Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre wins national business and higher education award

The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre was awarded the prestigious national award by the Business/Higher Education Round Table (B/HERT) in recognition of outstanding achievement in collaboration between business and higher education.

The BCEC won the Ashley Goldsworthy Award for Sustained Collaboration between Business and Tertiary Education. The Award acknowledges long-term collaborations between universities and businesses that have achieved significant commercial, economic and/or social impact benefits.

Established in 2012, BCEC has evolved to become one of the top centres of its kind in Australia dedicated to delivering high-quality, accessible research that provides a deep understanding of the economic and social policy issues facing Western Australia and the nation.

Bankwest Head of Community Engagement Craig Spencer said he was delighted the BCEC’s efforts had been formally recognised.

“The BCEC was established with Bankwest’s support with a core mission to undertake high quality, objective research on the key economic and social issues of relevance to Western Australia.

“Through high quality, evidence-based research and analysis, their research informs policy makers and commentators of the economic challenges to achieving sustainable and equitable growth and prosperity both in Western Australia and nationally.

“Many communities in WA face significant barriers to growth which prevent them from realising their true potential. Bankwest’s ongoing relationship with, and support of, the BCEC is just one of the many ways we’re working to make a positive difference beyond our core business,“ he said.

BCEC Director Professor Alan Duncan said he was tremendously proud that the Centre’s achievements have been recognised through such a prestigious national award.

“It’s fantastic that BCEC, together with Bankwest and Curtin University, have won national recognition from such an influential body as B/HERT,” Professor Duncan said.

“It demonstrates that our passionate commitment to research is making a real difference to the lives of families, communities and businesses both in WA and nationally.”

The Business/Higher Education Round Table (B/HERT) Awards were established in 1998 and winners were announced at a dinner in Melbourne on Tuesday 15 November 2016.