19 February 2022

WA 2021 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist revealed

Doug Fitch, WA 2021 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Australia, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

Doug Fitch, cofounder of Agworld a digital farm management software company, has been named a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the YearTM 2021 Australia awards. Mr Fitch will represent the western region of Australia at EY's Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year competition. He is one of six finalists from across the country vying for the top award to be announced in April.

Mr Fitch grew up with a childhood passion for farming and later, worked in the industry. But it wasn't until a family member fell ill and he stepped in to assist on the farm, that he realised the many challenges facing farmers in the modern world. Many farmers were operating large scale farms, without the assistance of technology or data to facilitate optimal decision making.

Doug has led the business from early bootstrapped start-up through to a global company with a global team of 63, recently acquired by Semios. His purpose-led approach, investment in people and culture and commitment to customer alignment has underpinned Agworld's continued growth and success.

Agworld is helping key stakeholders in farming ecosystems around the world, including farmers and agronomists, to realise the benefits of digital transformation and a more data-centric approach through their suite of next-generation farm management software (SAAS) products.

“Despite some challenges, we have stayed true to our word, close to our customers and committed to fit-for-market next generation technology. As a result, the uptake of Agworld's software products has continued to grow and farmers around the world are accessing this technology to enhance production efficiencies, achieve more sustainable farming practices and to bridge intergenerational knowledge gaps,” said Mr Fitch.

“I am thrilled to be representing Western Australia and the farming industry in this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. It has been a tough few years for farmers and this opportunity will allow me to further spread the word about Agworld's technology and learn skills from other industry experts that I can apply to my industry. I am looking forward to the next stages of the competition.”

EY has long recognised the potential of entrepreneurs. For over 20 years, EY have been working with entrepreneurs through the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program. The program recognises and celebrates the contribution of these exceptional individuals. It also ensures national and international recognition of successful finalists and alumni, while providing invaluable networking opportunities.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year Australia Leader, Justin Howse, said, “The quality and creativity of the finalists this year is truly remarkable. EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is much more than an awards program - it's an opportunity for participants to embark on a lifelong journey with an alumni network of like-minded and talented entrepreneurs.”

Mr Fitch will be competing against:
  • Izhar Basha, Founder and CEO, EHP Labs
  • Linda Brown, President & CEO, Torrens University
  • Dr Sean Parsons, CEO & Managing Director, Ellume
  • Anson Zhang and Jeff Yu, Co-founders, One Stop Warehouse and Discover Energy Pty Ltd

The unstoppable EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists will be assessed by an independent panel of judges, most of whom have previously participated in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Australia program. This year's panel is chaired by Lucy Turnbull AO.

The Australian winner of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year will continue forward to represent Australia at World EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in June 2022.

To find out more, please head to https://www.ey.com/en_au/entrepreneur-of-the-year/australia

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognises the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognising them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. The Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program, launched in 2001, is conducted in five regions culminating in the national awards. The program honours entrepreneurs whose ingenuity and perseverance have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures. Entrepreneur Of The Year's primary objective is to identify, acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding contribution entrepreneurs make to the Australian business community and economy. EY encourages women to apply to enter the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. The program empowers women entrepreneurs to think bigger, gain access to capital, enhance their business profile, network, learn from their peers and find seasoned advisors. The Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year program now has alumni of over 1,400 entrepreneurs who have participated in the program. Since the program's inception more than 15,000 people have attended Entrepreneur Of The Year events and award ceremonies in Australia.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

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