Paul Huxtable

Retiree, Mentor and Business Owner
Mentor since 2017

Paul is an Industrial Designer, marketer and Business Developer with extensive global experience spanning six continents.

He has created hundreds of products in multiple sectors, founded NINE Startups, exporting to over 60 countries and is now on a mission to help Micro Businesses, SME's and Regional Communities activate Design led Strategies and create exportable, niche, high value, IP based opportunities.

Paul’s Design career began 1971 as a Trainee in the Caroma design team and later returned as R&D Manager – Plastics in 1986. From 1976 to 1986 Paul held positions at Simpson Limited (now Electrolux) including Senior Industrial Designer, Product Category Manager and Design & Engineering Manager.

Between 1989 and 2008 Paul founded five consultancies in Product Design, Engineering and Exhibition Design with offices in Adelaide, Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur.

In 2004 after reading of a warehouse fatality in Canada, Paul created a new business, designing and manufacturing a range of patented impact protection products which now protect workers in over 60 countries.

Paul’s inventiveness is recognized internationally in a long list of patents in diverse product categories. Good Design is a collaborative process and as a design team member he has contributed to multiple national and international Design Award winning products including the Dunhill Industrial Design Prize in 1974, the Prince Phillip Design Prize in 1982, and numerous other awards for Innovation, Business and Export.

He holds the rare distinction of his product design contributions receiving Good Design Awards in five consecutive decades.

Areas Of Expertise
  • Design Thinking
  • IP based business development
  • Design and Manufacture
  • Export
Qualifications & Achievements
  • Retired FAICD(Institute of Company Directors)
  • Retired FDIA(Design Institute of Aust)
  • 2017 South Australian Design Icon Medal recipient. (One of 25)
  • Good Design Ambassador at Good Design Australia
  • Impact Awards Ambassador at the Impact Awards
  • Good Design Award winner in 5 consecutive decades
  • Good Design Awards Judge 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
  • Numerous multi-country patents
  • Dunhill Industrial Design Award - Design team member 1974 - Caroma Bathmates
  • Prince Phillip Design Prize - Design team member 1982 - Simpson Dishwashers
  • National Winner - Telstra Small Business Award 1998
  • Deloitte Tech Fast 50 SA growth companies (18th) 2001 & 2002
  • Powerhouse Museum Exhibit Selection - 2005 & 2008
  • Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award 2006
  • Korean Design Council Selection - 2005 & 2008
  • Telstra Innovation Award 2007 (SA)
  • Telstra Small Business Award 2007 (SA)
  • 2014 Australian Export Awards(South Australia).