18/05/2026
Having just returned from a whirlwind week in London, we're incredibly proud to announce that Aqua Ubique has just been awarded the 2026 King's Trust International Global Sustainability Award.
Thanks to Octopus Energy, our co-founder Shannon was presented the award by Benedict Cumberbatch on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in front of more than 5,000 people, including Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The week also included the opportunity to pitch Aqua Ubique Dragon’s Den-style, receptions at the Australian Embassy and Oxford & Cambridge Club, afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace (and somehow squeezing in a little sightseeing along the way).
But this award is about far more than us.
It represents what can happen when communities back practical ideas that solve real problems.
Aqua Ubique exists because of the support, guidance and accountability provided by:
⁉️ King's Trust Australia Enterprise Accelerator, which taught us the fundamentals of what a business is (ie how to get an ABN)
🔥 Forward Fest and Sunshine Coast Council which established, then connected us into the Sunshine Coast innovation ecosystem
💡 Silicon Coast and River City Labs LEAP Forward Accelerator, which sharpened our go-to-market strategy and kept us accountable
💪 Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Advisory Board Centre's Ignite+ Scale & Commercialise Program, which helped us build the advisory and governance foundations needed to scale
💸 SEFA's Backing the Bold Program, which pushed us to mature operationally, financially and strategically
📢 Veolia Australia & New Zealand, who put us on the national map through the 2025 King’s Trust Australia Awards and ultimately helped set us on the path to London
Most importantly though, this is thanks to our customers.
Although over 2 Million Australians still live without reliable access to safe drinking water, through , every five commercial MG10s now fund one in a community in need.
That's already helped deliver safe drinking water access to more than 210 people in Cherbourg.
This award is proof that meaningful change is about more than just technology.
It’s about an idea, a scalable model, and a community willing to back innovation that genuinely improves lives.
Huge thanks as well to the Veteran Business Community (VBC), Queensland Social Enterprise Council, People and Planet First and Manufacturing Excellence Forum for all their advocacy for veteran owned, social enterprise and local manufacturing.
Read more here: https://kingstrust.org.au/shannon-wins-global-award-at-the-kings-trust-awards/
Official photos and videos to come...
