The Blue Nile African Australian Business Masterclass Program is a heavily subsidised program designed for African Australian entrepreneurs and leaders of not-for-profit organisations.

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 hosted by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute and supported by the Victorian Government's Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

Applications for the 2021 program closed on Friday 6 August.

All the Modules in the Blue Nile program were really insightful and rich in knowledge. I have also been able to broaden my network with fellow start-up entrepreneurs, business partners and friendly networks. After undertaking the program, I feel equipped to grow my business that culturally serves my community but also bring the wider Australian community on board in partnerships. It’s definitely a mini-MBA with practical industry expertise and a whole community that supports your entrepreneurial journey!

- Catherine Jonathan, Founder, Emerging Brand Africa

There have been several benefits of undertaking the Blue Nile program, including the content and knowledge shared from different lecturers and guest speakers, working together with other Blue Nilers and listening to different business experiences and finally breaking into small break-out rooms over Zoom to do exercises. It has made me rethink the whole idea of doing it all on my own and entertain the idea of bringing in others to join my business because accountability breeds success. I appreciate and really enjoyed the program.

- Peter Bol, Olympic Athlete, Speaker and Entrepreneur

The program is delivered over 6 x 2-day modules, with each subject area covered in two days.

These sessions have been designed to strengthen the capacity of participants in the following areas:

Business Strategy: Formulate effective growth-oriented business strategies
Accounting and Finance: Develop sound financial management tools for your enterprises
Marketing: Craft unique market value propositions
Leadership and Social Impact: Develop your leadership skills and empower your community
Managing People: Develop and lead effective workforces
Australian Business Culture: Effectively negotiate deals and manage business relations in the Australian business context

In addition to delivering world-class business knowledge, the Blue Nile Program also seeks to build participants’ business networks through a mentoring program supported by the Australia Africa Chamber of Commerce.

Mentors will continue to provide support to participants following the completion of the program.

Program Dates 2021

Friday 3 and Saturday 4 September
Friday 17 and Saturday 18 September
Friday 8 and Saturday 9 October
Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October
Friday 12 and Saturday 13 November
Friday 26 and Saturday 27 November

Location: Online and/or at the University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus

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.

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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.

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Precious Rametsana

Program Administrator

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.

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Blue Nile Program Participants 2021

Amran Abdi
Founder, Gabar Nool

Khadra Abdi
Founder, SKJ Gold

Shukri Abi
Founder, Abi Hearing

Bilisuma Adem
Founder, Disability Home Nursing

Keletso Adeola
Founder, Base Disability

Maryjane Amos
Founder, Muve-box

Peter Bol
Founder and Entrepreneur, Peter Bol

Louis Adjei Danso
Founder, Fintik Finance

Monica Aweng Deng
Pharmaceutical Entrepreneur and Manager

Francis Gala
Founder, FoMu Design Lab

Catherine Jonathan
Founder, Emerging Brand Africa

Musangwe Kalowa
Founder, Lemba Group

Mpho Keipidile
Founder, Builtup Solutions

Walter Makoni
Founder, Glowing Pavers

Goabaone Molelekwa
Founder, Moremotala Osteopathy

Martin Mureithi
Founder, Simba Financial Services

Pelontle Rabai
Founder, Sheltering Arms

Lydia Tesema
Founder, Below The Surface

Salman Warsame
Founder, Local Transit

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

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Blue Nile African Australian Business Masterclass Program please contact:

Dr Samuelson Appau
blue-nile@unimelb.edu.au
socialequity.unimelb.edu.au
+61 406 816 081

Applications for the 2021 program closed on Friday 6 August.