This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Australia, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

Doug Fitch, cofounder of Agworld a digital farm management software company, has been named a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the YearTM 2021 Australia awards. Mr Fitch will represent the western region of Australia at EY's Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year competition. He is one of six finalists from across the country vying for the top award to be announced in April.

Mr Fitch grew up with a childhood passion for farming and later, worked in the industry. But it wasn't until a family member fell ill and he stepped in to assist on the farm, that he realised the many challenges facing farmers in the modern world. Many farmers were operating large scale farms, without the assistance of technology or data to facilitate optimal decision making.

Doug has led the business from early bootstrapped start-up through to a global company with a global team of 63, recently acquired by Semios. His purpose-led approach, investment in people and culture and commitment to customer alignment has underpinned Agworld's continued growth and success.

Agworld is helping key stakeholders in farming ecosystems around the world, including farmers and agronomists, to realise the benefits of digital transformation and a more data-centric approach through their suite of next-generation farm management software (SAAS) products.

“Despite some challenges, we have stayed true to our word, close to our customers and committed to fit-for-market next generation technology. As a result, the uptake of Agworld's software products has continued to grow and farmers around the world are accessing this technology to enhance production efficiencies, achieve more sustainable farming practices and to bridge intergenerational knowledge gaps,” said Mr Fitch.

“I am thrilled to be representing Western Australia and the farming industry in this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. It has been a tough few years for farmers and this opportunity will allow me to further spread the word about Agworld's technology and learn skills from other industry experts that I can apply to my industry. I am looking forward to the next stages of the competition.”

EY has long recognised the potential of entrepreneurs. For over 20 years, EY have been working with entrepreneurs through the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program. The program recognises and celebrates the contribution of these exceptional individuals. It also ensures national and international recognition of successful finalists and alumni, while providing invaluable networking opportunities.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year Australia Leader, Justin Howse, said, “The quality and creativity of the finalists this year is truly remarkable. EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is much more than an awards program - it's an opportunity for participants to embark on a lifelong journey with an alumni network of like-minded and talented entrepreneurs.”

Mr Fitch will be competing against:

• Izhar Basha, Founder and CEO, EHP Labs
• Linda Brown, President & CEO, Torrens University
• Dr Sean Parsons, CEO & Managing Director, Ellume
• Anson Zhang and Jeff Yu, Co-founders, One Stop Warehouse and Discover Energy Pty Ltd

The unstoppable EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists will be assessed by an independent panel of judges, most of whom have previously participated in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Australia program. This year's panel is chaired by Lucy Turnbull AO.

The Australian winner of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year will continue forward to represent Australia at World EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in June 2022.

To find out more, please head to https://www.ey.com/en_au/entrepreneur-of-the-year/australia