Girls ‘boss’ the inaugural Binnacle Boss competition

Girls have ‘bossed’ the inaugural Queensland-wide Binnacle Boss competition aimed to uncover the state’s budding school-aged entrepreneurs.

Brisbane-based RTO, Binnacle Training, launched Binnacle Boss in June this year, providing Queensland high school students with an opportunity to turn their enterprising ideas into a bonafide business with a 2-3 minute video pitch.

Girls from Unity College on the Sunshine Coast and Mary Mackillop College in Brisbane have taken out the top 2 spots with videos judged on their creativity, impact and innovation by an expert panel of successful business owners, including Leanne Kemp, Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur.

Winner, Millie Gallacher from Unity College, is taking on plastic pot manufacturers with her business KookDreems. She uses calico bags, as an alternative to plastic pot plants, which can either be used as pots or planted directly into the ground where they biodegrade quickly. Watch her video here. 

Charlotte Hahn, Sarah Dyson & Sahara Williamson from Mary Mackillop College created their business, Smooch, to develop organic, naturally moisturising lip balm that’s produced using eco-friendly practices but with bright colours and tasty flavours like bubblegum and strawberry & cream. Watch their video here.

The win for Millie is a Business Starter Package worth over $5,000, with mentoring and financing sessions, marketing collateral, podcast exposure, work experience, and access to potential investors to further develop her business. The girls from Smooch will receive a Business Starter Package valued at $1500.

Rounding out the top four, are Fresh Foodies, also from Unity College on the Sunshine Coast, who create fresh, ethically-sourced and fun food enhancement products such as Caramelized Balsamic Glaze. Check their video here. Representing for the Gold Coast and Assisi College, are the boys from Check In, who wish to develop a free app to increase awareness, and decrease the rate of youth suicides. See more about their app idea here.

Aaron Bulow, Binnacle Training CEO, said the Binnacle team was delighted to see so many fantastic entries in their inaugural year, especially amidst the turmoil that COVID-19 created with curriculum in classrooms this year.“Students had to adapt to online learning and take more personal responsibility for staying on top of study so we were really impressed that these students took the time to participate and develop these outstanding business ideas and videos. It looks like Gen Z is in good hands.”

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