Where did they come from? See where Australia’s top entrepreneurs went to school
You don’t get to the top of the business world without a solid foundation. See where these top young entrepreneurs got theirs.
From classmates to business partners, teachers that nurtured success and life lessons learned in and out of the classroom, the nation’s top young entrepreneurs have shared how their schooling shaped their success, or in some cases stymied it.
All aged under 45, News Corp’s exclusive list of the top 250 young entrepreneurs are the brains behind some of the nation’s most recognisable brands.
While success is hard-earned for many of these young entrepreneurs, it was first nurtured at school by teachers and classmates who believed in them.
Edward Robinson, 22
Faith Lutheran College Tanunda, SA
Graduated 2021
Edward Robinson was just 18 and just out of high school when he founded Robinson Aerospace Systems – an education company with a mission to “inspire students to pursue careers in space and STEM”.
He partially credits his success to the community at the school “of really great friends and supportive teachers who encouraged me to pursue my passions”.
“I’d do my homework at recess and lunch and I’d race home from school as soon as I could to work on model rockets,” Mr Robinson said.
The young entrepreneur said he was just “okay at school” as most of his time was put into business ideas.
“In year 12 I did things like physics and heavy mathematics because I figured they would teach me about the world and engineering,” he said.
His advice for young people wanting to start a business was “to follow your passion”.
Fallon Roocke, 30
Faith Lutheran College, Tanunda, SA
Graduated 2012
A “combination of passion, curiosity, and a crazy desire” led Fallon Roocke to open her own marketing firm. From humble beginnings as a one-woman show in 2021, the business has grown over the past four years, offering a full suite of marketing services.
She believes she was “fortunate” to be surrounded by “great teachers” who let her try different things.
“You’re always encouraged to try different things,” Ms Roocke said of her school.
But her environment in the Barossa Valley was equally important.
“Every second person in the Barossa has their own business so having your own business was very normal,” she said.
Anton Andreacchio, 38
Scotch College to year 10, Pembroke School to year 12, SA
Graduated 2004
The Pembroke School graduate was 22 when he founded his first company with brother Carlo, inspired by the potential presented by virtual reality technology.
Since then his animation business, Convergen, has contributed to more than 2000 projects in sectors including construction, mining, transport and utilities.
Mr Andreacchio believes success is “as much the peer group as it is the school”.
“I still have close friends from school and you’re raised by your peers in many ways,” he said.
As a student, Mr Andreacchio was “middle of the pack in some areas”.
He says starting a business “might not be what you expect”, but “it’s about an adventure”.
Daniel Franco, 40
St Michael’s College, SA
Graduated 2002
Mr Franco co-founded SynergyIQ in 2018 with the vision to be a world leader in organisational change. The company has supported business transformation projects for BHP, Santos and BAE, as well as government departments, councils, universities and aged care providers.
It recently opened an office in Sydney and will rebrand to Reframe Change as part of a national expansion.
Mr Franco didn’t get into the university subjects he wanted to study with his year 12 results.
“The score didn’t allow me so I ended up working in construction on a forklift,” he said.
“School for me was an amazing time and I was heavily involved in sport.”
Even back then, he had an entrepreneurial streak, as Mr Franco recalled asking his classmates for loose change “because I knew no one wanted loose change in their pockets”.
“I’d buy Redskins or Milkos (sweets) and sell them back to people,” he said.
“That was me at school, doing silly little things.”
Mr Franco wished he’d spent more time focusing on maths class as “it’s important in the business world”.
Christian Canala, 35
Blackfriars Priory School, SA
Graduated 2007
Christian Canala is the man at the helm of popular high-end food wholesaler Secco Fine Foods and wine distributor Vinify.
He previously started company 13 Wine, and even dabbled in show-business, starring alongside friends in his own comedic YouTube series about wine named ‘Wine Gusy’.
But at Blackfriars, his big takeaway was “the relationships I made at school with my mates”.
“I had a really good group of friends and I still have those friends,” he said.
“They give me an outlet not to be in a work mindset.”
While he conceded he “wasn’t a good student”, Mr Canala was “naturally gifted”.
“I was terrible at studying and all my reports said ‘he could be really good …’,” he said.
“I had a couple of teachers who just believed in me.”
He believes the single-sex school served him well as it was “less distracting”.
“English was my strongest subject and it’s the thing that’s helped me,” Mr Canala said.
“My communication is so much better for that subject and that class.”
He said it was crucial for young entrepreneurs to “find a mentor early”.
“Find someone who can help you and push you from day one,” Mr Canala said.
Mark Kamleh, 37
Cabra Dominican College, Australian Science and Mathematics School SA
He’s the DJ-ing businessman, spinning vinyl by night while working as a restaurant owner and a booking agent for DJs and hospitality workers by day. His early days in Adelaide’s hospitality scene came through pop‑ups, collaborative ventures, and community‑focused venues, setting the stage for a series of creative ventures. In partnership with wine expert Nick Stock, Mr Kamleh co-founded the Silver Sands Beach Club restaurant at Aldinga in 2022, and the duo acquired the Old Bush Inn pub at Willunga last year.
Mr Kamleh revealed he “wasn’t academic until uni”.
“I wasn’t ready to be academic and I was doing anything but studying,” he said.
“It was distilled into me that you have to do well in school but it didn’t click.”
Throughout school Mr Kamleh thought he wanted to be a paramedic.
