.

Premier and Minister for Trade Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated the firm this morning saying every Queenslander should be proud of the impressive win.

“They are known internationally for their amazing design work in creating spaces that allow people to gather,” Ms Palaszczuk said. 

“That includes our very own Suncorp Stadium right here in Brisbane, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and the Yankee Stadium in New York.

“The win is certainly well deserved and is another part of the great Queensland export story.” 

Populous is one of the largest architectural firms in the world and generates around 80 per cent of its income from exports and this year has created 58 new jobs in Australia. 

Judges noted Populous had expanded into overseas markets over two decades and transformed into a powerhouse within its industry and Australia’s growing services sector.

Populous also won the Professional Services Award, at the national awards, presented in Canberra last night.

Other winners Mulpha and SPSG Jemena Northern Gas Pipeline, international companies with significant investments in Queensland. 

Mulpha won the Regional Investment Award for the Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort redevelopment and the SPSG Jemena Northern Gas Pipeline that won the Significant Investment Award for the Northern Gas Pipeline from Mount Isa to Tennant Creek.

Queensland exports support one in five Queensland jobs, with 40 per cent of the 7,300 good-exporting companies based in regional Queensland. The state sold more than $87 billion worth of goods to the world last financial year, representing an increase of 17 per cent on the previous year – more than New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania combined. 

Populous won the right to compete at the national awards after winning the Professional Services category at the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2019 on October 10.
The full list of the national winners is available from www.exportawards.gov.au.