JOSEPH ASSAF AO FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
The warmest of welcomes to you our esteemed guests, as you join us tonight for the thirty-fifth Ethnic Business Awards Gala Presentation Dinner.
For the last 35 years we have celebrated the achievements against the odds of migrants in business here in Australia. And for the last 14 years we have also recognised and applauded the achievements of Indigenous Australians as an integral part of our celebration.
The incorporation of an Indigenous Business Category was an initiative that some found surprising. But when you think about it, we are all ethnic in our individual ways and, in a sense, we are all migrants. It is just that our Indigenous brothers and sisters arrived here some thousands of years before we did.
I am proud to welcome you here tonight to celebrate in a spirit of inclusiveness and in shared pride, some outstanding achievements by our wonderful nominees in all categories.
I offer you all a very sincere welcome to the 35th Ethnic Business
Chairman and Founder of the Ethnic Business Awards Foundation
HER EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE
MARGARET BEAZLEY AC KC GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES
The living history and traditions of First Nations peoples embedded trade and commerce between nations spread across our vast landscape for tens of thousands of years. In different ways and at different times, migration has brought to our country people from many cultures who have also understood that trade and commerce is fundamental to society, so that it not only survives but thrives. This diversity, then and now, not only has underpinned the vibrancy, optimism, and connectedness of our community, it has, and continues to, contribute to our economic prosperity.
The Ethnic Business Awards, now in its 35th year, is an important opportunity to celebrate this contribution by recognising the outstanding accomplishments of overseas-born Australian entrepreneurs and, after the creation of the Indigenous in Business category in 2010, First Nations business owners. Over the course of its history, nominees for the Awards have come from more than 102 countries of representing all the States and Territories of Australia.
I thank the Ethnic Business Awards Foundation and its founder Joseph Assaf AO, Australia’s ‘father of multiculturalism’, for this vital legacy of recognition.
I congratulate all nominees and winners and offer the warmest of thanks. Your achievements are a vital part of the story of our Nation’s economic dynamism, innovation, and success.
Her Excellency the Honourable
Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of New South Wales
THE HONOURABLE TONY BURKE MP
MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MINISTER FOR THE ARTS, MINISTER FOR CYBER SECURITY, MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS, LEADER OF THE HOUSE
Congratulations to the finalists and winners of the Ethnic Business Awards 2024.
In this the 35th year of the Ethnic Business Awards, it is important to reflect on the significant role and contribution of migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs to the business landscape in Australia. As we celebrate the innovation, enterprise and drive of the finalists and winners tonight, I thank you. Your commitment to success is what makes Australia a better place to live.
The Founder of the Ethnic Business Awards, Joseph Assaf AO, came to Australia wearing someone else’s shoes, and is now recognised for his distinguished service to multiculturalism and business. Without people like Joseph, who arrive with a suitcase full of dreams, Australia would not be one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world.
The release of the Multicultural Framework Review report, Towards Fairness: A Multicultural Australia for all, highlighted Australia's multicultural achievements and the importance of working together to fully realise the great potential of our diverse population. The Australian Government is committed to the three core principles of Connection, Identity and Belonging, and Inclusion and will be guided by them to ensure that we provide the settings that allow us to harness the talents of all Australians for generations to come.
Since the inception of the Awards, there have been over 21,000 nominations which demonstrates just how coveted these awards are and what a significant achievement it is to be recognised as a finalist.
Congratulations again and enjoy the evening of celebration.
