Lord Mayor's Multicultural Awards for Business announced

Winners of the 2021 Lord Mayor's Multicultural Awards for Business were announced at the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Dinner and Awards on Thursday, 28 October.

The annual awards celebrate the contribution multicultural businesses make to the Brisbane economy and community through their creativity, innovation and resilience.

2021 award winners

Nick Xynias Multicultural Young Business Person of the Year - Mr Ashawani Soni, Holistic Home Care

This award recognises the success, creativity and energy of a multicultural young business leader under the age of 35, celebrating both their contribution to their community and that of Brisbane’s continued economic prosperity.

Ashawani Soni dreamt of a life in Australia, so he made the difficult decision to leave his family in India to migrate to Queensland in 2006. Ashawani has over a decade of experience in the aged care sector and, at the age of 30, he branched out on his own and established Holistic Home Care in 2018. Holistic Home Care, now operating with 75 employees, is a certified and registered provider. He founded his business based on progressive transformational leadership skills and a strong sense of determination to grow organically and sustainably. Ashawani is passionate about giving back to the community.

Multicultural Business Person of the Year - Mr Harish Arora, OZ Labouforce

This award recognises a multicultural Brisbane business leader who successfully exports their products and services from Brisbane, throughout Australia, and/or across Asia Pacific or internationally. The award celebrates the recipient’s contribution to the Brisbane economy and recognises them as a local champion of enterprise with a global outlook for their business.

Harish Arora was born in Kapurthala, India, and migrated to Australia in 2007. Harish initially came to study, but then made Australia his home. From a poor beginning with $200 in his pocket, working three jobs to support his study, he has built a national specialised logistics services company employing over 200 staff. OZ Labourforce services supply chains by unpacking shipping containers. Harish took his family lounge room business to a corporate model by expanding services to other countries including New Zealand, North America and Canada.

Multicultural Entrepreneur of the Year - Mrs Rejoice Thomson, Dovetail Social

This award recognises a multicultural Brisbane business leader that demonstrates through their business success, entrepreneurial flair, embedding a culture of innovation as a central pillar to their growth strategy. The recipient will personify the best in entrepreneurialism, possessing qualities from clear leadership and sound management to determination and ambition.

Rejoice Thomson was born in the Philippines, relocating to Brisbane in 2009. A qualified pastry chef, Rejoice is the proud owner of Dovetail Social, a much loved Brisbane cafe in Highgate Hill. Rejoice has embraced her cultural heritage and showcases Filipino influences in her food, desserts, and her now famous ‘Ambassador’s High Tea’, was recently served to the Philippines Ambassador to Australia, Hon. Hellen De La Vega. She was the recipient of the Queensland Filipino Australian Women Achievement Award in 2018 and is active in her local Filipino community as a radio broadcaster on 4EB Community Radio.