Sydney’s multicultural community came together in force as Oz Arab Media hosted its Fourth Annual Gala Dinner, welcoming around 600 guests for an evening dedicated to recognising leadership, celebrating achievement, and highlighting the growing influence of multicultural media across Australia.
The gala brought together ambassadors, parliamentarians, local government representatives, business leaders, community organisations, media professionals, volunteers and supporters from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting the strong connections that continue to shape multicultural Australia.
Among those in attendance were ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from Morocco, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon and El Salvador, alongside federal, state and local government representatives from across New South Wales.
A major focus of the evening was the recognition of individuals and organisations making a meaningful contribution to the community through business, leadership and service.
The AIM Business Awards 2026 recognised excellence across three highly competitive categories, with finalists selected through a combination of community engagement and independent judging.
In the Business Category, finalists included ATF Taxation, CB Skinteq and Knox & Floyd, with Knox & Floyd taking home the top honour.
The Non-Profit Category featured AusRelief, Koorana and Little Wings, with Little Wings named the winner for its outstanding contribution to the community.
In the Entrepreneur Category, Jannatul Rafia, John Azzi and Memtaz Derbas were recognised as finalists, with John Azzi receiving the award.
The awards highlighted the diversity, innovation and resilience of businesses and organisations operating within Australia’s multicultural communities.
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the AIM Hero Award to Scott Dickson, Chief Executive Officer of Bankstown RSL. The award recognises individuals whose leadership and commitment have created a lasting positive impact on multicultural communities. Mr Dickson was acknowledged for his ongoing support of community initiatives and his role in fostering inclusion and engagement across the region.
The event also marked the official launch of AIM TV, a new multicultural streaming platform designed to provide greater visibility to community stories, interviews, podcasts, cultural programs and original content. The platform represents a significant expansion of AIM Association’s and Oz Arab Media’s commitment to providing diverse voices with greater access to media opportunities.
Guests were introduced to the platform and invited to become early users as development continues on future features and programming.
Throughout the evening, speakers reflected on the growth of both Oz Arab Media and AIM Association, organisations that have increasingly become important platforms for multicultural storytelling, talent development and community engagement.
Oz Arab Media General Manager Remy Wehbe spoke about the organisation’s mission to ensure multicultural communities are represented through stories of achievement, culture and contribution, while continuing to create opportunities for emerging journalists, presenters, photographers and content creators.
Dr. Charbel Tadros, Media Manager of Oz Arab Media and President of AIM Association, highlighted the success of the organisation’s expanding initiatives, including the AIM Talent Awards, the AIM Partners Program and the community op shop, which continues to generate support for community-based activities and projects.
In addition to a beautiful rendition of the Australian National Anthem by Phoebe Humphries, guests were also treated to a special performance by Stephanie Milostic, winner of the AIM Talent Awards 2025, showcasing the calibre of talent emerging through the multicultural arts initiative. Further entertainment was also provided by comedian Sam McCool and Lebanese singer Claude Kachi.
In addition, attendees were advised that the AIM Talent Awards 2026 will be held on Friday, 2 October 2026, with organisers expecting another strong field of performers from across Australia.
The evening also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the hundreds of volunteers, contributors and supporters who work behind the scenes throughout the year. Organisers paid tribute to the individuals whose dedication helps deliver community events, media coverage, cultural programs and charitable initiatives.
Fundraising activities conducted during the gala included raffles and silent auctions, with proceeds supporting community-focused causes and charitable programs.
As the evening concluded, guests were reminded that multiculturalism remains one of Australia’s greatest strengths and that meaningful collaboration between communities continues to create opportunities, build understanding and strengthen social cohesion.
The Fourth Annual Gala Dinner not only celebrated the achievements of the past year but also set the stage for an ambitious future focused on innovation, community empowerment and multicultural representation.
All photos are available on this link!
