Pool industry CEO nominated for two major awards

AIS Water CEO Elena Gosse has been named a finalist in the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Person of the Year Award and in the CEO Magazine’s CEO of the Year Award.

Gosse is one of only four finalists for the Lord Mayor’s Business Person of the Year award, along with Marie Mortimer of loans.com.au, Phillip Di Bella of The Coffee Commune and Scott Power of the BMD Group.

She has been recognised for her outstanding leadership, business acumen and services to her community. Over the past 28 years she has steered her company through challenging times including the global pandemic, is currently expanding her company with a third manufacturing facility and employs over 43 people in her swimming pool disinfection technology business.

After originally arriving in Brisbane as a Russian immigrant, Gosse says she is grateful for the opportunities Brisbane presented to her personally and professionally.

“At a time when many businesses are moving their manufacturing off-shore I’m very proud of what our company has achieved. Our technology operates in 55 countries worldwide, including swimming pools for 90 Queensland schools, at major hotels and resorts, and municipal public pools across Australia and the globe.

“We’re proud to be promoting Brisbane as a place of innovation, excellence and world-class manufacturing.”

CEO of the Year

She has also been named a finalist for the prestigious CEO of the Year category of The CEO Magazine’s 2021 Executive of the Year Awards.

In vying for CEO Magazine’s 2021 CEO of the Year, Gosse will stand beside 13 fellow finalists from across Australia in recognition of their exceptional leadership, innovation and passion for their fields.

Her nomination came in light of her achievements as a renowned rule-breaker and change-maker, and passionate advocate for environmental responsibility and water conservation. She is often invited as a public speaker to share her experience of arriving in Australia from Russia unable to speak English, going on to achieve a second university degree and transforming AIS Water from a three-person operation to an international success story.

She also advocates for the victims of domestic and family violence by fundraising and promoting the free legal services available to women through the work of Women’s Legal Service Queensland.

“I am incredibly honoured and thrilled to be chosen as a finalist for such a sought-after award, I understand there was a huge number of high calibre nominations,” she says.

“This is an enormous opportunity to spotlight the tireless work of my AIS Water team who strive to lead our industry, demand greater sustainability, and to share our vision to conserve water for the future of our planet.”