First Amongst Equals winner Paul Blackburne. Photo: Attila Csaszar

Property player tops 40u40

Thursday, 10 March, 2016 - 09:34

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Blackburne managing director Paul Blackburne was last night named the 2016 Business News 40under40 First Amongst Equals, ahead of a talented and diverse field of candidates.

Hundreds of Perth’s top business and community leaders marked the awards’ 15th year, celebrating the 40under40 class of 2016 in style at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Blackburne’s company has $500 million worth of projects under development, or about 1,000 apartments.

He’s a passionate believer in urban density.

In 2014, Mr Blackburne predicted that Perth would need a further 1 million extra apartments within his lifetime.

That was because only 15 per cent of Western Australians lived in apartments, compared with 40 per cent in Sydney and Melbourne.

Other names to feature among this year’s 40under40 winners include Environment Minister Albert Jacob, Fringe World Festival director Amber Hasler, and fashion designer Betty Tran.

Category winners included Courtney Lakstins in professional services, Claire Negus as an intrapreneur, Richard Young in family business, and Jamie Davison in small business.

It’s the second recent gong for Ms Negus, who won the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s Outstanding Woman in Resources award last week.

The City of Perth strategic alliance award went to Guys Grooming co-founder Leycester Cory.

There were five finalists for the First Amongst Equals (including Mr Blackburne): Margaret River Hospitality Group managing director Anthony Janssen; Jade Lewis and Friends chief executive Jade Lewis; Fair Game Australia founder John van Bockxmeer; and AusAsia Resources managing director Esther Oh.

Mr Van Bockxmeer won the category award for inspiring possibilities.

Blackburne’s journey

Mr Blackburne bought the rent roll from his father's business in the early 2000's and grew his new company over the following decade.

Before starting his business, Mr Blackburne travelled the world, visiting 150 cities in five years, an experience he said gave him numerous design ideas.

He’s additionally been involved in charity work, helping establish a child protection unit in Cambodia.

Mr Blackburne spoke to Business News reporter Dan Wilkie about his business empire as part of our 40under40 feature.

You can check that out, and stories about all of our winners, on Monday.

Congratulations to our 40under40 class of 2016:

Daniel Ashton Gravity Group - Boost Mobeel Perth

Jessica Barber - BHP Billiton

Paul Blackburne - Blackburne

Grant Capriotti - Muse Bureau

James Coghill - Total Green Recycling

Leycester Cory - Guys Grooming

Shannon Davies - Solomon Brothers

Jamie Davison - Carbon Business Group