The 2025 InnovationAus Awards season is well underway, and it is always a pleasure to announce the finalists in my favourite category, the Paul Shetler Disrupter of the Year Award.
Paul Shetler was a good friend to InnovationAus.com, a classic crash-or-crash-through disrupter who was brought to Australia as the inaugural chief executive of the federal government’s Digital Transformation Agency.
Paul died suddenly in 2020, but not before leaving his mark on Commonwealth service delivery, releasing a fresh wave of thinking about the way in which digital services could be delivered – cheaper, faster and better.
The finalist for the 2025 Paul Shetler Disrupter of the Year Award – sponsored by Sydney-based quantum leader Q-CTRL – are:
Dr Nicholas Hartnell, surgeon and founder, Bone Ligament Tendon
Saara Jamieson, founder and chief executive officer, Cool Beans Underwear
Ebenezer Eyeson-Annan, founder and chief executive officer, Uncapt
The winner will be announced at the InnovationAus Awards for Excellence’ black-tie gala dinner being held at the Sydney Town Hall on the evening of November 27. All finalists receive complimentary tickets to the dinner, or you can secure your seat here (this event will sell-out).
Dr Nick Hartnell is an orthopaedic surgeon based in the Southern Highlands in NSW, and an enthusiastic entrepreneur who saw first-hand the limitations of traditional metal and plastic implants – materials that have seen little meaningful innovation in decades.
At Bone Ligament Tendon, Dr Hartnell began with personal research and dissections to explore the potential of kangaroo-derived soft tissue for ligament and tendon reconstruction and then built a skilled team of engineers and scientists to progress the concept under his guidance.
“[Dr Hartnell] actively shapes design, development, and adoption, solving real surgical challenges without requiring changes to existing techniques,” his nomination said.
“Unlike some peers who rely on established technologies, Nick actively progresses early-stage R&D for new innovations, guiding projects through prototyping, preclinical testing, and regulatory planning while providing direct clinical input.”
Saara Jamieson is a former researcher at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the inventor of the world’s first testicular cooling medical device underwear, now registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia.
The Cool Beans product is aimed at improved fertility through naturally optimising sperm health.
“Saara’s most meaningful contribution is simple and profound, she put men back into the fertility conversation with a tool they will actually use,” her nomination reads.
“Instead of more appointments, pills, or pressure, she created a comfortable daily wearable that makes the male side visible, measurable, and actionable,” is said.
As the founder and CEO of Uncapt, Ebenezer Eyeson-Annan has led the development of AI agent platforms which can be readily adapted – and quickly – to a new application.
“In short, he has created the tech solution to scaling ‘social goods’ and positive outcomes, that had heretofore not existed. The impacts, quietly achieved for Austalia, will be significant and enduring,” Mr Eyeson-Annan’s nomination said.
“Above all else, he is honest, and is ethical, with “what is right” a critical part of every project taken on. Uncapt has received repeated customer recognition for an approach to AI that is unique in its transparency.”
The InnovationAus 2025 Awards for Excellence are proudly supported by ACS, PEXA Group, the CSIRO ON Program, Griffith Hack, TechnologyOne, Q-CTRL, National AI Centre, University of New South Wales, Investment NSW and IP Australia.
Protecting your great ideas with intellectual property (IP) rights can lead to lasting benefits for your growing business. IP refers to creations of the mind, such as a brand, logo, invention, design or artistic work. Head to the IP Australia website to find out more about IP, and how it might help your business.
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