Wa Kazoku Holding - Outstanding Young Entrepreneur

Multi-award-winning WA KAZOKU Group lives by our mission of "Connecting People, Enriching Communities”. Since launch, we’ve grown to become a fixture of Melbourne’s dining landscape with beloved local venues like Jerry Joy Café, Finders Keepers Café, Prefisso 3088, Little Tienda, and Docasa. Beyond hospitality, we have ventured into early childhood education through Nexus Early Learning centre and property development with our soon to be unveiled JWT Whitehorse Project in Blackburn, VIC.

I came to Australia from Malaysia nine years ago to pursue higher education, earning a degree in Management and a Master’s in Business IT. While working in the corporate sector, I became increasingly dissatisfied, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, where remote work led to isolation and burnout. Realising I wanted a more fulfilling path involving hands-on leadership, personal connection and a sense of community, I set my sights on business ownership.

In August 2020, I took a bold step and purchased my first café, a modest, hole-in-the-wall takeaway spot, for just $7,000. With minimal staff and limited turnover, I took on every role myself, from barista to chef. Over the next two years, I acquired two more small cafes, working tirelessly to keep them afloat during the challenging lockdowns in Melbourne.

By early 2022, I was almost ready to give up. I decided to sell my cafés and briefly considered returning to Malaysia. However, I felt I hadn’t fully realised my potential as a business owner and decided to re-enter the industry with a clear vision: to create businesses that do more than just turn a profit. I shifted my focus to building businesses I could work on, not in, allowing me the strategic headspace to lead and grow my company effectively.

At only 28, I have transformed WA KAZOKU Group from a small café operation into a thriving, multi-award-winning enterprise. Today, I own four vibrant cafés, a popular restaurant, and an early learning centre, and I am developing a mixed-use property that will further expand my hospitality and community-focused offerings.