26/11/2025
🏆 ChemCentre, Forensic Science Laboratory and PathWest, Forensic Biology are the winners of the 2025 Western Australia's Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) Government Innovators of the Year category! 🏆
Introduced in 2024, the Government Innovators of the Year category recognises Western Australian government entity employees who are innovating, creating novel IP and adding value to public service delivery.
This award is sponsored by the Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI), who will provide places for up to 5 team members on their AIMI Certified Innovation Catalyst Program.
The team created a new forensic capability in Western Australia by using the hair shaft proteome for protein-based human identification. Their work is focused on translating long-established biological concepts into a technology for identification of humans into a usable forensic tool, developing and implementing an internationally accredited forensic process that will provide a robust and objective analysis of single hair shafts, providing a proteomics profile to achieve unique human identification for both evidential and investigative purposes.
The winning team members are:
⭐Dr Joel Gummer (ChemCentre)
⭐Mrs Romy Keane (ChemCentre)
⭐Ms Rebecca Tidy (ChemCentre)
⭐A/Prof Glendon Parker (ChemCentre - Consultant)
⭐Dr Marie Rye (PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA)
🎥 Watch the video below to learn more about their winning project!
Now in its 19th year, the WAIOTY awards recognises innovative and entrepreneurial individuals, businesses and creative minds whose work benefits the broader WA community.
To learn more about WAIOTY and the 2025 winners visit 👉 https://loom.ly/hcVGP1U
The 2025 Western Australia's Innovators of the Year is proudly sponsored by:
Primary Sponsor: Rio Tinto
Platinum Sponsors: Business News, Biodesign Australia, Wesfarmers, Woodside Energy, Entrepreneurs' Academy of Western Australia (YEA)
Gold Sponsors: Nexia Australia, CERI - Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation, Wrays | Intellectual Property
Silver Sponsors: CSIRO, BetterLabs, Moore Australia, Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI)