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WWW.ETHNICBUSINESSAWARDS.COM
The Ethnic Business Awards The Ethnic Business Awards (EBA) were created in 1988 by Mr Joseph Assaf AO to recognise the contribution of migrants to Australian business and the economy at large. In 2019 we proudly became a recognised not for profit charity foundation
The EBA’s are the longest running national business awards in the country. They have been attended by most of Australia's leaders. They have also been attended by Ambassadors, Premiers, Ministers, heads of business, Industry and media organisations. The event itself is by invitation only with
“THIS IS THE COUNTRY WHERE I LIKE TO SAY IF YOU HAVE A GO, YOU GET A GO. AND THOSE WHO HAVE COME HERE TONIGHT AS FINALISTS I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR HAVING A GO, AND ENSURING THAT YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSLATE THAT PASSION INTO SOMETHING VERY REAL.”
approximately 300-400 guests attending.
With a rich 32 year history, the awards have
THE HON. SCOTT MORRISON PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA 2018 - PRESENT
had over 21,000 nominations from 102 countries of origin which have resulted in 247 Finalists and 94 Winners. In 2010 the Indigenous in Business Award was created, making it the first of its kind for Australia.
The Awards attract high quality business entries from an incredibly diverse group of nominees. All migrant nominees must be born in any country outside of Australia. The Indigenous nominees are all born in Australia.
CLICK TO VIEW SPEECH
Judges Currently our judges are:General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd) Adam Goodes Eve Crestani Allan Gyngell AO
Sadly we recently lost our longest serving judge, Carla Zampatti AC AM who had been a judge since the awards began in 1988.
Past judges have included:- The late Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO(Mil), CVO, MC (Retd) (2016-2020), Don Argus AC AO (2008 - 2014), Ziggy Switkowski (2008 - 2011), King Fong OAM (1988- 2006), Joseph Elu AO (2010 - 2012) the late John Saunders (1988 - 1997), and the late Sir Nicholas Shehadie (1988 – 1998).
EBA Board Joseph Assaf AO (Chairman and Founder) The Hon Tony Abbott AC Tony Geagea Dr Van Nguyen Sunny Ngai Marko Franovic
“I THINK THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE AWARDS IS THAT THEY’RE NOT SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO AUSTRALIA AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAVE OVERCOME AND THE SUCCESSES THAT THEY HAVE HAD, BUT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH IN THE BROADEST SENSE OF THAT TERM. SO I SEE THESE AS AUSTRALIAN STORIES AS MUCH AS I SEE THEM AS ETHNIC OR INDIGENOUS STORIES.” ALLAN GYNGELL AO
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The three Awards Categories
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Small Business (with a turnover less than or equal to $10 million per annum)
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Medium-Large Business (with a turnover greater than $10 million per annum)
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Indigenous in Business Open category for Indigenous Business owners
Click to watch a link to a short four minute highlight video of the awards which captures much of the spirit and importance of the awards.
The Ethnic Business Awards Reach Since inception the Awards have been televised nationally.
In the last decade SBS as a sponsoring partner, has supported the awards with a minimum of two national screenings, each one being approximately two hours as well as additional coverage on SBS radio. NITV (National Indigenous TV) feature one broadcast of approximately two hours and Aurora Community Channel (173 Foxtel) screens the Awards approximately six times throughout the year with each one being approximately two hours.
In 2019 the EBA’s were broadcast via Facebook Livestream and reached 70,000 + viewers.
There is also extensive coverage through various media outlets especially non english media outlets in the following foreign language publications Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian and Greek.
In 2013 the Awards were held in the Great Hall of
"THIS IS A RATHER HEALTHY OPTION FOR THOSE ON A STRICT DIET"
Parliament House as part of the Centenary Celebrations of Canberra. It was also the 25th anniversary of the awards. There were no calls for nominations that year however all previous finalists and winners competed for what we called the Champion of Champions.
On the occasion the Founder's speech drew attention to the mammoth financial success of people who are migrants and born overseas.This speech has been quoted many times since.
A commemorative book - "25 years of Celebrating Diversity " was also produced to mark the occasion.
Click here to listen to the Founder and Chairman's speech.
THE ETHNIC BUSINESS AWARDS FOUNDATION
The Vision WHAT THESE AWARDS BRING TO THE NATION The vision for the Ethnic Business Awards:-
To recognise and reward the contribution of migrants to the business landscape of Australia.
To celebrate and highlight the myriad of benefits that cultural diversity brings to the nation, including the rich cultural heritage of our First Australians, the Aborigines.
To provide role models for migrant and indigenous communities to emulate.
Quotes...
Over a rich 32 year history the Ethnic Business Awards have been attended by almost every sitting Prime Minister. All are deeply moved and humbled by the contributions made by the finalists.
The Founder JOSEPH ASSAF AO In 1967, at the age of 22, with no English, no money and no family, Joseph migrated to Australia from Lebanon in someone else’s shoes.
In 1977, Joseph pioneered multicultural
communication through his company Ethnic Communications, the world's first agency to
"Joseph has made a towering contribution to multiculturalism and to the business community. His deep commitment to the values of innovation, tolerance and social equity has become legendary.”
specialize in multicultural marketing. He also founded Multicultural Marketing News, a free
— The Hon Julia Gillard - 27th Prime Minister of Australia
specialist magazine.
In 1988, Joseph founded the Ethnic Business Awards. These awards continue to celebrate the diversity and highlight the contribution migrants and Indigenous Australians have brought to the nation.
In 2018 the National Archives of Australia produced a documentary on Joseph. This is his story in his own words.
Click here to view the interview.
