Catalysr founder Usman Iftikhar honoured as Western Sydney’s Champion, with Atlassian’s co-founders named the city’s best in global business

Despite his degree, Iftikhar was turned down in hundreds of job applications. So he took matters into his own hand and launched startup pre-accelerator for new migrants and refugees. In just five years, Catalyser has supported 520 migrapreneurs, or high performing migrant and refugee entrepreneurs, to launch 175 enterprises.

“I was doing lots of casual work, like working at BP and 7-Eleven and so on, so I thought why not start my own business,” he said.

“I got this golden insight, if I can solve a problem that I’ve personally faced – well I’m a migrant and I’m trying to start a business, wouldn’t it be amazing if we had an incubator focused on new migrants and refugees.

“What’s amazing about Western Sydney is it’s a melting pot of so many different cultures and peoples, so when we think about entrepreneurship, being based in western Sydney gives you that unique opportunity not only to work with people from different backgrounds but also to try to tackle problems a bit differently.”

Iftikhar said there are so many amazing people in Western Sydney doing fantastic work.

“I’m just grateful to be chosen for this and I’m really stoked and privileged to be winning this Western Sydney Champion award,” he said.

Matt Levinson, director of corporate affairs at the Committee for Sydney, said what Iftikhar has achieved was incredible.

“When you think of Western Sydney and the cultural richness in this part of the world, his work is about opening up opportunities to people of all backgrounds to thrive and succeed,” he said.

“His success shows just how much untapped potential exists in communities across Greater Sydney – it’s what city building is really all about, we’re so thrilled to see him driving this from Sydney’s west.”

Seelan Nayagam, President Asia Pacific at DXC Technology, which sponsored the award, said Iftikhar was a true Western Sydney Champion.

“We congratulate him on winning this inaugural award. Entrpreneurship and innovation has long been at the heart of this incredibly diverse, vibrant region and Usman’s work is playing a pivotal role in supporting new migrants and refugees to succeed,” he said.

The other five award winners are

• Global Sydney Award, Culture: Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, outgoing Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Liz Ann secured the financial future of the museum, changed the way Indigenous art is shown around the world, and dramatically increased the museum’s relevance across the city, making MCA the world’s most visited modern art museum.
• City Visionary Award: Romilly Madew, former CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia, and now CEO of Infrastructure Australia. A green building gamechanger, Romilly has been recognised for her pragmatic approach in establishing Australia as a leader on sustainability.
• Unsung Hero Award: Maha Krayem Abdo, founder and CEO, Muslim Women Australia. A strong advocate for the rights of women and particularly Muslim women, Maha is a powerful champion for a unified Sydney, and although she’s well known in certain circles, when you look at the impact she’s had on the city, she’s the essence of unsung.
• Emerging Leader Award – Emily McDaniel, Curator, Writer and Educator and incoming Director, First Nations at the Powerhouse Museum. One of those people we should all watch, Emily’s influence is seen in major public art commissions such as the City of Sydney’s Yananurala harbour walk, in the way people connect with Country, and even in the way the city’s cultural leaders speak about Aboriginal culture.