Back in the spotlight
From pouring beers to delivering the keynote address, 2020 40 Under 40 alumnus Oliver Brown returns to inspire a new generation of South Australian changemakers.
For South Australians building businesses, launching ideas and reshaping industries, the annual InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards have become more than a night of celebration – they are a launchpad for the state’s next generation of leaders.
This year’s event promises to continue that tradition, with 2020 alumnus and hospitality entrepreneur Oliver Brown from The Big Easy Group returning to the stage as keynote speaker, alongside a special performance from acclaimed Adelaide performer Alex De Porteous in partnership with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
For Brown, the journey from finalist to keynote speaker still feels surreal.
“The nomination came through in 2020 and I almost didn’t complete the application,” he says. “As someone who’d come up pouring beers, I figured there’d be so many strong candidates ahead of me that landing in the 40 wasn’t really on my radar.”
That humility has become part of Brown’s reputation in South Australia’s hospitality scene. Known for helping shape some of Adelaide’s most respected venues and hospitality experiences, Brown says being named a finalist was never something he expected.
When his name was announced among the 40 Under 40 cohort, his first reaction was gratitude – not just for himself but for the people around him.
“It was a really great honour,” he says. “It also felt like a shared accolade – my name was on it but I’m definitely not the only person who makes our company what it is. I hope the rest of the team felt that too.”
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That collaborative spirit sits at the heart of the Awards program, which celebrates not only individual achievement, but the wider impact finalists are having on South Australia through leadership, innovation, philanthropy and business growth.
Since launching, the Awards have become one of the state’s premier networking and recognition events, connecting entrepreneurs, creatives, executives and founders across industries ranging from technology and agriculture to hospitality, health and the arts.
For Brown, one of the biggest benefits came long after the applause ended.
“The networking,” he says, without hesitation. “You get to meet so many like-minded SA entrepreneurs and business people who are all doing amazing things for the state.”
It’s those relationships, he says, that continue to shape his career six years on.
“Ongoing networking and speaking opportunities have kept coming up over the last six years. Every introduction is a new opportunity to meet the up-and-coming business leaders in the state.”
That ongoing alumni connection is one of the defining features of the 40 Under 40 program. Past finalists frequently collaborate, mentor emerging leaders and champion each other’s work long after the event itself has ended.
Brown believes what unites successful finalists is not a particular résumé or business model, but impact.
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“There are so many varied skills across the cohort, but for me the common thread is impact – on people, on a business or on the state,” he says. “It’s people pushing the envelope of better in their own way. No two candidates are the same, but all are worthy.”
That diversity of experience is expected to be reflected again this year, with finalists spanning multiple sectors and backgrounds. The awards continue to spotlight leaders who are not only commercially successful but actively contributing to South Australia’s future.
As for stepping onto the stage as keynote speaker this year, Brown admits he is feeling some butterflies.
“Honestly, I’m nervous – and questioning what authority I have to speak to a room of people doing such amazing things across so many spaces,” he says.
But attendees can expect a deeply personal reflection on hospitality, leadership and the role businesses play in shaping communities.
“I’m looking forward to sharing our view of hospitality and business, and hopefully it resonates,” he says.
His keynote theme asks a deceptively simple question: “Does hospitality make the world a better place?”
It’s a topic likely to resonate beyond restaurants and bars, touching on how workplaces create connection, culture and belonging – themes increasingly important to modern leadership.
Adding another layer to this year’s event will be a special performance from Adelaide artist Alex De Porteous, whose appearance comes through a partnership with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Known for magnetic stage presence, powerful vocals and genre-blending performances, De Porteous represents the next wave of South Australian creative talent – making the collaboration a natural fit for an event celebrating emerging leaders and bold ideas.
The inclusion of an Adelaide Cabaret Festival performance also reinforces the growing crossover between South Australia’s business and arts communities, both of which continue to play a major role in defining the state’s identity nationally.
For Brown, returning to the event as keynote speaker feels full circle.
“I just want to say thank you for having me back,” he says. “It’s a real privilege to be part of this on the other side of the podium.”
Tickets for the 2026 InDaily 40 Under 40 SA Awards are on sale now.
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