Ethnic Business Awards Foundation Launches Alumni Association

Aug 29

The Ethnic Business Awards Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of its Alumni Association, an initiative designed to unite past winners and finalists of the prestigious awards. The inaugural event took place on Wednesday 21 August and was generously hosted by EBA Sponsor, KPMG at their stunning Sydney office in Barangaroo. This marked a significant milestone in fostering new partnerships and collaborations among Australia's most successful and innovative entrepreneurs.

KPMG Partner, Pierre Wakim was the Master of Ceremonies, while Andrew Yates, CEO of KPMG, opened the evening by welcoming the distinguished guests and expressing his deep support for the initiative. He stated, "KPMG is really pleased and honoured to be hosting the inaugural Alumni event and to recognise migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs. We are absolutely committed to supporting ethnically diverse businesses in Australia. KPMG and Ethnic Business Awards Foundation have strong alignment in our support for businesses."

Joseph Assaf, Founder and Chairman of the Ethnic Business Awards further underscored the Awards' mission, which has always been to build bridges between communities and nations. He remarked, "The global bridge is the most [powerful] tool Australia can use to stay as a successful, harmonious country in the world."

The event was elevated by the presence of the EBA’s esteemed judges and board members, including prominent figures such as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott who is a member of the EBA Board and former Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes, who is a judge of the EBA. Their attendance highlighted the deep connections and continued commitment to the ethos of the Ethnic Business Awards.

A keynote address was delivered by the Patron of the Alumni Association and EBA Judge, former Governor General of Australia, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, who shared a poignant and reflective message about the resilience required to succeed in Australia. He highlighted the significance of the awards in the broader national context by commenting on the entries from this year; “All these entries show us the most wonderful endeavour, the most vibrant and important part of the national economy and are the beacon light to every other group; Indigenous Australians of course, and those who most recently arrived.”

The evening also featured a compelling panel discussion chaired by Helen Zhi Dent, KPMG Partner, with three past winners from the last 35 years of EBA: Sue Ismiel of Nad’s (1999 Small Business Category Winner and 2013 Champion of Champions Finalist), Dr. Van Minh Nguyen of Dyvest Group (2017 Medium-Large Business Category Winner), and Fung Lam of New Aim (2023 Medium-Large Business Category Winner). Their candid stories provided invaluable insights into their entrepreneurial journeys and underscored the lasting impact of the Ethnic Business Awards on their continued success.

The launch event was attended by over 100 guests, including notable winners from the last 35 years. Among them were Sunny Ngai, Managing Director of ABC Tissues; David Giang of Daily Sunrise Newspaper; and Humberto Urriola of Atlantis Corporation, the very first winner of the Ethnic Business Awards in 1988. The presence of these guests added a sense of legacy and continuity to the evening, celebrating the long-standing influence of the EBA.

Tony Abbott concluded the evening by giving a vote of thanks and remarked that “Tonight is a celebration of modern Australia.” He spoke about how modern Australia is comprised of an Indigenous heritage, a British Foundation and an immigrant character. “Our diversity is a fact; but we should stress our unity at least as much as our diversity”.

The establishment of the Alumni Association represents a significant chapter in the Ethnic Business Awards Foundation, coinciding with the celebration of its 35th anniversary. This initiative reinforces the foundation’s unwavering commitment to recognising and supporting migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs and leaders across Australia, ensuring that their contributions to the nation’s economic and social fabric continue to be celebrated and nurtured.