Old Boy Geoffrey Smith inspires at Speech Night

Toowoomba Grammar School’s Senior School Speech Night was marked by a powerful address from Old Boy Geoffrey Smith (2002–06), recently named the 2025 Australian of the Year for Queensland.

Geoffrey, co-founder of Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA), has become a national leader in recognising the untapped potential of neurodivergent Australians in the workforce. His organisation provides geo-spatial and engineering services while creating meaningful employment opportunities - with 80 per cent of ASA’s employees being neurodivergent and 61 per cent previously experiencing long-term unemployment.

A Strong Grammar foundation

Reflecting on his time as a boarder at TGS, Geoffrey spoke of the lessons learned in resilience, listening deeply and assuming the best in others. He recalled the camaraderie of sport and the School’s enduring emphasis on service and leadership: “Grammar instills a strong sense of prioritising support for others, over chasing power or wealth for oneself.”

These values, he said, gave him the confidence to try new things and the freedom to choose his own path, a freedom that ultimately led him to build a social enterprise that is changing lives across Australia.

Turning obstacles into opportunities

Geoffrey shared his journey from corporate data analyst to social entrepreneur. After leaving a conventional career, he worked with a small non-profit supporting people with disabilities into employment. There, he witnessed the despair of autistic Australians being systematically overlooked despite their talents.

The statistics are stark: unemployment among autistic adults is ten times higher than the general population. Yet Geoffrey recognised their unique strengths — pattern recognition, attention to detail, and analytical thinking — as precisely the skills Australia’s growing digital economy needs.

This insight became the foundation of ASA. Today, the enterprise has provided careers for more than 275 Australians, delivered projects worth over $30 million, and reinvests every dollar earned into creating new jobs.

Ripples of impact

Geoffrey described the profound ripple effects of ASA’s work — not only for employees but for their families and communities. He recalled a psychologist who contacted him to say she shares ASA’s story with parents of autistic children to lift them out of despair and show them a hopeful future.

“I had no idea how far those ripples would permeate when we started,” Geoffrey reflected.

A message for students

Speaking directly to the boys of TGS, Geoffrey urged them to embrace unexpected paths and to act with courage even when the way forward is unclear:

He reminded students that strength of character lies in showing up, moving forward, and supporting others along the way.

Celebrating 150 years

As TGS marks its extraordinary 150th anniversary, Geoffrey’s words resonated deeply with the School’s mission of educating boys and developing their good character for life. His story of service, innovation and resilience stands as a testament to the enduring values of Grammar and the impact its Old Boys continue to make in the world.

Geoffrey Smith’s journey reminds us that courage and purpose can transform not only individual lives but entire communities - a message that will truly echo long beyond this milestone Speech Night.