Published on the 19/03/2014 | Written by Newsdesk
Recruitment company Talent International is planning to roll out the red carpet for the region’s technology superstars and has enlisted Sir Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak to help…
Talent International has beefed up its technology awards programme and enlisted international high-flyers including Virgin’s Richard Branson and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak as judges. In a co-ordinated marketing blitz across Asia Pacific this week the company unveiled its Talent Unleashed programme, which it says is intended to boost the profile of the tech sectors in each of the countries involved by identifying the most impressive individuals operating in the technology sector.
Australian and New Zealand-based technologists are being encouraged to either enter the competition themselves or nominate a colleague.
It’s not the first time the recruiter has teamed up with Branson – last March it unveiled a loyalty rewards programme for contractors on its books which provided them with access to Virgin’s gyms. The company also launched the first of its technology awards, for community-focused initiatives, which in 2013 was won by Duncan Ward who established the Classroom of Hope programme to support education in Cambodia.
The 2014 awards programme adds four additional categories – “rising star”, leadership, best start-up, and digital content. The regional winners will be offered the opportunity to attend a five-day business innovation workshop at the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship in South Africa.
Talent International founder and managing director Richard Earl said; “When we look to the Australian technology sector we’re concerned that there is insufficient interest and activity at a grass roots level in terms of innovation, ideas and technology start-ups. This is especially apparent in Australia but also across the broader APAC region.”
He said that the awards were an attempt to address the issue.
Besides Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak, the judging panel includes Cliff Rosenberg, managing director of LinkedIn; Joel Neoh, head of Groupon Asia Pacific and founder of Youth in Asia; and Patrick Grove, co-founder and CEO, Catcha Group.
According to Branson; “The technology and IT sectors will be the main stay of our global economy for many years to come. We must encourage more talented individuals to take up careers in these fields and help drive innovation, invention and more efficiency across many sectors.”
