Joseph Assaf is an Australian businessman and expert in the field of communication to multicultural audiences. He became a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's birthday 2010 honor list for his work in this field. 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 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. He is also known for being the founder of the Ethnic Business Awards, 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.
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." 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 MinisterKevin 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.". 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
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.
