Kaynar Group founder Kyle Ringin has been named the First Amongst Equals at the 2026 40under40 business awards, taking out the top honour recognising Western Australia’s emerging business leaders.
More than 600 people took to Crown to celebrate the tradie-turned-entrepreneur and 39 others in the 25th year of the Business News awards gala on Friday evening.
Attendees were entertained with a night of performances by Williams Creative Co, Japanese Wadaiko ensemble Taiko On and DJ crossed with live music duo, The New Now.
Having judged most of the 40under40 awards since its inception in 2002, Business News senior journalist and chief judge Mark Pownall said WA has continued to offer up a diverse cohort of excellent candidates.
Choosing the winners, he said, remained a challenge from the beginning.
“In our first year of 40under40, the judging panel caused a bit of angst for the event organisers by deciding to name two winners, because we could not split the tied pair,” Mr Pownall said.
“One was from a family business, the other from corporate WA.
“I felt that start set the tone for 40under40.”
Now, a total of 1,000 of WA’s business leaders have been inducted as 40under40 winners.
“It is not about any one sector in this state – it isn’t just small business, or family business, or startup founder, or careerists who have made it on St Georges Terrace," Mr Pownall said.
“All of those can have a crack, and they have.”
Having undertaken an extensive interview and application process, Mr Ringin was recognised as both First Amongst Equals and the winner of the Family Business category.
Working as an apprentice auto electrician and workshop foreman in Broome, he identified a gap in the Kimberley for a reliable, locally skilled trades provider.
That led him to establish maintenance, mining and civil solutions provider Kaynar Group with his wife and co-founder Shaylee Greechan in 2020.
Mr Ringin has turned operating in extreme remoteness into a competitive advantage, all while delivering real impact for WA’s north.
Kaynar Group has grown rapidly over the past five years in both revenue and staff, employing more than 130 people.
But Mr Ringin's secret to success is simple - to seize any opportunity when it comes.
"One of our clients had a need for a mining provider when their current mining provider left," he said after receiving the top honour.
"We stepping in without any right to be doing that, and delivered a mining program for six months to an exceptional standard that taught us we can deliver other disciplines as well."
Using a people-first approach, Mr Ringin continues to build his local workforce and create opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous remote youth through apprenticeships, TAFE and community partnerships.
"We are a people business and we trade in time but our product is trust, and this represents that," Mr Ringin said.
First Amongst Equals finalists Jessica Wilson, Ben Smith and Kyle Hoath missed out on the top honour, but all won in other categories.
Ms Wilson, a Yindjibarndi and Njamal entrepreneur and artist, took home the Indigenous Business award.
As the founder of Seven Sisters Collective, she helps find opportunities for Indigenous artists on large projects and builds education among businesses.
After a career spanning hyper-growth consumer brands, Mr Smith’s leadership as chief executive of alcohol, drug and mental health support provider Holyoake earned him the Community, Social Enterprise or Not for Profit award.
And Dr Hoath, a defining voice in the state’s medical and civil leadership, won the Small or Start-Up Business award.
The consultant psychiatrist and newly elected President of the Australian Medical Association WA co-founded Oqea – a technology platform modernising mental health care.
The Pantry Group founder Sam Kaye was recognised with the People’s Choice award – recognising his journey which went from working at Daisies Cottesloe to owning the cafe alongside three other hospitality venues.
The other major category winners include:
You can read more about each of the winners in the May 18 edition of Business News’ print magazine, which will also be available online.
Congratulations to all of 2026’s 40under40 winners:
Kyle Ringin: Kaynar Group
Jessica Wilson: Seven Sisters Collective
Ben Smith: Holyoake
Kyle Hoath: Oqea
Sam Kaye: The Pantry Group
Zoran Aleksic: PCH Civil
Stephen Tormey: Bennco Engineering
David Gozzard: The University of Western Australia
Libbi McLean: Pragma Lawyers
Justin Barnes: Rocket Launcher
Tandin Dorji: Kingston International College
Joshua Wigley: Hyperion Systems
Mathew Wilson: Wilco Maintenance Solutions
Matthew Oldakowski: Earflo
Rowan Streater: Mayfair Building & Construction
Simon Grantham: Xcircle
Kane Smith: Smartfix
Alastair Mackenzie: Buddiup Group
Curtis Reddell: Therapy Focus
Benn Ellard: White Spark Pictures / Surround Sync
Jo Gibb: Coliving Collective
Mark Bond: Consolidated Electrical Solutions
Luke Whelan: Perth is OK! / Social Meteor
Kassia Kazmer: Prospex Group
Michael Agostino: Trendsetter Homes and Select Living
Andrew Dornan: Sun Silver
Damien Wragg: Trainwest
Ashley McGrath: CEOs for Gender Equity
Isabelle Charter: BetterLabs
Jeroen van Dalen: Integral Development Associates
Mathew Bouse: La Vida Homes
Bianca Lore: Wiimali Co
Owen Hightower: RFF
Harriet Page: Page Advisory
Catherine Hyde: Amity Resources
Rachel Falzon: Women in Defence Association
Eli Barlow: Funday Entertainment Group / Lavender Estate
Jonathan Cover: JPS Management and Execution / Safe Isolation Australia
Mark D'Alessandro: Contec Australia / JCM Property Group
Samantha Johnson: Sexual Health Quarters
