Bring your bright ideas to life in the 2026 postgraduate Bowater Business Challenge!
Attention postgraduate Business and Law students! Want to develop your problem-solving skills, employability and industry networks? Then the Deakin Bowater Business Challenge (DBBC) is for you!
Working in teams of four, students will research and develop a presentation on the future of a selected industry.
This year’s theme is: ‘What innovative solutions can help BUPA drive engagement with its International Student Health App for proactive self care?’
The Bowater Trust is kindly providing a $7500 prize pool.
Interested? Here’s how it works
Eligibility
The DBBC is open to all postgraduate Business and Law students enrolled for Trimester 1 2026.
You can enter as a team of up to four people or as an individual. If any groups don’t have the required four members, we’ll assign individual entrants to those teams.
Timeline
- Wednesday 18 March, 10am–12pm: Briefing session via Zoom (ID: 846 1774 1794; Password: 85387616). BUPA Representatives and Deakin academics will be available to answer questions teams may have.
- Thursday 19 March, 5pm: Briefing session recording will be made available to student who register for challenge up until closing date.
- Wednesday 15 April, 5pm: Entries close for individual and team entries.
- Thursday 16 April, 3pm: Teams announced on rolling basis (where possible) and all teams confirmed by 16 April.
- Thursday 23 April, 2–4pm: Registered teams compete in the virtual Preliminary Round, where a University panel will rank each team’s 10-minute presentation.
- Friday 24 April: Registered teams compete in the virtual Preliminary Round, where a University panel will rank each team’s 10-minute presentation.
- Friday 24 April, 5pm: Four finals teams announced and assigned an academic mentor.
- Wednesday 6 May, 3–6pm: Challenge Final in person at Burwood Campus. Finalists present to an audience including BUPA representatives. Winners announced. Networking, drinks and canapes.
Remember: winning teams will score cash prizes and you might even impress a potential employer!
Applications and more information
Hurry – applications close on Wednesday 18 March. Apply online now.
Need more info or have a question? Email bl-se@deakin.edu.au or visit the Deakin Bowater Business Challenge webpage.
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