Ethnic Business Awards Foundation Launches Alumni Association

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 Ceremony, 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 small
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] weapon 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.