A total of 270 nominations were received for the prestigious 40 Under 40 award program which is hosted by InDaily Queensland and Solstice Media to celebrate the top 40 Queensland entrepreneurs and leaders under the age of 40.

The eight QUT alumni to receive awards held degrees across Business, Creative Industries, Health Science, Urban Development and Communication with the top award of the evening, the First Among Equals, going to Origin Tea founder and CEO and Brewing Brands director Chris Seaton, who graduated from QUT in 2013 with a Bachelor of Business.

"Individual awards are always tough because you can take the award up here but as everyone knows there are a lot of people who make your dreams come true," Mr Seaton said.

"The food industry is a tough industry to crack, in the tea category specifically, 90% of brands on the retail shelf are owned by three companies, so to be able to show up and dig deep every year, is something that I'm very proud of being able to continue."

Other QUT alumni named in the 2025 40 Under 40 included:

• Caitlin McConnel, Owner/Manager, Cressbrook Station Pastoral - QUT Bachelor of Business 2013
• Jonathan Rostron, CEO, Wingman Group Pty Ltd - Bachelor of Business 2017
• Kate Mahoney, Founder, Estate to Sale Projects - Bachelor of Business 2019
• Hannah Statham, CEO, Media Mortar - Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Laws 2011
• Amy Gomes, Director and Founder, One Little Heart - Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) 2010 / Current Bachelor of Laws student
• Sara Taghaode, Co-owner, Kiosk Film/Colab 4010/Creative Brisbane Colab - Bachelor of Creative Industries (Drama) 2005
• Tyrone Lowry, Director, Lowry Group Pty Ltd - Bachelor of Urban Development 2011

Caitlin McConnel also received the Rural and Regional Award on the night for her work as an agribusiness professional and sixth-generation farmer and strategic legal advisor.

"When I was young I was told not to be a farmer, so I did the next best thing and became a litigator," Ms McConnel said.

"Until the end of last year I worked at a national law firm, specialising in environmental law and commercial litigation, but agriculture has always been an incredible passion of mine ... it is an innate part of who I am.

"Food security is a passion of mine because at the end of the day the one fundamental human right is food and how we produce our food, how we nurture our soils. What we do as part of rural and regional communities really underpins absolutely every economic portfolio globally. I am incredibly grateful for this honour."

A panel of seven judges were tasked with selecting the final 40, including QUT Alumni and Engagement Executive Director Associate Professor Paige Hilditch-Maguire who presented the Industry Innovator Award to Cosmic Group/Zendit CEO Matt Crossan.

An industrial electrician by trade, Mr Crossan has spent 14 years in the wind industry, and Cosmic Group is now one of the leading providers of wind turbine services both onshore and offshore, employing more than 100 people.

"To be recognised with this is absolutely amazing," Mr Crossan said. "I arrived in Australia 11 years ago and for the first year after every night out I'd have to lift up the bed looking for money for spaghetti the next day because it was always spent the night before."

"It hasn't been easy at times ... but I have quite a few people to thank."

Associate Professor Paige Hilditch-Maguire said QUT was proud to be a partner of the 40 Under 40 awards.

"We congratulate all winners tonight and as you continue to grow, know that QUT stands beside you, ready to support your journey and amplify your impact," she said.

Main Picture: The 2025 40 Under 40 winners at the gala event in Brisbane. Picture: Solstice Media/Shirley Lam

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