Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In this place, it's great to recognise the great work of others, especially next generation trailblazers like Rohan Workman. Roh, who's been an ambassador and supporter of Australia's start-up scene, is moving onto new things from his post as a Director of the Melbourne Accelerator Program at the University of Melbourne. When he started MAP in 2012, it was the first university based accelerator program in the country providing support to new and emerging firms. In a short time, it did amazing things.

In 2015, UBI Global ranked MAP as the eighth best program of its kind in the world. Huge. By last year, it had already entered into a strategic partnership with Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Centre—a great reflection on them. Also, about 11,000 people are going through MAP programs and activities. A lot of promising new firms have gone through the program, and it will be exciting to see them grow. A few weeks ago, I went to their MAP entrepreneurs gala—800 people. I have been to every single one of these dinners. Every year it grows. Eight hundred people turning up is a huge reflection of their belief in MAP.

While Rohan's beard game is not as strong as mine, his contribution to Australia's start-up scene is very, very strong. I might have been sad to hear he was leaving, but I am excited to see where he is going to turn up. I want to say: 'Congratulations. Well done. You are doing great things for the new firms and new jobs of the future.'