A Night of Recognition, Connection and Celebration

The EO Melbourne Annual Awards and Gala Dinner brought members, Strategic Alliance Partners and guests together for an evening of celebration at 1 Hotel Melbourne, recognising the people whose leadership, generosity and commitment shaped another outstanding year for the chapter.

Set against the theme UNITE: Better, Together, the evening reflected on a year of meaningful growth, stronger connections and shared success. President John Bevitt opened the celebrations by highlighting the chapter's achievements across its three strategic priorities: elevating the entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating diverse experiences and deep connection, and ensuring forums deliver transformational growth. A highlights video captured the energy of the past 12 months before the focus turned to the individuals who made those achievements possible.

Recognising Excellence Across the Chapter

The evening began by celebrating the strength of the Accelerator Program, with Lana Zhang recognised as this year's Accelerator Graduate. Kate Slater was then named Accelerator of the Year, recognised for embracing every opportunity to learn, contribute and grow throughout the program.

The chapter also acknowledged the inaugural Navigator Program, thanking every member who volunteered their time to help strengthen connections across EO Melbourne. Natasha Marcello was awarded Navigator of the Year for her outstanding commitment to welcoming, supporting and connecting members throughout the year.

Leadership development also took centre stage as graduates of the LEAD Program were recognised for investing in their growth and preparing for the EO Path of Leadership.

Living the EO Values

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the EO Melbourne Values Awards, celebrating members who embody the values that define the organisation every day.

This year's recipients were:

• Together We Grow: Ina Karnath

• Trust & Respect: Jake Ford and Gabriel Esseesse

• Thirst for Learning: Rick Bazerghi

• Think Big, Be Bold: Ben Simpson

Each award reflected nominations from fellow members, highlighting the everyday acts of generosity, curiosity, leadership and support that strengthen the EO Melbourne community.

Celebrating Entrepreneurial Achievement

The evening's highest entrepreneurial honour, Entrepreneur of the Year, was awarded jointly to Ahmad Jazayeri and Akbar Moradi.

Together, they have built one of EO Melbourne's great business success stories, growing a national retail business beyond $100 million in revenue while embracing technology, innovation and expansion into new ventures. Beyond their commercial success, nominations consistently recognised their humility, generosity and willingness to support fellow entrepreneurs, qualities that exemplify the spirit of EO.

President John Bevitt then presented his President's Award to Foong-Yue Cheah, recognising her exceptional contribution to member engagement throughout the year. By stepping into a newly evolving leadership role and building a thriving engagement committee, Foong-Yue helped ensure more members felt connected, supported and able to maximise the value of their EO experience.

Within the Forum community, Jamie Lingham was named Moderator of the Year, recognising his outstanding leadership and commitment to creating transformational Forum experiences.

The chapter also celebrated another successful year of the Forum Cup, recognising quarterly winners throughout the year before crowning Shakti, moderated by Jamie Lingham, as the FY 2025/26 Forum Cup Champion.

Looking Ahead

As the formal proceedings drew to a close, EO Melbourne recognised the outgoing Board for their dedication before John Bevitt reflected on his year as President, thanking the Board, chapter staff, volunteers and members who helped bring the chapter's vision to life.

The evening concluded with the ceremonial handover to incoming Co-Presidents Costa Vasili and James Murray, who unveiled the FY 2026/27 chapter theme, Think Big, Be Bold, along with the strategic priorities that will guide EO Melbourne into the year ahead.

With awards presented, achievements celebrated and a new chapter beginning, members finished the evening on the dance floor as live entertainment from The Drop capped off a memorable night, one that celebrated not only success, but the people and relationships that continue to make EO Melbourne stronger together.

Leadership in Motion: How EO Shaped John Bevitt’s Leadership Journey

John Bevitt joined EO in 2019 with a simple intention. He wanted to grow. What followed was a series of decisions to lean in, say yes to opportunity, and explore what leadership could look like for him. Over time, that curiosity evolved into commitment, leading him to spend more than half of his EO journey serving on the board. His story reflects what can unfold when you choose to step forward and make the most of what EO offers.

