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JUDGING PANEL MEMBER
Gemma Manning is a serial entrepreneur, advisor, author, and recognised business leader who knows how to stay ahead of the game. Over the past 17 years, she has successfully established two businesses with international reach: Manning & Co, a full-service strategic marketing consultancy (founded in 2008), and Gemstar, a launchpad for start-ups and innovators in Southeast Asia (founded in 2013).
Gemma launched her first business, Manning & Co, after the birth of her first daughter, drawing on her corporate marketing and communications experience across a diverse range of industries. Since then, she has grown Manning & Co into a full-service strategic marketing consultancy, serving companies not only in the APAC region but also worldwide, with a presence in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the UK.
Manning & Co was recognised as one of the Top 10 Marketing Consultancies in Asia (2023) by Asia Business Outlook and was shortlisted in the NSW Premier Export Awards (2021).
Her other business pursuits include the Real-World Entrepreneurs Program and YoungGems™, which teach budding entrepreneurs to approach business with passion, purpose, and a problem-solving mindset. This program was the first-ever entrepreneurs’ program offered to Australia’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community and has since been delivered to several marginalised communities across Australia—making a significant impact on their entrepreneurial spirit and economic empowerment.
In 2016, Gemma was one of only 30 entrepreneurs personally invited by Richard Branson to Necker Island for a week of collaborative brainstorming. This experience became a catalyst for her courage and expansion into international markets, as well as an inspiration for the development of YoungGems.
Among her many accolades, Gemma was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year (AustCham, 2018) and shortlisted for the Telstra Women’s Business Awards (2017) in the category of Women Doing Business in Asia. Her work in Singapore and across ASEAN has been featured extensively in various publications and even acknowledged at the highest level by Singapore’s former Prime Minister, Mr. Lee.
Gemma is the author of About This Girl and Business the Heart Way, and the host of a podcast of the same name. She regularly provides expert commentary on topics including strategic marketing, female entrepreneurship, business in Southeast Asia, and personal branding.
As a mother of two daughters, Gemma is deeply committed to empowering women and girls, promoting equal access to education, and advancing gender parity in the workforce. Her involvement as a mentor with Mentor Walks and her membership in the International Women’s Forum reflect this dedication.
Gemma’s unique entrepreneurial style, resilience, foresight, and business acumen continue to inspire many around the world.