How our awards work - Embracing Innovation

Footage: Upbeat music plays as the video transitions from a blue opening screen with the Telstra logo to the Award presenter.

Presenter speaks: The winner of the Telstra Best of Business Awards National Embracing Innovation is… Verterra Ecological Engineering.

Audio: Audience cheers, upbeat swinging music

Footage: Two recipients, one in a black suit and one in a black dress, hug others at their table and walk past a cheering audience. They walk on the stage and towards the podium. They receive an award and take a photo with the presenter.

Recipient 1: I'm absolutely excited beyond words. I'm really extremely honoured and humbled to be here and accept this award on behalf of Verterra. This is a win not only for our company but also for the recognition of ecological engineering and the need for new solutions on how people and the environment can beneficially co-exist on planet Earth.

We tend to think of nature as something apart from society, but it's the way that people interact with nature that's driving some of the greatest challenges of our age: climate change and biodiversity loss. These are the types of issues that ecological engineering seeks to reframe to find win-win outcomes rather than trading development off at the expense of the environment.

And it's the people in Verterra who have the conviction of working towards sustainable solutions for our future, who are always looking for better ways to do things, that are the reason we're receiving this award tonight. First of all, I'd like to thank my family for the long work hours over many, many years. My beautiful wife, Sue, has been my rock.

Footage: Audience applauding

Audio: [Applause]

Recipient 1: Really integral to the long journey, and has been central to keeping the financial wheels of the business turning as well. Chick Robb, a lifetime friend, I've actually known longer than Sue, left a secure job to join Verterra when it was just an idea. Neil Halpin, another long-time friend, who's just retired at the right young age of 75. We just couldn't get him out of the business, he's so excited. At the back table there, our senior staff: Laura, Penny, Dave, Ben, Andrew, I should have read my notes here, Peter, and Marion, our senior staff who I have the honour and privilege to work with every day.

A special call-out as well to our long-term chairman, Graham Thompson, who unfortunately passed away last year but was a guiding light in the development of Verterra.

To all our other team members, past and present, I won't name them because I know I'm going to miss someone, but thank you, this is your award to be proud of and to reinforce our mission of finding better ways to support society and the environment.

We were actually nominated by a past employee, Gordon Seeto. I'd like to mention Gordon and thank him for nominating us out of the blue. To our clients, associates, partners, and many other supporters over the years who have had the trust to engage us, work with us, collaborate with us and deliver nature-based solutions when this wasn't even a thing. And finally, to Telstra for running this great event. It's been a very rigorous process, a great chance to reflect on what we do, why we do it, and a wonderful opportunity to be inspired by a fantastic cohort of people.

People that know me know that I love a good bush ballad, but another poem I think by Roger Kipling that my father used to recite when I was a young boy is appropriate for the evening. "If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of distance run, yours is the world and everything that's in it." Everyone in this room tonight has more than amply filled that unforgiving minute, and the world is your oyster to go forth and do great things. Thank you very much.

Footage: Video transitions to a blue end screen with the Telstra logo.

Audio - music: Telstra jingle