As an enthusiastic entrepreneur with experience in founding and growing start- up companies, Dr Lachlan Blackhall has combined his love of business and skills in engineering and mathematics to become an inspiring teacher, mentor and innovator.

While completing his PhD studies in engineering and applied mathematics at ANU, Lachlan founded InnovationACT, a business planning and entrepreneurship outreach program. Seven years later, InnovationACT has given out more than $300,000 in awards and grants to business ideas and entrepreneurs. It has more than 1,000 university staff and students participating in its activities and has led to the formation of many high-tech start-up companies.

InnovationACT is now a major part of the ACT innovation community and was awarded the Best Community Engagement and Outstanding Excellence in Collaboration awards by the Business and Higher Education Round Table in 2012.