A Fremantle-based social entrepreneur has been awarded the THIS IS FREMANTLE Aspire Award for 2024.
Andrew Outhwaite is a Director of For Blue and Blue Assembly, which are social ventures at the centre of blue economy innovation for the Indian Ocean.
"WA has a great history of sustainable management of the ocean, with the world's first sustainable fisheries and more recently some amazing and innovative marine bi-products.
"There's a long tradition of us enriching ocean health and human wealth, together, forever, and that's what I'm really passionate about," Mr Outhwaite said.
With qualifications in marine science, sustainability, leadership and human development, Mr Outhwaite works with investors, innovators, industries and government to collaborate on projects that enable marine economies to grow sustainably.
The THIS IS FREMANTLE Aspire Award, in partnership with Business Events Perth, enables recipients to attend an international business event for professional development purposes.
Mr Outhwaite plans to attend the United Nations Ocean Conference which will be held in France in June 2025.
"The opportunity to go internationally and connect with others who are similarly aligned I think will generate great benefits for Western Australia in new connections, collaborations and opportunities."
Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said Mr Outhwaite represented a growing sector in Fremantle.
"We are delighted this award is going to Andrew Outhwaite. Andrew is someone who we've worked closely with at the City of Fremantle around developing the Blue Economy.
"The Blue Economy is the sustainable marine economy that takes the history that we have in Fremantle with our fishing industry and our port and says what does that look like in a future where we're carbon constrained and when we're dealing with different environmental challenges.
"It's valuable to go overseas and to be in an environment where you can think differently about the challenges back home," Mayor Fitzhardinge said.
Business Events Perth CEO, Gareth Martin, said Business Events Perth proudly recognises a group of Western Australia's brightest minds who will showcase the State's leading capabilities to the world.
"With 125 applications, the program continues to strengthen, and with ten award recipients it really showcases the broad spectrum of research and leading expertise across Western Australia."
