Food innovator takes out top honour at 2026 InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards
SA’s young business talent and innovators continue to impress, as evidenced by the winners and finalists of this year’s 40 Under 40 who were announced at an awards dinner earlier tonight.
Danny (Hyungsup) Yoon, managing director of Withus Global, was recognised with the prestigious First Among Equals Award at an awards dinner celebrating the state’s top young leaders aged under 40.
You might not know his name but, if a Korean meal out has become one of your weekly rituals, there’s a good chance Danny has something to do with it. From humble beginnings, he has transformed the face of Korean food distribution in South Australia.
Arriving in Australia in 2011 as an international student with no financial backing, Danny’s own path was anything but straightforward. But through persistence – and more than a few setbacks – he helped build Withus Global into a business that has helped unlock a wave of new opportunities.
“Before I started food distribution in South Australia, there were only around 15 to 18 Korean and Asian restaurants in the region,” he says. “Today, there are more than 40.”
But, for Danny, success has never been just about scale. Through Withus Global, he has opened doors for people who are often left out of the workforce, including individuals living with disability. “I have always believed that building an environment where people can stay matters,” he says.
“We have created employment pathways for people who often face barriers entering the workforce, including individuals connected through organisations such as MAXIMA, Status, APM, and Sonder. Through these partnerships, we have employed more than 10 people from vulnerable backgrounds, including individuals with autism and anxiety, while maintaining a workplace culture that supports long-term retention and inclusion.
“We also invest in youth development and education through internship pathways with UniSA, Flinders University and Adelaide University, providing practical workplace experience to six to eight students each year, and more than 20 students in total.”
The award was presented by Joann Skene from Credit Union SA in the William Magarey Room at Adelaide Oval, in front of more than 430 guests including The Honourable Lucy Hood MP and Ashton Hurn, Leader of the Opposition.
This year’s group of 40 outstanding young leaders and entrepreneurs runs the gamut of sectors, from technology to health, sustainability to media.
40 Under 40 Alumni Oliver Brown was the keynote speaker at the event, giving a deeply personal reflection on hospitality, leadership and the role businesses play in shaping communities.
Oliver is co-founder and managing director of The Big Easy Group, a leading independent hospitality and events collective offering a diverse portfolio of highly experiential venues – including their flagship New Orleans-themed bar NOLA Adelaide, Anchovy Bandit, Bottega Bandito, and the 1970s New York-Italian concept Tarantino’s.
Adding another layer to this year’s event was a special performance from Adelaide artist Alex De Porteous, whose appearance came 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 winners of the individual awards are:
Amy Rust – Inspiring Female Leaders Award, presented by Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Amy founded Jindawayni Consulting after more than a decade spent in senior political roles. “Those experiences showed me that decisions affecting Aboriginal communities are often made without culturally informed engagement or genuine participation,” she says. “Jindawayni was built to bridge the gap and ensure engagement is meaningful, culturally informed and leads to better outcomes for my people.” Jindawayni Consulting operates with staff in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, delivering projects across the country.
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Ashleigh Greaves – Creative Thinker Award, presented by KWP+PARTNERS. Ashleigh was driven to create Simplfy.ai to help businesses and communities navigate “the biggest technological shifts of our time in a way that feels practical and human”. The business offers coaching and support to hundreds of South Australian businesses to adopt AI safely and effectively. “For me, that’s the kind of impact that matters,” she says. “It’s about building rural capability, confidence, and resilience across the business community.”
Dilsee Dutta – Emerging Industries Award, presented by Piper Alderman. Software platform Keen Care Australia was purpose-built for NDIS and aged care providers to manage client funding, rostering, invoicing and compliance in one integrated system. Dilsee’s motivation came from seeing how much time care organisations lose to disconnected systems and paperwork, rather than delivering care. “It’s not just commercial results but empathy – an understanding of what it feels like to carry the weight of caring for others,” she says.
Gabrielle Smart – Game Changer Award, presented by Adelaide University Business School. Gabrielle established Hills and Country Paediatric Dentistry in 2023 following a “huge leap of faith” during a period shaped by burnout, pregnancy loss and Covid-era pressure on clinicians. Her focus is on accessible, non-judgemental care. “We bulk bill the Medicare Child Dental Benefit Schedule for dental treatment where we can, allowing us to treat many children for free,” she says.
Jess Tresidder – Inspiring Future Leaders Award, presented by SA Business Chamber. Jess helps young people and small businesses in regional communities get ahead of the tech curve, making investing more accessible. “It’s taking something usually reserved for people with the right postcode or network and making it more available to everyone else,” she says. She calls it “democratising access” – making opportunities, knowledge and tools available to people regardless of their background or location.
Joshua Mollison – Entrepreneurial Award, presented by William Buck. After early setbacks and growing frustration with the slow pace of traditional engineering firms, Joshua stepped away to reassess. “Was I actually helping people? Was I having an impact? The honest answer was no,” he says. That moment of clarity brought him to Living Building Solutions, where he has helped scale a consultancy that has grown into one of the country’s leading energy efficiency and sustainability advisory firms.
Manny Katz – Rural And Regional Award, presented by InDaily. Manny has transitioned Eyrelab from a dive and training operation on the Eyre Peninsula to marine restoration and youth training in ocean science. Today it works with schools, universities and local communities to rebuild oyster reefs, deliver scuba certifications for students, and engage citizen scientists in coastal monitoring and education. “It’s about turning science into practical action,” Manny says.
Mara Zeissig – Discovery Award, presented by CMAX. Cancer researcher Mara established her own independent lab in 2024 at just 29 years old. The youngest of 20 lab heads at SAiGENCI, she manages a $2.6 million research program focused on developing new immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers including triple negative breast and lung cancer. “I am passionate about making a difference to the lives of those affected by cancer,” she says.
Megan Bowditch – Food Innovation Award, presented by Comfresh. Megan is co-founder of Prove Patisserie, an artisan bakery in Stepney known for its croissants, pastries and bread made from top-quality, often South Australian ingredients. What began in 2020 in a shared Port Adelaide warehouse has grown into a thriving bakery supplying more than 55 cafés, restaurants and wine bars, alongside a busy retail store where customers can watch the team at work. “Made with passion, eaten with joy” is the philosophy behind every thing they do.
Seshnie Taylor – Social Impact Award, presented by Community Corporate. Seshnie is founder and CEO of Vocare, which offers AI-powered voice analysis and applied linguistics, along with practical training, to improve spoken clarity, confidence and care-specific terminology for care workers. “By improving communication between workers, residents, clients and families, Vocare aims to unlock the full potential of a diverse workforce and improve the quality and safety of care delivery,” she says.
Stefanie Mazzone – Sustainable Business Leaders Award, presented by Terrace Floors + Furnishings. Stefanie’s career has always been driven by impact: “I’ve sought to build a career that goes beyond individual success and focus on meaningful outcomes for communities and the environment,” she says. That impact led to Waterbox Australia’s investment in plant-based beverage cartons designed to reduce environmental impact.
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