Design a contemporary solution for a local business
Griffith University’s Responsible Leaders Challenge empowers budding marketers and entrepreneurs in Years 10, 11 and 12 to unleash their creativity and business acumen. Working in teams of up to four, challenge participants will devise compelling solutions for contemporary business problems.
The Responsible Leaders Challenge is aligned with the senior school curriculum and empowers budding entrepreneurs and marketers to unleash their creativity and business acumen.
This in-school challenge requires participants to work in teams to devise compelling, contemporary solutions for Ahimsa Oils.
Key points
Targeted to
Year 10, 11 & 12 students
Value
Up to $2,260 in scholarships and prizes per winning team member
Format
Teams to provide a written submission by end of October (date TBA)
Opens
April 2026
Key dates 2026
April - Registration opens
June - Workbooks distributed
October - Submissions due at the end of the month
November - Announcement and prizes
"The Responsible Leaders Challenge was an excellent and exciting addition to my Year 10 Business class. I would highly recommend the program to teachers who are looking for a student-driven, intellectually challenging program to inspire their students."
Ms. Brooke Walters, Curriculum Leader - Pathways, Our Lady's College
"The Responsible Leaders Challenge provided our organisation with an opportunity to engage with the next generation of leaders. The students were thoughtful, innovative, and deeply engaged with our challenge. Working with them gave us great insight into the values, expectations, and capabilities of the future workforce."
Chelsea Evans, Director Workforce Strategy & Culture, The Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS).
Competition prizes
1st place
Each member of the winning team receives:
- a $2,000 scholarship when commencing a Griffith Business School degree,
- a $250 EFTPOS card, and
- a prize pack.
2nd place
Each member of the winning team receives:
- a $100 EFTPOS card, and
- a prize pack.
3rd place
Each member of the winning team receives:
- a $50 EFTPOS card, and
- a prize pack.
Competition details
To compete in the Griffith Business School Responsible Leaders Challenge you must be:
- in Year 10, 11 or 12 at a registered Queensland secondary school at the time of submission
- given permission by your teacher
- enthusiastic about business and entrepreneurial opportunities
- eager to solve complex marketing problems that help to make the world a better place.
Your team must:
- consist of between two and four students in total
- consist of any combination of students enrolled in Year 10, 11 and 12 from the same school.
- Check you meet the eligibility requirements
- Teams to register via their nominated teacher
- Eligible teams will be notified of their acceptance into the challenge
- Workbooks will be sent to the nominated teacher via email.
Value
A maximum value of $2260 in scholarships and prizes awarded to each member of the winning team.
The Responsible Leaders Challenge offers exciting rewards for the top teams. First-place winners will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to use when commencing a Griffith Business School undergraduate single or double degree*, along with a $250 EFTPOS card and a prize pack. Second-place winners will each receive a $100 EFTPOS card and a prize pack, while third-place winners will be awarded a $50 EFTPOS card and a prize pack. These prizes recognise students’ creativity, teamwork, and innovative thinking, helping to support their future studies and careers.
*Students who opt for a double degree that combines business with another faculty offering are also eligible.
Payment
The scholarship will be disbursed in one instalment after the census date on the year of enrolment.
Each team will be provided with a Responsible Leaders Challenge workbook to guide their challenge submission. The workbook provides additional information relating to the Challenge brief, submission details, and business case, as well as an industry overview. The workbook will be sent by email to the nominated teacher who is identified on the registration form.
Participating in the Challenge enables team members to leverage your business knowledge skills, alongside enhancing key life skills, by applying what you have learnt in your business studies to practice. Importantly, you will be learning to solve a complex 21st Century
business problem for an organisation.
Major 2026 partner
Is Australia's leading specialists in the supply of rare and ultimate purity essential oils, as well as being one of the longest established essential oil and carrier oil suppliers within Australia, For 35 years Ahimsa oils have been the preferred choice throughout Australia .
Ahimsa is a wholly owned Australian business, dedicated to supplying the world's finest essential oils - oils not generally available through ordinary commercial outlets. From its inception, the primary philosophy of Ahimsa has been to maintain the highest ethics in all aspects of business, in accordance with the true meaning of the Sanskrit word "Ahimsa", which means "reverence for life".Ahimsa Oils
Previous challenges
2024 Winners - St Francis College | ECCO Team
The winners of the 2024 Responsible Leaders Challenge, the ECCO Team from St Francis College, developed innovative and actionable strategies to help the Royal Queensland Art Society (RQAS) engage younger audiences. Their approach included workshops, exhibitions, and social media engagement, alongside opportunities for partnerships and sustainability initiatives to enhance RQAS’s appeal and market position.
2025 Winners - Queensland Academies | Twinnovators
The 2025 Responsible Leaders Challenge, team Twinnovators, highlighted strategies for Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) to improve awareness and motivators for non-clinical roles, with the aim of increasing employment of Generation Z and Generation Apha.
2022 Responsible Leaders Challenge
Little Cocoa
The 2022 challenge was to present an impactful and creative solution that would position Little Cocoa as a forward-focused business. The solution would help broaden the company market share across young adults aged 18-25 years, and defining the brand's sustainability credentials.
Partner with us
Become a partner and help shape the next generation of ethical and innovative leaders. Your support will empower high school students to develop responsible leadership skills and create solutions that drive positive social impact.
This partnership offers a unique opportunity to connect with students passionate about making a difference, engage with the Griffith Business School community, and demonstrate your commitment to fostering a more sustainable and equitable future.
If you're interested in partnering with the Griffith Responsible Leaders Challenge or would like more information please contact us.