Australia’s marine bioproducts sector was in the spotlight at the Marine Bioproducts Awards. Winners were announced at the BioConnect 2025 Gala Dinner in Brisbane, Meanjin.
The Awards honoured Australian-made bioproducts and biomanufacturing derived from our oceans and recognised outstanding innovation, excellence, industry leadership, and community impact in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries.
Six categories were awarded on the night, showcasing the breadth of talent and creativity across the sector:
Product of the Year Award – Mineral Fox for its Circular Sea Collection, a range of sustainable building materials made from recycled oyster shells being adopted in high-profile projects in Australia and globally.
Next Wave Award – Sophia Olijnyk for her PhD research shaping the future of marine manufacturing by enriching algae with trace metals to boost oyster nutrition.
Breakthrough Award – Jo Lane (Sea Health Products) for developing a novel algae-based packaging solution that reduces plastic waste and creates new commercial opportunities for seaweed farmers.
Business Impact Award – Ocean2Earth for scaling up marine by-product recycling into commercial fertiliser, creating both environmental and economic benefits.
First Nations Engagement & Community Award – Kylie Graham for the Fishing for Therapy initiative, supporting women through culturally informed programs that use fishing as a tool for healing and wellbeing.
Hall of Fame Award – Dr Pia Winberg (Venus Shell Systems), honoured for a lifetime contribution to advancing marine bioproducts and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
The Awards were sponsored by the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MBCRC), Australia’s largest research and development hub dedicated to producing new and sustainable products from the marine environment.
Dr Kathy Ophel Keller, a Director of the MBCRC, congratulated the winners, saying “These Awards showcase the incredible talent, innovation, and commitment across Australia’s marine bioproducts sector. By celebrating the achievements of both winners and nominees, we can see the real-world impact.”
“This industry is laying the foundations for a sustainable and prosperous future,” Kathy said.
CEO of the MBCRC, Daniel E. Abrahams, reflected on the diversity of contributions to the sector. “Behind every breakthrough are passionate people. These are researchers, businesses, students, and community leaders, all working together to shape this new industry. These awards are about celebrating that collective effort,” Daniel said.
The night concluded with a celebration of the winners and nominees, and a reminder of the opportunities that lie ahead for Australia to lead in marine bioproducts and biomanufacturing.