By his second year, John had already stepped up as a Forum Moderator. From there, one opportunity led to another. “When I was coming out of being a moderator, I got invited to join the board,” he recalls. “I started as Member Engagement Chair, moved to Forum Chair, and then into Governance and Finance to prepare for my presidency.” 

Each role demanded more. Each one gave more back. “Every time I stepped into a new role, it helped me become a better leader in my business.”

That growth did not come from holding a title. It came from being in the room. “I’m surrounding myself with other leaders. It pushes me to step up and be the best version of myself,” he says. In EO, leadership is not abstract. It is shaped in real time, alongside people who challenge how you think, decide, and show up.

Now serving as Chapter President, John operates at full stretch. He is scaling his business, raising two young children, and leading a board of high-performing entrepreneurs. Taking on more has not slowed him down. It has sharpened his focus. “Even though I’ve taken on more than I ever have, I actually got the results from it as well,” he says. With less time available, he became more purposeful. He prioritised better, delegated more effectively, and stayed anchored to his vision.

That clarity traces back to a pivotal moment in his life. “When I became a dad for the first time, I realised how much spare time I had before. I couldn’t waste any time.” Stepping into the presidency brought a similar shift. “All of a sudden, I had no time to waste. I had to be very intentional with where I spend my time. I learned that I can be much more productive than I ever thought I could be.”

The deeper transformation, however, came from how he redefined leadership.

Before EO, John believed leadership came with a title. “You needed a defined role to lead,” he says. It never quite sat right. It felt forced and disconnected from how he wanted to show up. Through his EO journey, he discovered a different model. Leadership here is built on influence, not authority.

Surrounded by peers – some of who run larger and more complex businesses – hierarchy carried little weight. Influence had to be earned. John learned to lead through relationships, empathy, and understanding. He let go of ego because without that shift, influence simply would not follow.

Stepping into the presidency became his defining moment. “As much support and guidance as you get to prepare you for president, nothing prepares you for being the leader of the chapter,” he reflects. He found himself responsible for shaping strategy, setting direction, and aligning a group of equally driven leaders.

What challenged him most was the human dynamic. “Being the person to drive, inspire, and help other leaders on their own journey was the biggest challenge. We all operate so differently, and we’re all used to being the decision-maker in our own business.” Bringing that group together around a shared vision required him to elevate how he led, every single time he showed up.

That is where another shift took hold. It helped him grow and learn from the experience and insights he gained while taking the path of leadership in EO. “One of the biggest realisations is leading with humility. My job isn’t to have the answers. It's my job to bring us together as a team to solve it together.” It is a simple idea, yet powerful in practice. Leadership is not about having the solution. It is about creating the conditions for better solutions to emerge.

Alongside this, John began to see how strong organisations are built. EO Melbourne’s systems, rhythms, and experienced chapter support acted as what he calls “guard rails”. These structures help leaders stay aligned and maintain clear direction. Watching this in action gave him clarity. He brought the same discipline into his own business and strengthened its foundations for scale.

Looking back, John is clear. The board is not just a responsibility. It is one of EO’s most valuable learning platforms.

“When I started, a tenured member told me, ‘try everything, try every product, give everything a go, and look for the value.’ The board is essentially another product of EO. It is not just a role that needs to be filled. It is an opportunity for members to become better leaders.”

He took that advice seriously. From Forum, where he developed emotional intelligence and reflection, to events that expanded his thinking, each experience added a layer. Yet nothing shaped his leadership more than stepping forward.

And if given the choice again, he would not hesitate.

Because beyond the time, the challenge, and the responsibility, the return is clear. Growth that sharpens how you lead. Perspective that reshapes how you think. A deeper understanding of what leadership really means.

John’s journey leaves a simple question. If the opportunity is there, how might you choose to explore it?