Joseph Assaf

Joseph Assaf AO (Arabic: جوزيف عساف; born 1944) is an Australian businessman and expert in the field of communication to multicultural audiences. He became a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the Queen's birthday 2010 honor list for his work in this field.[1] In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Migration and Settlement Council and in 2018, was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 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.[2] He is also known for being the founder of the Ethnic Business Awards,[3] and in 2018 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Awards, recognizing the success against the odds of migrant and Indigenous in Australia's business landscape.

Joseph Assaf AO at the 30th Annual Ethnic Business Awards

Biography

In 1977 Joseph established Ethnic Communications, the world's first agency to specialize in multicultural marketing. He also founded Multicultural Marketing News, a free specialist magazine. Assaf has been an advisor for many public and private institutions on Multicultural Communication. He sat on many boards and worked on many policies.

In 1988 Joseph Assaf founded the Ethnic Business Awards, which today stands as the longest running business awards in Australia. Acting as "a continuous reminder and celebration of the great and positive contributions of migrants to our country."[4] In 2018, the Awards celebrated their 30th Anniversary. The Annual Ethnic Business Awards Gala Presentation Dinners have been held in all major capital cities of Australia. More than 21,000 people have nominated for the Awards, hailing from 102 countries of origin and cover a diversity of industries and services.

In 2008, Joseph Assaf published In Someone Else’s Shoes, a memoir detailing his experiences as a migrant in Australia and also exploring his understanding of the nature of Australian society in the context of multiculturalism. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said of the book that it "is a great story writ large about the lives of so many who have come to this country from afar and made this country great.".[5]

This book was electronically re-released on Amazon.com, becoming an online best-seller in 2013.

Joseph has served on many boards, councils and committees including:

  • Member of the National Multicultural Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
  • Member of External Reference Group looking into illegal migrants
  • Member of External Reference Group looking into review of Independent and Skilled Migrants
  • Member for the Australian Foundation for Culture and the Humanities,
  • Director of the Australian Constitutional Centenary Foundation
  • Founding member of the Council for Australian Arab Relations which sits within DFAT.
  • In 2014 appointed member of the Civil Society 20 Group (C20) - a steering committee for the G20 Summit
  • Member of the Advisory Board for The Australian Centre on China in the World

Joseph is considered a pioneer of multicultural marketing. He has been a guest speaker on the topic of multiculturalism and diversity nationally and internationally.

He has received many other awards and recognitions.

References
  1. Nakhoul, Ghassan 'Generosity of the spirit rewarded', SBS Arabic, 16 June 2010. retrieved at http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/arabic/highlight/page/id/90837/t/Generosity-of-the-spirit-rewarded/in/english
  2. Derkley, Evahn (8 June 2018). "The Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours List". www.gg.gov.au. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. "Ethnic Business Awards 30th Anniversary".
  4. Nakhoul, as above at n 1.
  5. Speech by Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, 2008 Ethnic Business Awards, retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcifbqqkn3k&feature=player_embedded#! on 06/08/2010
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