Paperly CEO & founder awarded 40under40

Paperly Founder and CEO, Daniel Dawson, was recently awarded the 40under40 accolade on Friday the 2nd of May, 2025 at the Business News 40under40 Awards Gala Dinner.

The event

Joined by 600 other hopeful businesses owners, thought leaders, and innovators, Daniel was surprised at the announcement of his accolade. 

“When you’re in a room full of hundreds of talented and successful business owners, you don’t expect yourself to be recognised amongst this calibre of entrepreneurs,” Daniel reflected. 

“So when my name was announced, I was shocked. Paperly owes its success to the entire team behind it, not just myself. I am humbled to receive this great recognition on behalf of the team and everyone involved.”

The awards

The WA 40under40 Awards recognise and celebrate the state’s leading entrepreneurs, innovators, and future business leaders under the age of 40. Returning for its 24th anniversary since it began in 2002, the list of winners include Christopher Schmid, the winner of the First Amongst Equals award and founder of Woollahra. Chris relocated to Perth in the early 2000s when he saw an opportunity to help First Nations people servicing the mining, construction and maintenance sectors.

“This may be an individual award of recognition but there is an entire team, both personally and professionally that don't get recognised that 100% deserve the accolades. So thank you Jak Tidman, Liv, our entire team at Paperly and everyone involved ❤️🚀.”

— Daniel Dawson (via LinkedIn)

Acknowledgements

On behalf of Dan and the team at Paperly, we would like to send our congratulations to all of 2025’s 40under40 winners, including:

• Swarup Afsar: Pharmacy 777

• Garrett Bray: PYC Therapeutics

• Tamara Burchell: Roebuck Bay Hotel

• Eliza Carbines: Tender Relief

• Sharna Collard: Kooya Australia Fleet Solutions

• Lucy Cooke: SpaceDraft

• Luke Cousins: Pilecom

• Kristi Dempster: Assembly + Co

• George Eskander: Department of Health WA

• Tanya Fitzgerald: Rigsafe Lifting Solutions

• Sharni Foulkes: Broome Chamber of Commerce And Industry

• Ben Gibson: Humdrum Community

• Kylie Hansen: Impact Seed

• Ashlee Harrison: zero2hero

• Laura Hunter: Australian Council on Smoking and Health

• Caryn Jones: HR Elements

• Fraser Kenworthy: Kenworthy Diesel Mechanical Services

• Nicole Lamers: AER Wellness Co

• Brianna Leake: F is For Dance / Bri-Fit Perth / Boom Events Co

• Rebecca Loftus: IDEAcademy

• Scott Maisey: BOS Civil

• David Male: Wacomm

• Ian Meachem: Constructive PD

• Dan Nembhard: Wolfit Box

• Intan Oldakowska: Earflo

• Joe Oliver: Delorean Corporation

• Sonja Pototzki-Raymond: The Search Republic

• Natalie Pronin: Mayler + Co

• Emily Purvis: PURE Equine Law

• Patrick Renner: Archer St Physiotherapy Centre

• Steven Roberts: Oakmont Financial Group / Business for Doctors Financial Planning

• Christopher Schmid: Woollahra Group

• Jason Seel: Horizon Digital

• Eva Stewart: Australian Indigenous Group

• Chi To Tang: Street + Sweet Food Lab

• Kat Thompson: ZestHR

• Theo Tsorvas: Consolidated Group

• Tarrsha Watkins: Protek Building

• Terrence Winner: Goldfields Individual & Family Support Association

Special thanks to Business News.
Photo Credits: Matt Jelonek and John Koh