But following reflection “couldn’t see” himself doing it long term.
He believes that “just because everyone says it’s important, that doesn’t mean it’s right”.
“Your hobbies can be a job,” Mr Kamleh said.
“Just because it doesn’t feel like a real job, if you do it well enough, you can do some pretty cool things and it doesn’t feel like work.”
Oliver Brown, 35
Pembroke School, SA
Graduated 2008
Known as “OJ”, Oliver Brown is behind some of the biggest names in Adelaide’s hospitality scene, having co-founded Big Easy Group in 2015 with the launch of popular CBD bar and restaurant NOLA. The company’s portfolio has kept expanding, starting well-known venues including the Adelaide Fringe’s Fringe Club and Anchovy Bandit.
At Pembroke, he was surrounded by “a lot of people who were very entrepreneurial”.
“I was honestly a bit of a punk and I flew by the seat of my pants,” Mr Brown said.
“My mindset was I could go out and do it myself.”
He credited Pembroke with keeping him in school.
“I don’t know if I would have stuck school out,” Mr Brown said.
“They really teach you a lot of independence.”
He is a firm believer that “perfection can be the biggest roadblock to achieving anything.”
Luke Smith, 37
Norwood Morialta High School
Graduated 2004
Husband-wife duo Luke and Amy Smith started Tonsley-based cybersecurity consultancy Secure State in 2021, making waves in the tech industry and becoming the first company outside the US to secure official cybersecurity certification from the US Department of Defense.
Despite success as an entrepreneur, Mr Smith admitted he “certainly did not try very hard in year 12”.
“I didn’t want to go to uni because I was sick of studying,” he said.
Instead, he went to TAFE for a diploma of software development.
“Back when I got into IT, it was about years on the job,” Mr Smith said.
“I was good at the things I liked doing so I was good at science and maths and IT was definitely the defining subject.”
He was fortunate to be able to undertake a specialist IT course in year 11 and 12 at Norwood Morialta where his passion blossomed.
His advice is “you’ve definitely got to finish school”.
“Jobs are asking for degrees and diplomas,” Mr Smith said.
Frances Goh
Carey Baptist Grammar, Melbourne
Graduated 2006
The co-founder of One Roof says she was lucky to have had amazing teachers at a school that set the template for how she builds businesses today.
The Carey Baptist Grammar school graduate from the class of 2006 in Melborune paid tribute to her school as her “first start-up lab”.
She said from school captaincy roles to debating, she learned how to set a vision, work as a team and reach a goal.
“The pastoral care and strong, inclusive community built my confidence and values,” Ms Goh said.
“I had some amazing teachers! In particular, Elisabeth Lenders OAM and Rob French (currently Principal at Kilvington Grammar School) were incredible role models and constant sources of encouragement, inspiration and support.”
Tori Clapham
Cairns State High School
Graduated 2005
Tori Clapham’s $4m pilates business began in her apartment in Bondi and has since expanded to ten studios across Australia.
She praised the teachers who embraced who she was, rather than what she was expected to be, for nurturing her success.
“If every teacher I came across told me to sit down and shut up, I probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to lean into the skillset that’s unique to me,” Ms Clapham said.
“I particularly remember my Year 7 teacher who set a light in me.
“I also had a number of performing arts teachers who nurtured me.
“These skills came in handy when I ran a business and had to present.
“It taught me to hold the room and command.”
Morgan Hipworth
Caulfield Grammar School
Graduated 2018
Innovative chef and entrepreneur Morgan Hipworth appreciated his school’s education and social environment, but said it stymied his business ambitions.
“The school wasn’t particularly helpful or forward-thinking when it came to supporting my business ambitions,” he said.
“Most of what I’ve learned has come from real-world experience, trial and error, and building things from the ground up rather than from formal schooling.”
Ali Chebbani
East Hills Boys
Graduated 2017
Founder of $2.5m burger chain Chebbo’s Burgers, Ali Chebbani, admits his school wasn’t the most “glamorous”, but it definitely shaped his experience.
“It wasn’t really the curriculum, but mainly the support from teachers.
“I have a lot of great memories that I hold on to from high school. I remember the teachers who believed in me and saw something in me.”
Elli Gregory
Wellington Point State High
Budding florist Elli Gregory dropped out of school to work full time in Year 11.
She credits the real world for all the best lessons.
“I was a high school dropout,” Ms Gregory said.
“I was always smart, but couldn’t focus, it wasn’t my learning environment.
“I’m much more of a hands-on learner.
“Most of what I learned was from working full time and entering the real world.”
Randal Ashford
Darwin High School
Graduated 2002
Randal Ashford credits a “mix of schools” for teaching him street smarts and business sense. The successful property developer had humble beginnings at Tennant Creek primary school in the outback of the Northern Territory.
“I learned street smarts in some of the tougher places, and learned the business sense in universities,” Mr Ashford said.
“In business you need to talk to all walks of life and that education set me up well for it.”
Casper Ettelson
Cranbrook School
Graduated 2012
Casper Ettelson’s former Scots College classmates Nathan Dalah and Nic Pestalozzi would go on to become his business partners in the trio’s Fishbowl chain which is now in 50 locations.
Mr Ettelson said he considers himself a lifelong student, but learned more in the real world than the classroom.
“I love education and enjoyed school, but I was more excited to finish and go and see what was in the real world.
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Originally published as Where did they come from? See where Australia’s top entrepreneurs went to school
