Talal Yassine AM

Australian businessman and philanthropist Talal Yassine AM says he wouldn’t be in the position he is today if it wasn’t for the impact of his parents.

Mr Yassine is the founder and managing director of Salaam (formerly known as Crescent Wealth), which provides Australia’s Muslim population access to inclusive wealth creation and personal finance solutions. 

He is also the director of Salaam Finance, and the executive director of the Salaam Foundation and Salaam Institute. 

For his work, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, and to the community. 

“To help people feel like they belong, that they are seen and heard and understood is a genuine privilege. In my view to achieve happiness in life is to be in the service of others with others,” he says. 

“When we focus on connections – building new ones, strengthening those already there, and forging bonds across cultural and social divides – we cast ripples out into the world that can have unimaginable impact. 

“My work ethic comes from my parents, who sacrificed everything to give our family a new beginning and I’m driven to make their sacrifices count for something.” 

Mr Yassine is also an adjunct professor at the School of Business at Western Sydney University, a Vice Chancellor’s honorary professorial fellow at the Australian National University and a fellow at the Macquarie University Law School. 

Previously, he was former chair of Council of Australian-Arab Relations at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and former director of Australia Post and Sydney Ports. 

In 2010, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to business, and to the community through a range of education, health and multicultural organisations.

He said the further appointment came with the feeling of shock. 

“After I got over the shock, the second emotion I had was pride; to be recognised once more by this country I love, for the work I do to unify, educate and advocate,” he says. 

“There are too many people to list individually to thank ... first and foremost special thanks to my family: my wife, my children and of course my parents and seven brothers and sisters. 

“Without the sacrifice and support of my family, my life and what I do with it would look very different.”