Elevating Asian-Australian
Leadership

celebrating excellence
since 2019

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An initiative of:

Elevating Asian-Australian leadership

Since 2019, Johnson Partners and Asialink have proudly co-convened the Asian-Australian Leadership Awards – previously known as the ‘40 under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australian Awards’ – to recognise and celebrate the outstanding leadership and contributions of Asian-Australians. Supporting partners in prior years were the ANU Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership (CAAL) and PWC.

Now in its seventh year, the Awards seek to reshape the debate and confront Australia’s “bamboo ceiling” – the under representation of Asian-Australians in leadership positions.

As communities, companies and governments rethink leadership for the challenges facing society ahead, now is the time to propel the leadership capabilities that exist within the Asian-Australian community and promote the immense contributions they make to Australia.

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2025 Asian Australian Leadership Awards

Are you someone making a difference in your community? Do you demonstrate excellence in leadership and have a commitment to Australia’s engagement with Asia?

Applications for the 2025 Asian Australian Leadership Awards are open! Applications close Monday 4 August 2025.

apply for the 2025 awards

VOICES

Alice Pung: "Diversity is valued when people feel safe"

Alice Pung provides her views on racism in Australia and includes personal anecdotes from growing up in Melbourne's west.

“There is a tendency for us to seek perfection before we speak”

It was only after completing her medical degree and beginning her specialisation that she realised the transition in communication that she had to make in order to progress in her career.

Peter Varghese: “Australia is a highly assimilationist culture”

“While multiculturalism has become the leitmotif of how we describe the country, I think at its heart those who are successful in Australia are those that assimilate into Australia,’ says Peter Varghese AO.