This Harmony Day, we’re celebrating successful Aussie business owners, who are also immigrants.
Australia has long been a land of immigrants. Despite facing unique challenges as immigrants, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to resources, these business owners have demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. They have all shown that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for creating opportunities, building communities and driving positive change.
This Harmony Day, we’re celebrating some of our most well-known immigrant entrepreneurs.
Frank Lowy - Australian-Israeli entrepreneur
Frank Lowy is an Australian-Israeli entrepreneur and philanthropist. He co-founded the Westfield Corporation, a multinational shopping centre company that operates in several countries. Lowy was born in Czechoslovakia and migrated to Israel before eventually settling in Australia in the 1950s. He has been recognised for his entrepreneurial success with numerous awards, including the Companion of the Order of Australia in 2017.
Ruslan Kogan - Australian-Belarusian entrepreneur
Ruslan Kogan is a Belarusian-Australian entrepreneur who founded Kogan.com, an online retailer that offers consumer electronics, home appliances and other products. Kogan immigrated to Australia with his family when he was a child and started his business in 2006. Since then, Kogan.com has grown rapidly and now has over 2 million customers. Kogan has been recognised for his success with numerous awards, including the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011.
Tan Le - Australian-Vietnamese Entrepreneur
Tan Le is an Australian immigrant entrepreneur of Vietnamese descent. She is the founder and CEO of Emotiv, a company that creates wearable headsets that allow users to control technology with their minds. Le came to Australia with her family as a refugee at the age of four and went on to study law and commerce at Monash University. In 1998, Le was awarded the title of Young Australian of the Year for her work in neuroscience and technology.
Manny Stul - Australian-Polish Entrepreneur
Manny Stul is a Polish-born Australian entrepreneur who is the CEO of Moose Toys, a company that specialises in the design and manufacture of children’s toys. Stul immigrated to Australia in 1950 and went on to build Moose Toys into one of the world’s largest toy companies, with products sold in more than 100 countries. He has been recognised for his entrepreneurship with numerous awards, including the Australian Export Hero award in 2015.
These are just a few examples of the many immigrant entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on the Australian business landscape. Their stories remind us that diversity and innovation go hand in hand, and that immigrants have a valuable role to play in shaping the future of Australia’s economy and society. As Australia continues to welcome immigrants from around the world, it is important to celebrate and support their contributions to the country’s business ecosystem. By fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration and entrepreneurship, we can create a brighter future for all Australians.
