A group of students from The Australian National University (ANU) College of Business and Economics (CBE) explored matters of outer space to take the win in the 2024 ANU International Business Plan Competition, an annual contest supported by ANU, the Canberra Business Chamber, the Canberra Innovation Network, and the ACT Government.
The team’s win brings to light the diversity of work that CBE students find themselves involved in, beyond traditional ideas of business and economics.
The principal objective of the competition is to allow students to work as consultant for live Australian SMEs. Under the guidance of Infinity Avionics – an innovative space-technology company – the winning team put together a business plan to effectively implement its expansion.
“We conducted extensive market research, analysing industry trends and crafting strategies to enter and scale in new international markets, while addressing potential challenges and leveraging growth opportunities,” says team captain Vera Lee.
“A strength of our plan was its cohesive structure. We ensured that all the sections complemented one another and incorporated visual elements that effectively communicated our key ideas,” says team member Yichen Li.
The team worked closely with Infinity Avionics CEO Igor Dimitrijevic and Administrative Officer Kristin Holgate to ensure that their proposal would align with the company’s strategic vision for growth.
Over three months, the team curated and delivered a comprehensive 60-page report containing 19 actionable recommendations. The recommendations were backed by in-depth market analysis.
“The creativity and feasibility of our plan earned the trust of Mr Dimitrijevic, who shared with us that our recommendations would be strongly considered for future implementation,” says Vera.
A significant feat, the team’s achievement was compounded by the fact they were competing against four other teams while balancing a demanding study load.
To secure the win, the team had to progress through competitive rounds to reach the final industry pitch, where they presented to esteemed experts in the field.
“I am so honoured to be part of the winning team for the 2024 International Business Plan Competition,” says Yichen.
“It was a challenging yet highly rewarding experience and a highlight of my university journey.”
“This experience taught us not only the importance of strategic planning and adaptability but also the value of collaboration and leadership in high-pressure environments,” says team member Koh Dewar.
The ANU International Business Plan, while producing meaningful work, also offers a pathway to gaining real-world experience while studying.
“The teamwork felt much like the workforce. My group worked so well together because we’re all competitive people and were on the same page from the start. I know from this competition how important it is to foster buy-in from your team,” says team member Sunday Roach.
“Engaging with people across fields, from business to space-tech, has broadened my knowledge and helped me build better connections.”
Furthermore, the students had the opportunity to assume professional roles. For Abigail Miller, it meant being assigned as team secretary.
“I was required to communicate and navigate client meetings and interactions in a proficient and respectful manner,’ she says.
Abigail illustrates the ways in which her CBE studies prepared her for the competition.
“Over the course of my degree, I have had the opportunity to partake in a range of courses and develop a valuable knowledge portfolio and skillset encompassing a range of areas from economics and accounting to marketing and international business,” she says.
“This wide exposure was incredibly useful during the competition as it requires students to engage in a range of areas such as consulting, marketing and accounting. I found that my diverse expertise and skillset allowed me to effectively interact with each of these areas to create a suitable international plan with my teammates.”
The College congratulates Abigail, Koh, Sunday, Vera and Yichen on this achievement.
Yichen Li
Yichen recently graduated from ANU with a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics and a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing major, International Business minor). In mid-2022, she began working as a CBE student ambassador, and was the 2024 Educations Director of the Actuarial, Finance, Economics and Commerce (AFEC) student society. She also worked as a production assistant for the ANU Scaffolding Cultural Co-Creativity Project in 2022 – a role she secured through CBE Internships. From 2023-2024, Yichen worked as a Strategic Policy Advice and Development Officer at the Department of Education in the research division. Yichen currently works as a Graduate Consultant in the Strategy and Transactions service line at EY.
Koh Dewar
Koh is a fourth-year student at ANU, studying a Bachelor of Finance (Major: Capital Markets) and Bachelor of Commerce (Major: International Business). He has worked for two years at Morgans Financial Services as a dealer’s assistant, and has spent the past year involved in the ANU Student Managed Fund, where he is part of the Asset Allocation team.
Abigail Miller
Abigail has studied across three continents, including Europe, Asia and Australia. Following her high school graduation in 2021, she relocated to Canberra to complete a double degree with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of International Relations. While she focuses on her education, she is working a part-time retail position at Gazman. Through this role, she has repeatedly been provided the opportunity to test and develop her managerial and leadership skills, as she frequently has had to step in as acting manager. In addition, she has gained work experience through various opportunities with an American based law firm, Miller & Miller.
Sunday Roach
Sunday is heading into her fourth year of study as a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student at ANU. Outside university, she serves as Board Director at the Youth Coalition of the ACT and Lead Editor at the East Asia Forum. Sunday is eager to head to the National University of Singapore later this year, supported by the New Colombo Plan Scholarship.
Vera Lee
Vera is in her fourth year at ANU, set to complete her Bachelor of Finance and Bachelor of Commerce by the end of the year. At ANU, Vera has been an Educations Representative for the ANU AFEC Student Society and continues to remain dedicated to this role. She also served as Team Captain for the 2024 International Business Plan Competition (IBPC) and now deepens her commitment to the IBPC as 2025’s Competition Manager. Vera’s dedication to leadership began early – as School Captain, Vera was recognised with the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership Award and the BSSS Outstanding Achievement in Community Service Award. Beyond academics, Vera has been a volunteer at Cambodia Care Centre since the age of eight, supporting its mission to break the cycle of poverty for thousands of children through education. Her unwavering commitment to service, strong work ethic and drive to make a meaningful impact, defines her as a leader poised to create lasting change.
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