The Hon Tony Burke MP
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Performed by Jessica Di Bartolo
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Performed by ALFIO
WELCOME by Tracey Spicer AM
EBA HIGHLIGHTS REEL
INTRODUCING THE JUDGES
INTERVIEW with Joseph Assaf AO Founder & Chairman of the EBA Foundation
ADDRESS BY THE GUEST OF HONOUR
Representing the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Anthony Albanese. The Hon. Tony Burke MP Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Leader of the House
PRESENTATION OF THE INDIGENOUS IN BUSINESS CATEGORY
Finalists Videos / Stories
INTERVIEW with Tony Geagea Founder and Executive Director, Ethan Global
PRESENTATION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY
Finalists Videos / Stories
INTERVIEW
with The Hon. Scott Morrison 30th Prime Minister of Australia, Member, Sidara Strategic Advisory Board (formerly DAR Group)
PRESENTATION OF THE HENRY NGAI MEDIUM TO LARGE BUSINESS CATEGORY
Finalists Videos / Stories
BREAK FOR DINNER
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE INDIGENOUS IN BUSINESS
AWARD CATEGORY WINNER
by Her Excellency The Hon. Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of New South Wales
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
AWARD CATEGORY WINNER
by The Hon. Tony Burke MP
Representing the Prime Minister, The Hon. Anthony Albanese
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HENRY NGAI MEDIUM TO LARGE BUSINESS AWARD CATEGORY WINNER
by The Hon. Peter Dutton MP
Leader of the Opposition
CONCLUSION by MC Tracey Spicer AM
CLOSE OF PROCEEDINGS
jack reis
BAIDAM BRISBANE, QLD
Baidam is a 100% Australian-owned cybersecurity business. Jack Reis co-founded the company in 2018 with Phillip Jenkinson, their mission being not only to serve customers but also to bridge the digital divide for Indigenous and First Nations communities. They established Baidam to provide employment pathways in the IT sector for Indigenous Australians, addressing issues like intergenerational wealth and economicindependence.
Their company now has offices across Australia and employs over 70 people, dedicating a portion of its profits to creating opportunities for Indigenous peopleincybersecurity.
NATHAN MARTIN
DJURWA
ALEXANDRIA, NSW
Djurwa is a majority Aboriginal-owned recycling and waste management company with a "Profit for Purpose" model. They provide top-tier waste management services to leading construction firms while using their profits to support economic participation and empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, especially those transitioning from the correctional system. Their vision is to rejuvenate lives, communities, and Country. Operating across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, Djurwa aims to create opportunities through education, capacity-building, and employmentforunderrepresentedgroups.
SUE CUTMORE
WAMINDASOUTHCOAST
WOMEN’SHEALTH&WELFARE
NOWRA, NSW
Waminda is an Aboriginal women-led, communitycontrolled health organisation dedicated to empowering Aboriginal women and their families to lead self-determined futures. It provides culturally safe and holistic health and well-being services, focusing on tailored, strength-based care. Founded in 1990 in response to the lack of health services for Aboriginal women, its mission includes addressing colonial oppression, advocating for equitable health outcomes, and creating safe cultural spaces for Aboriginalwomenandfamiliestothrive.
JESSICA STAINES
KOORICURRICULUM WYOMING, NSW
Koori Curriculum, founded by early childhood teacher Jessica Staines, is an Aboriginal early childhood consultancy that offers professional development, resources, and workshops to help educators include Aboriginal perspectives in early childhood curriculums and improve their confidence in teaching First Nations culture and history. The consultancy focuses on breaking down systemic racial inequality through education, aiming to raise a generation of Australians who celebrate Aboriginal culture, while encouraging educators to share their knowledge widely.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 FINALISTS
DORRY KORDAHI
DKM
LANE COVE WEST, NSW
DKM, founded by Lebanese migrant, Dorry Kordahi, exemplifies visionary entrepreneurship and strategic growth. Starting from a garage, its flagship brand Dkm blue is now a leader in promotional marketing and corporate uniforms with a Shanghai hub established over 23 years ago. In 2019, Dorry acquired a major stake in Swanky Socks, growing it from a $40,000 turnover to a major global player with offices in Sydney and London, donating over 100,000 pairs to those in need. In 2024, DKM launched ZipSip, a globally patented sports bottle with a built-in storage compartment. DKM’s brands serve top global clients whilemakingapositiveimpact.
SAILENDRA KUNDRAPU
MYPHYSIOMYHEALTH ADELAIDE, SA
Originally from India, Sailendra Kundrapu founded My Physio My Health in 2007 focusing on providing quality clinical care and effective management. After a challenging legal battle in 2016, the business was rebranded in 2019 and has since expanded to 12 locations across Adelaide. Over the years, the business has grown to a team of 70, offering new job opportunities and training for new graduates and immigrants. Today, My Physio My Health continues to excel in delivering top-notch care and supporting professionaldevelopment.
ignacio ferrer AMAT
PHYSIOMETRICS
LAWNTON, QLD
Founded in 2019 by Spanish migrant Ignacio Ferrer Amat, Physiometrics is a physiotherapy clinic dedicated to care, diversity, and affordability. Despite initial challenges in Australia, Ignacio built the clinic into a trusted healthcare provider, serving over 5,700 clients and receiving referrals from around 50 doctors. Today, Physiometrics offers a range of expanded services, including hydrotherapy, dry needling, chronic pain management, and specialized care for scars and trauma. The clinic's growth is a testament to Ignacio's unwavering commitment to bothhisprofessionandthelocalcommunity.
