Be There Group Wins Top Honour at 2026 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards: Redefining Workplace Culture Across the Region

Gold Coast, QLD 12 February 2026.

In a year that saw more than 1,000 nominations across 29 countries, Gold Coast–founded start-up Be There Group has claimed Gold for Most Innovative Startup of the Year and Bronze for Innovative Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion at the prestigious 13th Annual Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards.

The dual win places the Australian-founded company among the most innovative organisations in the Asia-Pacific region and signals a global shift in how workplaces are addressing bullying, racism, and gender inequality. Judges described Be There Group’s model as: “A training program that is both innovative and appropriate for the complex issue of bullying, racism, and gender equality, which extends beyond treating these societal issues as mere compliance obligations.” 2026 Stevie® Awards Judges

Unlike traditional compliance-based training, Be There Group’s approach moves beyond policies and paperwork. Its bystander-led, trauma-informed model equips everyday employees with the skills, confidence, and authority to safely intervene, transforming passive observers into active drivers of cultural change. And the impact is measurable:

• 94% of participants felt safe and encouraged to contribute

• 99% felt confident recognising when bystander intervention is required

• 95% reported feeling empowered to safely intervene in workplace harm

“These awards validate what we’ve always believed,” said Kirsty Tschirpig, Director and Co-founder of Be There Group.

“When people are given the tools, time and trust, they step up. Cultural change doesn’t happen through compliance. It happens through courage.”

From Gold Coast Start-Up to International Impact Founded in 2024, Be There Group has rapidly scaled across Australia, New Zealand and internationally, embedding its programs across high-risk industries and complex environments through partnerships with organisations including:

• Perenti Group

• Volvo

• Hastings Deering

• Inland Rail

• Mort & Co

• Mirvac

• Sportsbet

• Rise New Zealand

What sets the company apart is not only its evidence-based methodology, but its commitment to reinvesting in prevention.

Be There Group donates $200 from every contract to Women of the World (WoW), supporting violence prevention initiatives in rural and regional communities.

It has also established the Be There Foundation, an ACNC-registered charity delivering prevention education to schools and communities unable to access funded programs.

Through First Nations–informed and community-led train-the-trainer models, the organisation ensures prevention knowledge remains embedded locally, long after workshops end.

Recognised Among the Region’s Best The Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards are the only awards program recognising workplace innovation across all 29 markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were selected by more than 125 global executives.

“The 13th Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards saw an outstanding level of participation and excellence,” said Maggie Miller, President of the Stevie Awards.

“This year’s winners have demonstrated remarkable innovation, creativity, and resilience.” Winners will be celebrated at a gala awards ceremony on 17 May in Macau, China.

Details about the awards and the full list of winners are available at: https://Asia.StevieAwards.com

About Be There Group Be There Group is an Australian-founded social impact start-up delivering gender equality, violence prevention, and respectful workplace training through a bystander-led, trauma-informed model. The company partners with organisations to create measurable, sustained behaviour change, not just policy compliance.