Joseph Assaf

Joseph Assaf is a Lebanese-born Australian businessman and founder of the Ethnic Business Awards.

Biography

Assaf was born in Hardine, a village in the Batroun District, 80 km from Beirut, Lebanon. His first language was Arabic, and he undertook his schooling in French. In 1967, at the age of 22, he migrated to Australia from Lebanon.
In 1988, Assaf founded the Ethnic Business Awards.
In 2008, Jascom International Pty Ltd published Assaf's book In Someone Else's Shoes, a memoir detailing his experiences as a migrant in Australia. It also explores his understanding of Australian society in the context of multiculturalism.
In June 2013, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the appointment of Assaf to the Civil Society 20 group – the C20 – as part of the wider engagement process for the G20 meeting in Australia in 2014.
In 2014, Assaf was interviewed for the National Archives of Australia's touring exhibition for the National Collecting Institution's Touring and Outreach Program.

Honours and awards

On 14 June 2010, Assaf was named a Member of the Order of Australia "for service to multiculturalism, to business in the fields of marketing and communications, and to the community as a supporter of a range of charitable organisations."
On 11 June 2018, Assaf was named an Officer of the Order of Australia "for distinguished service to multiculturalism, and to business, as a supporter of community education projects for people from linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to cultural harmony and inclusion."
In 2019 the City of Canada Bay in New South Wales named Assaf citizen of the year.