Katrina Leslie Wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year
The founder of Swipejobs was honoured at a national ceremony in Melbourne for her work in recruitment technology.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Employment
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Katrina Leslie, founder of the recruitment platform Swipejobs, has been named the 2027 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. She will now advance to compete for the global title in Monaco next year.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the substantial impact of Australian business leaders on both the domestic economy and global labour markets. Past winners of this programme have collectively supported 135,000 jobs and contributed $21.4 billion to the Australian GDP.
Swipejobs generated $1.3 billion in revenue in 2025, while past winners of the award have contributed $21.4 billion to Australia's GDP. The programme has recognised 27 national finalists across six distinct business categories.
The players
Katrina Leslie
She is the founder of Swipejobs and the 2027 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner.
Daniel Tucker AM
He is the founder of Carey Group Holdings and received the Services category award.
Lou Tandy
She was honoured with the Consumer category award at the EY Australia ceremony.
Omar Sabré and Zane Sabré
The pair were joint winners of the Emerging category award.
Dave Riches
He received the Industry category award for his accomplishments.
The details
Swipejobs, which Leslie founded in 2013, utilises artificial intelligence to connect jobseekers with employers by matching individual skills and preferences. Judges selected the winners based on criteria involving ambition, innovation, and ingenuity.
Timeline
1995: Daniel Tucker founded Carey Group Holdings.
1997: Katrina Leslie launched IPS.
1999: David Elliott discovered a dinosaur fossil.
22 October 2026: EY Australia hosted the awards ceremony in Melbourne.
2027: Katrina Leslie competes in the global entrepreneur finals.
Macro View
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards programme has recognised business excellence in Australia for 26 years. This year's event continues a long-standing trend of highlighting leaders who contribute significantly to national economic growth and employment.
The success of companies like Swipejobs can influence local hiring trends and the adoption of AI-driven recruitment tools in the Australian workforce. These awards reflect broader economic health by highlighting firms that maintain strong revenue growth.
The takeaway
Innovation remains a primary driver of success in the modern Australian business landscape. Entrepreneurs looking to scale operations can focus on integrating technology to solve core labour market inefficiencies.
What happens next
Katrina Leslie is scheduled to represent Australia at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title competition held in Monaco in 2027.
Further reading
Find more updates on the local labour market in the Employment section.
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