For more than 25 years, Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) has grown from a small Sunshine Coast enterprise into one of the world’s leading specialists in the design, construction and operation of public aquariums. This month, the company celebrates a milestone that reflects both its strong local roots and its global impact: being named a Sunshine Coast Business Awards Hall of Fame inductee, with formal induction to take place at the 2026 awards ceremony.
AAT has received ten Sunshine Coast Business Awards since 2021, including twice being named Overall Business of the Year. While the company has enjoyed recognition in earlier years, 2025 marks the first time AAT has won awards three years in a row—an achievement that qualifies it for the Hall of Fame.
Though proudly homegrown, AAT’s story stretches far beyond the region. From its headquarters in Kunda Park, the business has delivered major public aquarium projects in more than 25 countries, earning a reputation as a trusted partner to some of the world’s most prominent marine attractions. Prestigious projects include Den Blå Planet – the National Aquarium of Denmark, Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, the Sea Shell Aquarium in Vietnam, and the Taichung Aquarium in Taiwan, which opened recently.
In Australia, AAT has provided services and specialist equipment to every major public aquarium and several leading zoos. Whether overseas or at home, the company is known for integrated expertise spanning design, fabrication, installation, operations and maintenance.
Today AAT employs more than 160 people across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, China, the Philippines and Guam, with additional remote specialists based in Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and beyond. This diverse talent base is central to the company’s success. Engineers, technicians, designers, fabricators, aquarists and project managers collaborate across borders to deliver large-scale, technically complex environments.
The company’s achievements of recent years reflect more than short-term performance—they are the outcome of decades spent refining specialist capabilities. Since the 1990s, AAT has been at the forefront of aquarium innovation, including the manufacture of advanced filtration systems, FRP tanks, and world-class acrylic viewing windows.
Founder and CEO John Langmead says the Hall of Fame recognition is a proud moment for the entire company. “This award is a tribute to every member of our global AAT family,” he said. “From our team here at Kunda Park to colleagues across Australia, New Zealand, China, the Philippines, the USA and beyond, every success we’ve achieved reflects their dedication and skill. I couldn’t be prouder.”
He adds that AAT’s journey proves something important about the region: “We are living proof that you can build and manage a multinational business from the Sunshine Coast. It’s not only a wonderful place to live—it’s a thriving base for global enterprise.”
As AAT looks ahead to its formal Hall of Fame induction next year, the company remains focused on its mission to design and deliver world-class aquariums that educate, inspire and connect people with the oceans we all share.
