Twenty-one Aussie entrepreneurs in the running for 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year

Prominent entrepreneurs working to build a circular economy, provide meals to those in need, and create more sustainable shopping choices are among the 21 Australian finalists for the 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. 

Circonomy founder Yasmin Grigaliunas and Who Gives A Crap co-founder Simon Griffiths have been selected among the finalists from the northern and southern regions, respectively, and are now in the running to be named Australia’s next EY Entrepreneur of the Year in March 2024. 

They are joined by Biopak’s Gary Smith and Natraplas’ Renzo Petersen, both in the packaging industry; Shaun Christie-David, founder of hospitality social enterprise Plate It Forward; and Stephanie Malan, co-founder and CEO of The Village Co, a charity that supports new mums.

Also on the list are Ultra Violette founders Rebecca Jefferd and Ava Chandler-Matthews; Frank Mitolo from potato grower Mitolo Family Farms; and Mike Tristram, CEO of the five-generation family business, Trisco Foods. 

The Australian winner will then go on to represent the country at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monaco in June 2024. 

The national winner will join an illustrious group of past winners that includes Chemist Warehouse co-founder and chair Jack Gance (2023), Torrens University Australia’s Linda Brown (2021), Mecca founder Jo Horgan (2018), Seek’s Andrew Bassat (2013) and Atlassian founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar (2006). 

In 2016, the 2015 winner, Moose Toys’ Manny Sul, became the first Australian entrepreneur to win the global award in 2016. 

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year award has been presented since 2001, and in Australia the program has recognised the achievements of more than 1,700 entrepreneurs. 

EY Australia partner Russell Phillps, who leads the Australian awards program, described this year’s regional finalists as having “relentlessly pursued their vision for a better, brighter world – from producing sustainable alternatives to single-use packaging, to using technology to transform the way people interact with public places and major events”. 

“Together, our finalists are a testament to Australia’s entrepreneurial spirit,” he added in a statement.

“They combine vision and innovation with action, turning an idea into a successful business – their own work of art.”

Previous winner Linda Brown will chair this year’s judging panel, which will assess the finalists on their “demonstration of entrepreneurial spirit, national and global impact, strategic direction and purpose”, said EY.

A non-competitive Social Impact Award will also be awarded to an entrepreneur who is working to “solve some of society’s toughest challenges to help build a better working world” through innovation. 

The Australian finalists for the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award are:

Central region

• Shaun Williamson, Energy LogistiX
• Frank Mitolo, Mitolo Family Farms
• Stephanie Malan, The Village Co
• Patrick Power, PowerHealth

Eastern region

• Rachel Brimblecombe, Better Rehab
• Gary Smith, BioPak
• Lloyd Ernst, Cloudstaff
• James Lancaster, Renew IT
• Shaun Christie-David, Plate It Forward
• Marc Washbourne, ReadyTech

Northern region

• Mike Tristram, Trisco Foods
• Yasmin Grigaliunas, Circonomy

Southern region

• Rebecca Jefferd and Ava Chandler-Matthews, Ultra Violette
• Paul Yeomans, PMY Group
• Simon Griffiths, Who Gives A Crap
• Chris Cook, LAB3

Western region

• Andrew Holder, Revo Fitness
• Lynley Papineau, Aquatic Leisure Technologies
• Anthony Routledge, AVI
• Renzo Petersen, Natraplas
• Tim Levy, Qoria Limited

More information about the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards is available here.