ECU talent among WA's leading innovators

The state's leading innovators have been celebrated at the 2025 Western Australia's Innovators of the Year Awards, with Edith Cowan University (ECU) staff, students and alumni amongst the winners.

Now in its 19th year, the Awards showcase and support local innovative and entrepreneurial individuals, businesses and creative minds.

Western Australian Government Innovator of the Year - ChemCentre

WA's premier chemical science facility The Chemistry Centre of WA (ChemCentre) was named the winner of the Western Australian Government Innovator of the Year.

Adjunct Senior Lecturer at ECU Dr Joel Gummer is the Manager of Research and Innovation for ChemCentre's Forensic Science Laboratory and Head of the Forensic Proteomics Research Group.

Chemists and School of Science PhD students Romy Keane and Rebecca Tidy are also an integral part of the proteomics project team, which has been celebrated for its work creating a new forensic capability in WA by using the human hair shaft proteome for protein-based human identification.

Congratulations to Joel, Romy and Rebecca who have been granted places in the Australian Innovation Management Institute Certified Innovation Catalyst Program. A special mention also to Dr Hayley Abbiss, who spearheads the ECU side of the collaboration.

Dr Joel Gummer and School of Science PhD students Romy Keane and Rebecca Tidy.

Woodside Energy Platinum Award for Energy Innovation winner - Clear Carbon

Clear Carbon, founded and led by ECU alumnus Hemal Modi, was named the winner of the Woodside Energy Platinum Award for Energy Innovation award, for a product or service that inspires and informs the future direction of oil, gas and new energy production in WA.

Clear Carbon has developed an advanced intelligence platform that allows businesses to understand their carbon footprint and pursue their mission to guide Australia to net zero emissions.

Hemal graduated in 2003 with a degree in Software Engineering and Computer Science.