The Asian-Australian Leadership Awards have once again shone a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of Asian-Australians across the nation, celebrating excellence in leadership, community impact and representation. Organised by Asialink at the University of Melbourne, the 2025 awards honoured individuals from diverse fields including science, medicine, the arts, public service, business, media and community advocacy.
At the centre of this year’s ceremony was neuroscientist and global-health innovator Dr Sonu Bhaskar, who was named the Overall Winner for 2025. His pioneering work in neurology, stroke research and health equity has positioned him as one of the most influential Asian-Australian leaders of his generation.
A Journey from Neurodivergence to Global Leadership
Dr Bhaskar’s story began far from the bright stage lights of Melbourne. Growing up as a neurodivergent child in India, he often felt unseen – yet found solace in books read by the glow of a kerosene lamp.
“It was in that small circle of light that my journey began,” he said. Accepting the award, he described the honour as “a message sent back through time.”
Reflecting on the importance of belonging and diversity, he added:
“The equality and sense of diversity we have is quite fragile. We need events like this to remind everyone that we are all Australian – and all part of this society.”
Dr Bhaskar also addressed recent hostility directed at Indian-Australians, stating:
“The discrimination we face does not define us. We must get better, and the best way to be a better Indian-Australian is to serve our community. That hyphen in Asian-Australian is not a barrier – it is a bridge.”
His words were met with a standing ovation.
Celebrating Excellence Across Multiple Sectors
Beyond the top honour, the awards recognised outstanding achievements across a wide range of categories:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Hieu Van Le AC, former South Australian Governor, for his decades of public service and contributions to multicultural Australia.
- Arts & Culture: Lyn Dickens
- Community & Advocacy / Not-for-Profit: Alex Lee
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Sangeeta Mulchandani
- Education: Carys Chan
- Corporate: Ferdy Bong
- Media & Journalism: Neary Ty
- Public Sector / Government: Cynthia Yuan
- Legal & Professional Services: Christina Choi
- Science: Dr Haihui Joy Jiang
- Medicine: Dr Eric Chow
- Sports: Usman Khawaja
- Under-25 Rising Star: Annie Zhou
The breadth of talent reflects the wide-ranging contributions of Asian-Australians to national life.
Powerful Stories of Identity and Belonging
Among the most emotional speeches of the night was that of Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, who won the award for Sports Leadership.
“Growing up, I was embarrassed about being Asian,” he admitted.
“All I wanted was to be ‘Australian’. Today, I can proudly say I am both – an Australian with Asian heritage. That means the world to me.”
His message of pride and dual identity resonated strongly with the audience.
Young Leaders Lighting the Path Forward
This year’s Under-25 Rising Star, 18-year-old Annie Zhou, is already driving impact across continents. Her work in financial literacy training supports disadvantaged students across Australia, Asia and Africa. She also hosts the Brighter Futures Youth podcast, interviewing global leaders to help young people navigate careers and leadership.
“There are many more Asian-Australian leaders to come,” she said with confidence.
In the corporate category, Ferdy Bong, who migrated from Indonesia after high school and now leads major retail expansion into China, dedicated his award to “the strong support system” behind him.
“I hope what I’ve achieved can inspire others,” he said.
A Celebration – and a Call for Greater Diversity
Now in its seventh year, the Asian-Australian Leadership Awards are both a celebration of achievement and a reminder of the work still to be done.
Martine Letts, Group CEO of Asialink, highlighted the persistent under-representation of Asian-Australians in leadership roles.
“Only five people of Asian background hold leadership positions in ASX 100 companies, despite Asian-Australians making up about one-fifth of the population,” she said.
“It is almost negligent for Australian companies not to embrace the advantage of Asian-Australian leaders who bring insights into the world’s most dynamic region.”
Honouring Leadership, Inspiring the Future
As the night concluded, a clear message echoed through the room: Asian-Australians are shaping Australia’s cultural, economic and social future in profound ways. Their stories – from science labs to sports fields, boardrooms to classrooms – are redefining what leadership looks like in modern Australia.
And at the heart of it all stood Dr Sonu Bhaskar, whose journey from a small Indian village to national leader embodies resilience, excellence and the power of representation.
