The Blue Nile Program
A business masterclass program for African Australian entrepreneurs
The Blue Nile African Australian Business Masterclass Program is a subsidised program designed for African Australian entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
The program has been developed by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the African Australian community to respond to the specific challenges faced by African Australian entrepreneurs in the Australian business landscape.
Participants engage with entrepreneurs, world-class staff executives, managers and community leaders, who will share tools for growing businesses and developing economic opportunities for the community at large.
In addition to delivering world-class business knowledge, the Blue Nile Program also seeks to build participants’ business networks through a mentoring program. Mentors will continue to provide support to participants following the completion of the program.
The program is auspiced by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute and supported by the Scanlon Foundation.
Applications for the inaugural Blue Nile Program closed in March 2020.
Blue Nile Program Participants 2020
Matthew Kwame Adekponya
Content Creator and Media Specialist
Taidanyasha Mabel Chigogora
Behavioural Therapist and Entrepreneur
Dawit Fesseha
Director, Yanga Coffee
Lorna Deng
Co-founder of DivTal
Angelina Dampson
Founder, Angie’s Kitchen
Abdillatif Fiqi
Managing Director, Gratitude In-Home Care
Ruth Karupeni
Owner and Managing Director, Ebenezer Group
Selba Gondoza Luka
Co-founder, Afri-Aus Care
Guido Melo
Founder, Melko
Sylvain Momo
Founder and Managing Director, SeniorsAlarm
Mina Mosaad
Founder, Glory Architecture
Nyarai Ndhlala
Founder, Sela Care
Eva Sarr
Founder, Centre for Multicultural Program Evaluation
Clyde Sharady
Founder and CEO, Africa Media Australia
Managing Director, iMove Solutions
Zara Hassan
Founder, Trefem Agency
Co-founder, African Female Founders Network
Update – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Blue Nile Masterclass Project Team has had to review, update and modify the 2020 program to deliver the program online. If you have any questions about the format of the program please email blue-nile@unimelb.edu.au.
For information about the University of Melbourne's response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the dedicated website.
The 2020 program is made up of three intensive modules with multiple masterclasses in each. The focus includes the following key subject areas:
- Australian business culture: how to effectively negotiate deals and manage business relationships in the Australian business context.
- Marketing: how to craft unique market value propositions.
- Accounting and finance: how to develop sound financial management tools for your enterprises.
- Managing people: how to develop and lead effective workforces.
- Business Strategy: How to formulate effective growth-oriented business strategies.
- Leadership and Social Impact: How to develop your leadership skills and empower your community.
A mentorship component is also built into the program.
Haileluel Gebre-selassie, Community Program Director
Haileluel Gebre-selassie holds a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne and a Master of International Social Work from La Trobe University. He is the Program Manager of the African Leadership Development Program. He is a Winston Churchill Fellow and current Chair of the African Think Tank. He is also Chair of the African Communities Task Force established by Victoria Police and a recipient of the Member of the Order of Australia and Melbourne Award.
Ben Neville, Academic Program Director
Associate Professor Ben Neville researches and teaches in the area of sustainable business in the Faculty of Business & Economics at the University of Melbourne. He is the Coordinator of Leadership for Social Impact at the Centre of Workplace Leadership.
Samuelson Appau, Program Coordinator
Dr Samuelson Appau has a background in marketing and market research and holds a PhD in Marketing from the University of Melbourne. He is currently a Lecturer in Marketing at RMIT University. Samuelson also consults for start-ups and entrepreneurs on how to build and sustain strong brands.
Precious Rametsana, Community Researcher
Precious Rametsana is a recent Master of Management graduate of the Melbourne Business School and currently researches and teaches within the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne. Precious is also a current committee member of the Incubate Foundation and a former board member of the Africa Australia Chamber of Commerce.
To receive updates about the Blue Nile African Business Masterclass Program, and to be notified when applications reopen, please subscribe to the email list.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Blue Nile African Australian Business Masterclass Program please email blue-nile@unimelb.edu.au.
Please note: applications for the 2020 program closed on 31 March.