The Australian Fintech industry and Jobs for NSW have joined to launch new awards to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s financial technology pioneers.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Skills and Small Business, John Barilaro, stated that Jobs for NSW will provide $80,000 for a two-year sponsorship of the new “Finnie Awards”. In January 2017, Jobs for NSW announced it was providing a loan guarantee of $2 million to enable Fintech startup accelerator H2 Ventures to create up to 40 new start-up Fintech companies and 400 new jobs across NSW.
“Fintech, is without doubt, the rising star of today’s technology sector – it’s innovative, drives business and jobs growth and provides new services and will play a vital role in driving businesses and the jobs of the future,” said Barilaro. “Supporting the Finnies will be a chance to showcase the best of this exciting industry. With Australia’s Fintech sector forecast to grow at 76% a year to reach $A4.2 billion by 2020, there will be great opportunities for industry growth in NSW.”
The new awards will target 29 different categories. Finnies will be presented across the fields of People, Culture and Talent, Growth Mindset and Global Perspective and Excellence in Business. The categories include Fintech Leader of the Year, Global Fintech Leader of the Year and Fintech Organisation of the Year. There are also awards for Best Workplace Diversity and Excellence in Industry Collaboration and Partnerships.
Fintech Australia President Simon Cant said these were the first industry-backed awards and will help showcase the best of the industry as well as emerging ventures and talent.
“The Finnies are being hosted by Fintech Australia, as the industry’s national association, and are an important sign that the Fintech community is continuing to mature and strengthen. We’re delighted that the NSW Government’s Jobs for NSW has come on board, to help us open applications for the inaugural Finnies awards.”
Some of the Finnies award categories have been designed to highlight Fintech community members who are leading the way addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this tech sector. These challenges were addressed in last years Fintech Australia & EY Census.
Jobs for NSW CEO Karen Borg stated;
“We’re so proud to be to a supporter of the Finnie Awards, which like us, share a vision to support startups and SMEs to successfully launch and grow into the powerhouses of tomorrow.”
Entries for the 2017 Finnies are now open and will close on Sunday, 16 April 2017, with the gala awards night to be held in Sydney on 24 May.