Running for 27 years now, the Ethnic Business Awards celebrate diversity and multiculturalism by honouring the contribution of people who came to Australia and left their mark in the land of opportunity.
Entries were accepted from migrants and first generation Australians who have achieved success in three categories: small business, medium to large business and Indigenous business.
Among the 2015 finalists are Christos Partsioglou in the small business category and John Halikos competing in the medium to large division.
Meanwhile, a representative of the ‘stolen generation’, Sidney Rusca, who runs an earthmoving company of more than 300 employees, is among the candidatures that stood out in the Indigenous category.
“These finalists have all displayed hard work, enterprise and innovation, overcoming hurdles to succeed against the odds,” awards founder and chairman, Mr Joseph Assaf AM, said.
Mr Partsioglou is the owner of an artisan chocolate shop and cafe in Kew East and a second branch in Canterbury.
On migrating to Australia in 1970 with his parents and only a suitcase for a family of five, Mr Partsioglou could never have predicted what the future had in store for him down under.
After spending some years in the rag trade he decided to pursue his passion and opened Xocolatl with his wife and daughters.
The family is carrying out all aspects of the business, from sourcing the raw ingredients and making the chocolates to branding and retail.
“We don’t measure success by the bottom line of balances at the end of the year, we measure it by what we get out of it as individuals.
“As long as we are happy to come in to work every day we see it as a successful business,” Mr Partsioglou told Neos Kosmos.
John Halikos, founder and director of the Halikos Group, a Darwin-based construction enterprise, settled in Australia in the early 1960s.
Following his father’s advice to work hard he opened Halikos Roofing Pty Ltd in 1987.
What started as a small venture grew to be one of the largest property development companies in the Northern Territory, comprising six operational divisions and a workforce of more than 350 people.
“I am very proud to be announced as a finalist for the prestigious Ethnic Business Awards for 2015. I feel very humble to be included in this list alongside some of Australia’s most successful business people,” Mr Halikos said.
The award ceremony will take place at the Grand Ballroom, Hilton Hotel in Adelaide, on Friday 6 November.
Winners will receive a prize of $10,000 from the the National Australia Bank, founding partner of the awards. Neos Kosmos is also a sponsor of the event.
A broadcast of the ceremony will screen on Saturday 14 November (3.30-5.30 pm) and Saturday 21 November (7.30-9.30 pm) on NITV.