Meet our Entrepreneur Of The Year judges

Naomi Simson is one of Australia’s foremost business leaders, having founded the experience retailer RedBalloon in 2001. In 2017, she co-founded the Big Red Group (BRG), which is now the largest experience platform in Australia and New Zealand.

Naomi is passionate about sharing her expertise. A blogger and commentator at naomisimson.com, she appeared in four seasons of Shark Tank Australia. Her podcast, Handpicked enables her to provide business mentoring for others.

Naomi sits on a number of boards, including WeebitNano Limited [ASX:WBT] and Colonial First State. She is a governor of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation.

David Hyman is the founder and CEO of monō ai, the Australian-built AI platform helping global enterprises go AI-native.

As co-founder and CEO of Lendi Group, David scaled the business into Australia's largest non-bank mortgage platform, with a $110 billion loan book, 5 million customers, $354 million in annual revenue, 1,350 brokers and 215 retail stores. He led the merger with Aussie Home Loans, was a joint finalist (with co-founder Sebastian Watkins) at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards and drove one of Australia's most ambitious AI-native transformations in financial services — collapsing development cycles from twelve weeks to twelve days.

Hyman remains on the Lendi Group board and continues to advise the company on AI strategy. His focus is now monō ai, closing the gap between AI ambition and operational reality in weeks, not quarters.

Janine Allis is a trailblazing entrepreneur. In 2000, she launched Boost Juice Bars, building it into an international brand with over 900 stores across 13 countries. Her collaborative approach helped shape Retail Zoo, which brings together brands like Betty’s Burgers and Salsa’s Fresh Mex Grill. Janine is also the co-owner of Yo-Chi, Australia’s leading frozen yogurt brand, expanding the reach of innovative retail concepts.

Her impact has been recognised with accolades including the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year award, a place in BRW’s top 15 business revolutionaries of the past 25 years, and induction into the Australian Business Women’s Hall of Fame.

A bestselling author and familiar face on Shark Tank, Australian Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, and Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, Janine now mentors aspiring leaders through The Business Academy, her online education platform.

Michael Malone co-founded iiNet in 1993 and continues as CEO for over twenty years. He also co-founded Diamond Cyber Security, auDA and Autism West. He presently serves on the board of Temple & Webster, Jumbo Interactive, and Health Engine Ltd.

Michael was recognised as the Entrepreneur Of The Year for 2012 and represented Australia in Monaco.

Tony is Managing Director of Private Equity at Pacific Equity Partners, one of Australia’s leading private market investment firms. In his over 20-year career in private equity, Tony has invested approximately $4bn equity across 17 platform businesses, in sectors including consumer products, industrials, education, healthcare /medtech, business and financial services, and renewable energy.

Prior to joining Pacific Equity Partners, Tony was a Partner at global strategy consulting firm, Bain & Company. During his time there he led the consumer and retail practice and Private Equity practice in Australia.