2024 Sydney Awards: The city’s heroes that fly under the radar

A researcher finding a cure for an incurable disease, a migrant helping refugees and a philanthropist helping teenage ex-cons, here are the heroes of Sydney that fly under the radar.

A medical researcher fighting to find a cure for his incurable disease, an enterprising young migrant boosting up refugee-run businesses, and a girl-boss philanthropist helping teen ex-cons get jobs – these are Sydney’s unsung heroes now stepping into the limelight.

The revamped 2024 Sydney Awards will see one of the three finalists recognised and celebrated as a Sydneysider who goes under the radar, yet plays an essential role in making Sydney the best city in the world.

Westmead Institute for Medical Research hepatitis B research leader Dr Thomas Tu was diagnosed with the incurable liver infection at just 14 years old, setting him on a two-decade path to making world-first discoveries about HBV.

Despite pioneering the science that linked HBV-like viruses to non-human species, opening new avenues for treatment and prevention, it’s his work with the ‘forgotten people’ directly affected by the disease – including by founding peer mentorship platform HepBcommunity.org – he’s most proud of.

“I’ve spent my life being trained in hepatitis B … all the science behind it, all the different pathways the virus takes … this is ingrained in me,” Dr Tu said.

Dr Thomas Tu for the Sydney Awards, 2024. Picture: Supplied

“The most impactful moment for me was none of that – it was talking to people with hepatitis B.”

Committee for Sydney CEO Eamon Waterford said Dr Tu’s work will literally save lives.

“It’s a testament to the quality of our city that people like Thomas are at the forefront of global health research,” he said.

Dr Tu’s two fellow finalists have made their contributions to the city with entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen – Filipina-Australian Marjorie Tenchavez is the founder of Welcome Merchant, a social enterprise and online directory for refugee and migrant-run businesses, while Corinne Kemp co-chairs a democratic community of philanthropists called Impact100.

Marjorie Tenchavez, founder of Welcome Merchant and finalist in the Sydney Awards’ Unsung Hero category. Picture: Supplied/Danish Ravi Photography.

The nod was “certainly unexpected” for Ms Tenchavez, who has worked with newly arrived communities since 2011.

“A vote for me is a vote for the merchants, the refugee and migrant communities we work with. It would show them that Australians care about them and want them to succeed,” she said.

Ms Kemp said her short-listing was a “humbling reminder of the incredible contributions of Sydneysiders”. Her Impact100 program sees 100 people write a $1000 cheque, with the combined funding then awarded – by vote – to a program or charity helping those in need.

Over the past eight years, those causes have ranged from mentorship and employment preparation for youth in juvenile detention, to accommodation for women escaping domestic violence.

Sydney Awards Unsung Hero finalist Corinne Kemp, co-chair of philanthropy group Impact100 and founder of Migrant Women In Business. Picture: Supplied/Yann Le Berre.

“Every year we are inundated with amazing programs that need funding,” she said.

All three – along with the finalists in three other categories – are also in the running for the Coles’ People’s Choice award.

Coles Group General Manager Corporate and Indigenous Affairs Sally Fielke urged the community to get behind all the nominees by voting online for their favourite.

“The stories behind the awards are inspiring and demonstrate how we can work together for the future of this great city,” she said.

To find out more about the finalists and cast your vote, go to www.sydney.org.au/vote.

Originally published as 2024 Sydney Awards: The city’s heroes that fly under the radar