Accolades

Michael Sylvester  (SVC 1989-94) gained media attention recently through the ongoing success of Blueline Laundry where he has been the Chief Executive Officer since February 2020. Since that time Blueline has been the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of business excellence.

2022  Best Practice Disability Employment, Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards 

2022  Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, Multicultural Council of Tasmania 

2021 Excellence in Response to COVID-19 (Large Business), Worksafe Tasmania Awards 

2021  Business Innovation, Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards 

2021  Creating Inclusive Environments, Tasmanian Disability Festival Awards

2020  Best Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, the TasICT Excellence Awards 

Blueline Laundry creates meaningful employment for people of diverse abilities, cultures and backgrounds. Of their 240 employees, 35% are people with disability, 35% are culturally and linguistically diverse, and 51% are female. Through their Supported Employment Program, staffs with a disability gain economic participation in society through performing commercially-valuable work in an integrated team environment. They also have a sewing team that manufactures Alginate Bags, a medical-grade laundry product.

On leaving the College, Michael gained a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with Honours, and has since acquired a Diploma of Business Management, a Masters of Technology Project Management & Innovation, and then further qualification through the  Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He was adjudged the ‘Young Tasmanian Professional Engineer of the Year’ in 2011, and the 2014 ‘Project Director of the Year, by the Tasmanian Institute of Project Management.

Michael featured in the  July 2020 edition of The Top 100 Professionals Magazine when he was ranked in the top 50 CEO’s in Australia.

Michael’s association with the College has been ongoing. He has three sons  and a daughter – Harry, Max, Louis and Eve. All three boys are SVC students - Harry, has been the College Vice Captain for 2022,  with Max in Year 8 and Louis in Year 7.  Furthermore, Michael has been on the SVC Advisory Council (Board) since 2019 and was on the OVA committee in 2019.

For five years Michael served on the Board of Lifeline Tasmania, for three years he was a member of the Corpus Christi School Board, has served as President of the Tasmanian Division of Engineers Australia and has served on the Civil Engineers and Young Engineers boards of the national body.