BOSS Young Executives 2026: Entries now open
Young Executives recognises outstanding executives who can demonstrate leadership in the community as well as in business.
Latest
The 5 tips that stuck with 2025’s BOSS Young Executives
Stay focused, work hard and get work experience in the field you want to move into are among the key pieces of career advice given to this year’s youthful leaders.
The 3 traits that stand out among this year’s BOSS Young Executives
The program, now in its 22nd year, recognises emerging leaders aged 35 or younger who demonstrate leadership in the community and business.
How this elite child gymnast leapt to the top of Sportsbet
Christina Ruiz has been a high achiever for most of her life. She can now add 2025 BOSS Young Executive to her growing list of accolades.
What 18-hour days on a farm taught this NAB exec about banking
Growing up in New Zealand, Felix Sekulla worked in his family’s restaurant and on farms before moving into the world of banking.
How crime shows led this young executive to a career in finance
“I’m not a typical accountant”: Casey Tanks’ passion for CSI and weekends spent working in a nightclub led her down an unexpected career path.
July 2025
How a young exec went from university dropout to dream job in Paris
Academia may not be Chris Purdy’s thing, but the Accor senior vice president has cut out a successful career in hotels, and now he’s off to France.
How an introvert’s brand raked in $8m in sales
Hayden Brass knew his humble family business could be more. Now the founder of health and wellness company Zea is a 2025 BOSS Young Executive.
February 2025
Why this exec thinks everyone should enter a bodybuilding competition
Renee Wootton, LanzaJet’s global director of new market development and a 2024 BOSS Young Executive, uses four buckets to organise her busy to-do list.
Ask this exec for five minutes, and she’ll probably say ‘no’
Kiria McNamara, director of people and culture at Swisse Wellness and a 2024 BOSS Young Executive, tends to decline impromptu catch-ups.
January 2025
Why this young retail boss ‘killed the PowerPoint culture’
Chad Burke, head of Swaggle, an online pet specialty retailer owned by Coles, cut down on slide decks in meetings to promote better collaboration.
July 2024
The six tips that stuck with 2024’s BOSS Young Executives
There’s no single route to the top. But a few good habits will help you on your way.
Four traits that stand out among the 2024 BOSS Young Executives
This year’s BOSS Young Executives have a desire to master the task at hand, collaborate and inspire – and they are tech-savvy.
How this retail executive found his calling in the school playground
Chad Burke is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. As a teenager, he had a good business selling chocolates and chips to his fellow students.
This top exec reveals the secret to having it all
Sinead Booth is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. She first gained business experience helping with the books as a teenager at her father’s refrigeration business.
This exec wants more than a CEO role. She wants to be an astronaut
Renee Wootton is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. She works in the fledgling sustainable aviation sector, but her real goal is to go to the International Space Station.
From selling vacuum cleaners to running Booking.com in Australia at 33
Tod Lacey is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. His first proper job was selling vacuum cleaners at a department store in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island.
This young exec wants to make sure his parents’ sacrifice was worth it
Gurbaj Pawar is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. He is head of strategy and projects at insurance broker network AUB Group.
My sixth form teacher told me to lower my sights
Kiria McNamara is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. She was told she would have trouble getting the marks to get into her chosen university course.
January 2024
Why this executive ditched networking dinners for ice baths
Domain customer head and BOSS Young Executive Angus Ferguson has a sauna and ice bath most mornings, and has started taking clients too.
Why this executive fasts for 17 hours a day
Swisse Wellness operations director and BOSS Young Executive David Donnoli says intermittent fasting gave him a razor-like focus that took him back to his 20s.
Why Wednesday afternoons are a meeting-free zone for this exec
Westpac digital strategy head and BOSS Young Executive Jessica Hallett says Wednesday afternoons are her time to read and carry out tasks to empower her team.
August 2023
The daily exercise this young executive does to train on AI
James Chin Moody, the co-founder of Sendle, has recommended young executives get into a daily habit of training with AI, embracing the technology which stands to upturn the future of the workplace.
Rio Tinto boss on working with traditional owners
Rio Tinto chief executive for Australia, Kellie Parker, speaks to Patrick Durkin about the company's efforts to work with indigenous owners.
Young executives warned of ‘sustained operational crisis’
The remilitarisation of Europe, along with cyberattacks and climate change, are changing the business environment. Australia is also in the line of fire.
The elevator pitch still works: Top tips on leadership
Executives say cementing relationships with a wide variety of people is still the most potent way to prepare for leadership.
