Entrepreneurs, startup luminaries, and SME advocates recognised in 2024 Australia Day honours

Small business leaders, startup luminaries, and advocates for local traders have been recognised in the Australia Day 2024 honours list, reflecting the very best of entrepreneurialism and its positive effects for the broader community.

The business sector was broadly represented in Australia’s highest civilian honour, with the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) awarded to Catherine Livingstone, former chair of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Livingstone, who also served as chair of Telstra, president of the Business Council of Australia, and Chief Executive Women, was recognised for her “eminent service to business” through governance and strategic reform.

Australia’s vibrant small business and startup scenes were reflected by new inductees to the Member of the Order of Australia, including:

• Lynette Adamson, founding director of Kaata Tidje, Indijicorp, and Blue Waters Tourism, for significant service to the Indigenous community, and to business,
• Mark Cubit, business advisor to Who Gives A Crap, and director of The Crap Foundation, for significant service to the community through charitable organisations,
• Susanne Dahn, investor adviser, partner, and consultant at Pitcher Partners, for significant service to business, to the finance sector, and to the community,
• Carmen Garcia, member of the Australian Multicultural Council, and leader of the South Australian Migrant Small Business Expo, for significant service to the multicultural community through diversity and inclusion advocacy and progams,
• Amanda Gome, founder and chief executive officer of Notable Media, founder and former CEO of SmartCompany, and former CEO of its publisher, Private Media, for significant service to media, to business, and to women,
• Jordan Green, chairman emeritus of the Australian Association of Angel Investors, for significant service to business, particularly through angel investing, and to professional associations,
• David Koch, former Sunrise co-host, former presenter of Kochie’s Business Insider, and founder and director of Kochie’s Business Builders, for significant service to media as a television presenter, and to economic journalism,
• Jimy Liaskos, an entrepreneur, former CEO of Austrim Textiles, lifetime member of the Australian Fashion Council, and director of AirLift Hovercraft, for significant service to business and to industry as a leader and mentor,
• Raymond Spencer, chair and co-owner of Hentley Farm Wines, and director of Zero Co Australia, for significant service to business, and to the community through a range of organisations.

The SME and startup sector was further represented by new recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia, including:

• Richard Adams, inaugural president of the Mogo Village Business Chamber, and owner of Hidden Treasures Mogo, for service to the community of Mogo — including after the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires,
• Julie Adams, co-founder and director of View Health Pty Ltd, co-founder and managing director of Chemo@Home, and recipient of the SME Supplier Award Commendation from SA Health in 2020, for service to pharmaceutical oncology,
• John Chapman, South Australian Small Business Commissioner between 2014-2021, for service to public administration in South Australia,
• Denise Edwards, foundation member and director of The Cryogenics Group, and winner of the Indigenous Business Excellence category at the 2022 Telstra Business Awards, for service to business,
• Kevin Fitzpatrick, a philanthropist, and co-founder, chairman and managing director of Wotif.com between 1999-2007, service to the community through a range of roles,
• Peter Levi, founder and executive director of popular toy brand Colorific between 1990-2022, and longtime member of the Australian Toy Association, for service to business, and to the community,
• Dominique Mecoy, CEO of Leadership WA since 2018, and chair of the Leadership Network since 2022, for service to business, and to the community,
• Charles Tuckey, former WA Member for O’Connor, who served as Shadow Minister for Small Business and in related shadow ministries, for service to the people and Parliament of Australia,
• Corina Vucic, committee member for the Victorian chapter of the Franchise Council of Australia since 2007, and member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s , Small Business and Franchising Consultative Committee, for service to business, and to the community.

You can access the full list of Australia Day 2024 honours list recipients here.