OSCARSECURITYGROUP CHIPPING NORTON, NSW
Oscar Security Group was founded by Sam Rahif, an immigrant from Iraq with a vision to redefine security services in Sydney by focusing on professionalism, reliability, and personalised service. Initially starting as a subcontractor, the company transitioned to providing direct security services, allowing for better control over service quality and client relationships. This shift enabled Oscar Security Group to offer customized solutions, rapidly expanding its clientele to over 30 major hospitality and corporate clients acrossAustralia.
HENRY NGAI MEDIUM TO LARGE BUSINESS
GAETANO & MARIO BONGIORNO
ALBACHEESEMANUFACTURING TULLAMARINE, VIC
Bringing with them to Australia their father’s cherished Italian cheese-making recipes, Alba Cheese was founded by Mario and Gaetano Bongiorno in the 1960s recognising a market demand for authentic Italian cheese-making techniques in Australia. With a focus on quality and traditional methods, Alba Cheese has become a renowned name in both local and international markets. Now, with over 18 years of export experience, Alba Cheese delivers premium products to over 20 countries, reflecting the high demand for Australian dairy excellence.
HENRY NGAI MEDIUM TO LARGE BUSINESS
DR elie chami
VITEXPHARMACEUTICALS EASTERN CREEK, NSW
Founded in 1989 by Elie Chami, a native of Lebanon, Vitex International Services initially focused on exportingAustraliancomplementarymedicinestothe Middle East. Over the next 35 years, the company expanded into African markets and shifted to manufacturing, becoming Australia's largest supplier of complementary medicines in these regions. By vertically integrating its supply chain, Vitex enhanced efficiency and reduced costs, and in 2017, it opened thecountry'slargestadvancedmanufacturingfacility fortabletsandsoftgelcapsules.
INDRA ANGKOLA ANG
ACEQUALITYPRODUCE
MELBOURNE, VIC
Founded in 2016 by Indonesian entrepreneur Indra Angkola Ang, ACE Quality Produce was established with the mission of delivering the highest quality Australian fruits to international markets. By building strong relationships with local growers and leveraging a deep understanding of market demands, the company quickly became a leading exporter, capturing over 50% of the Indonesian market for grapes, citrus, and stone fruits by 2019. Today, ACE Quality Produce is expanding into farming to ensure a consistent supply of fresh produce and meetthegrowingneedsofitsglobalclientele.
HENRY NGAI MEDIUM TO LARGE BUSINESS
HAYTHAM MOSHI ATS
BUILDINGPRODUCTS
NORTHMEAD, NSW
After arriving in Australia during the Iraq war, Haytham Moshi founded ATS Building Products with just a $12,000 investment in 2003. The business has grown into one of Australia's leading suppliers of timber and building materials. Their approach of directly sourcing from global manufacturers allows them to deliver high-quality products to customers while eliminating traditional supply chain costs while also enabling their business to expand in operations to five major distribution centres across Australia in Sydney,Melbourne,Brisbane,andAdelaide.
An SBS essential service for new Australians, Australia Explained provides practical, multilingual information and resources on employment, housing, health, education, emergency preparation, Indigenous culture and more.
Published weekly, this free multiplatform service helps new migrants and refugees successfully settle and live well in Australia, fully participate in everyday life, and build an improved sense of belonging and connection.
Australia Explained can be used with Learn English, another free SBS service, with videos, podcasts and worksheets available in over 18 languages.
sbs.com.au/AustraliaExplained • sbs.com.au/LearnEnglish
Tracey Spicer is a multiple Walkley Award winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News. She is the inaugural national conveyor of Women in Media.
In 2019 she was named the NSW Premier's Woman of the Year, accepted the Sydney Peace Prize alongside Tarana Burke for the Me Too Movement, and won the national award for Excellence in Women's Leadership through Women & Leadership Australia.
in 2018, Tracey was chosen as one of the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence, winning the Social Enterprise and Not-For-Profit category. For her 30 years of media and charity work, Tracey has been awarded the Order of Australia.
