For 107 years, the Forbes brand has been synonymous with ambition, capturing the stories of those shaping industries and driving progress. Since launching Forbes Australia two years ago, we’ve built on this legacy, showcasing the figures redefining success across the country. So, as 2024 comes to a close, we thought it only fitting to revisit the remarkable stories of the cover stars who graced our six magazines for the year.
Words by Sam Hussey & Josh Lai
Issue 9: Cameron Adams
We started off the year with Cameron Adams, the web “rockstar” turned co-founder of Canva. Ranked 25th on this year’s Australia’s 50 Richest list with a net worth of US$2.2 billion, Adams has come a long way from his early days as the shy Chinese-Australian kid at the back of the class. Now 44, his deep tech expertise and design vision have been key to driving Canva’s rise to a $49 billion valuation. While co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht often take the spotlight, the third wheel in the company’s leadership trio is increasingly coming to the fore as the design juggernaut’s ongoing success relies more on deep tech.
Issue 10: Harry Triguboff
In Issue 10, we featured Harry Triguboff, founder of Meriton Group and Australia’s third-richest person with a net worth of US$16.2 billion. At 91, Triguboff remains at the helm of the business he built, having overseen the development of 78,000 apartments that have transformed Sydney’s skyline. A pioneer in build-to-rent and serviced apartments, the property mogul continues to do things his own way, now taking on councils and banks as Australia’s housing crisis intensifies. Triguboff tells Mark Whittaker how he has left his rivals in the shade, why he just keeps getting better, and his secret for a long life.
Issue 11: Sukhinder Singh Cassidy
We turned the spotlight on Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy in Issue 11. From her humble beginnings in Tanzania to leading major ventures in Silicon Valley, founding three companies, and heading two others, Singh Cassidy speaks on the hustle, bold bets, and tough decisions that shaped her journey to the top. Now at the helm of the fourth-largest tech company on the Australian stock exchange, she reflects on navigating layoffs during turbulent times and driving a resurgence through purposeful leadership.
Issue 12: PsiQuantum
In Issue 12, we explored the Australian story behind PsiQuantum, the Silicon Valley unicorn on a mission to build the world’s first commercially viable quantum computer. Co-founded by physicists Jeremy O’Brien and Terry Rudolph, engineer Mark Thompson, and quantum specialist Pete Shadbolt, the company has amassed a war chest of nearly AU$1 billion in funding from the Australian and Queensland governments. With plans to deliver its first quantum computer in Brisbane by 2027 and a second in Chicago by 2028, PsiQuantum now finds itself in a global race against the likes of Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, the Chinese government, and a peloton of ambitious start-ups to achieve quantum supremacy.
Issue 13: 30 under 30
Issue 13 celebrated the launch of Australia’s inaugural 30 Under 30 list, introducing the brightest young entrepreneurs, leaders, and stars in their fields. From the pioneers driving breakthroughs in AI and robotics, to the sporting legends who dominated the 2024 Olympics, these young talents are redefining success on a global stage. Collectively, this year’s cohort boasted over $100 million in funding, 14 Olympic medals, 4 Grammy nominations, and a combined social media following of 120 million.
Issue 14: Robyn Denholm
We closed the year with Robyn Denholm, the accountant from Sydney’s West who now oversees one of the world’s most impactful companies and its larger-than-life CEO. From humble beginnings washing oil bottles, cleaning windscreens, and “pumping gas” at her family’s petrol station, to navigating the executive ranks on the global stage, we explore the extraordinary story of Denholm’s rise to the top. Now chair of Tesla, she reflects on the demands of leading one of the most transformative companies in history while managing the complexities of working alongside the iconic Elon Musk.