The EBA Foundation is grateful for Tracey's long-standing support and commitment to the Foundation.
"For several years I have been privileged to MC these awards and with every new year, I become more committed to the values and messages that these awards champion. Our world needs good role models. We need stories of resilience and persistence. We need genuine and honest accounts from entrepreneurs, not just the overnight success tales from the media. The EBA Foundation brings us this and much more"
our judges
HON. SIR PETER COSGROVE
(MIL), CVO, MC (Retd)
Born into an army family, Peter Cosgrove attended Waverley College in Sydney before graduating from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1968. His first deployment was in Malaysia with the 1st Battalion RAR and later in Vietnam he commanded an infantry platoon. He served as Commander of INTERFET in East Timor in 1999 overseeing the country’s transition to independence. Then promoted to Chief of Army and later Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
He retired from the ADF in 2005 serving on several boards before becoming a Knight in the Order of Australia when sworn in as GovernorGeneral in 2014 and serving until June 2019. Sir Peter was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Her Majesty the Queen in August 2019.
In retirement, he remains involved with defence, health and other charitable organisations. In January 2020 Sir Peter accepted the voluntary role as chairman of the Business Council of Australia’s Community Rebuilding Initiative in response to the 2019/20 bushfires, leading a group of eminent business and community leaders to work with government and the community in the rebuilding process. AK, AC
EVE CRESTANI
Eve Crestani is an experienced Chairman, Non-Executive Director and Business Consultant. She qualified in law, and has 30 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman, and as chairman of multiple board committees.
She has deep experience in the governance of complex and highly regulated businesses, strategy development, risk management, financial management and transformation. Eve has served on a variety of boards –listed, unlisted and mutual, global and domestic.
Eve is currently Chairman of Acorn Capital, and a Director of Australian Unity Investment Real Estate Limited, Booking.com, Heathley Real Estate Investment Trust and has previously been Chairman of Mercer Super and a long-serving Director of Australian Unity. She also sits on the ASX Disciplinary Tribunal, and has been a Fellow of AICD since its inception. Her pro bono activities include being a Director of Soils For Life.
Eve’s consulting career has been focused on providing strategic advice and transformation implementation to organisations such as KPMG, ING, ASX, HK Securities Institute and Fairfax Interactive. Eve has been a judge since 1999.
our judges
Joseph Healy
Joseph is a co-founder of Judo Bank and a career international banker. He has held executive positions at Lloyds Bank, CIBC World Markets, Citibank, ANZ and NAB where he was a Group Executive/Divisional CEO Business Banking. He holds an MSc (Finance), an MBA, an MSc in International Management (China), an MA in Contemporary Chinese Studies, an MSc in Psychology & Neuroscience, and an MBA (Banking) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London; London Business School; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College, London; and the University of Nottingham in China. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Scotland) and a Senior Fellow of FINSIA. Joseph is the author of four books: Corporate Governance & Shareholder Value (2003); ‘Breaking the Banks: What went wrong with Australian banking?’ (2019); ‘Chinese Firms Going Global –Can They Succeed?’ (2019) and a co-author with David Hornery of ‘Black Belt – a Masterclass for Start-ups and Entrepreneurs’ (2023).
Joseph was a Director of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) from 2009-2019. He was also an advisor to the University Council on the content of undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Finance and was an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland (2015-2019). He is currently a director of the Australian Finance Industry Association (AFIA).
our judges
tHANK YOU TO
our Performers
Jessica Di Bartolo
OUR BOARD
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EBA FOUNDATION LTD
Mr Joseph Assaf AO, Founder and Chairman
Mr Tony Abbott AC
Mr Tony Geagea
Ms Julie Elliott
Mr Sunny Ngai
Dr Van Minh Nguyen
Mr Marko Franovic
Secretary of the Board - Mr Daniel Assaf
On August 21st, we celebrated the launch of the Ethnic Business Awards Alumni Association—a milestone in our 35-year journey, hosted by KPMG. This special event brought together past winners and finalists, honoring the achievements of Australia’s leading migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs. As Patron of the Alumni Association, Sir Peter Cosgrove shared inspiring insights, alongside remarks from the Founder, Mr Joseph Assaf and former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. It was an unforgettable evening dedicated to resilience, unity, and the lasting impact of the Ethnic Business Awards.
