Swipejobs Founder Katrina Leslie Named EY Entrepreneur of the Year

By Daniel Okafor

Katrina Leslie, founder of AI recruitment platform Swipejobs, was named Australia's Entrepreneur of the Year at EY's national awards in Melbourne on Thursday night, beating 27 national finalists and taking the Technology category as well.

The recognition caps more than a decade of quiet building. "We've stayed beneath the radar for a very long period of time, and this is the first external recognition," Leslie told SmartCompany the day after the ceremony.

She deflected credit for the win. "I'm just one person in the company, and the company's being created by the collective efforts of everybody on the team," she said.

How big is Swipejobs?

The numbers explain why the judges noticed. Swipejobs uses AI to match jobseekers with employers based on experience, location and availability. According to the company, the platform supported more than 11,700 companies and filled more than 250,000 roles over the past year.

Leslie disclosed that Swipejobs generated close to $1.7 billion in revenue and more than $70 million in EBITDA for the year to June 2026. The business employs 750 people across the US and UK, with an Australian technology team based in North Sydney.

The company says it is profitable and debt-free. It plans to launch its platform in Australia in the first quarter of 2027.

What about an IPO?

Swipejobs has reportedly been considering an initial public offering within the next six to 12 months. Leslie declined to comment on the company's listing plans.

That silence leaves the timing open. A domestic launch in early 2027, an IPO window, and an AI hiring engine already operating at scale in the US and UK would together mark a sharp turn for a company that has spent ten years avoiding attention.

What did it cost to get here?

The award understates the difficulty. Leslie told SmartCompany the company scrapped two failed iterations of its technology platform before succeeding, and struggled again with the third attempt until its technology team found a solution.

"We wrote off the first two versions of the platform," Leslie said.

She funded the business alone for seven years. "I was the only one funding the business for the first seven years until we hit cashflow positive. It was incredibly painful," she said.

Raised on a cattle property in Central Queensland, Leslie built Swipejobs into a company that now operates in two of the world's largest labour markets.

RedBalloon founder Naomi Simson, who chaired the EY judging panel, praised the result. "She has challenged traditional thinking about what recruitment can look like, creating a business model that is reshaping the industry," Simson said.

What happens next?

Leslie will represent Australia at the EY global awards in Monaco next year, competing against entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries. She did not expect the national title.

"I was stunned. When they said my name, I was quite overwhelmed and jarred," she said.

She said she looks forward to meeting other founders in Monaco, describing entrepreneurship as an often lonely pursuit.

Thursday night's other winners included:

• David Riches of GenusPlus Group, Industry category
• Daniel Tucker of Carey Group Holdings, Services
• David Elliott OAM of Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Social Impact
• Louise Tandy of APT Travel Group, Consumer
• Omar and Zane Sabré of luxury accessories brand MAISON de SABRÉ, Emerging

As previously reported by SmartCompany, MAISON de SABRÉ reached $50 million in annual revenue by 2024 as the brothers expanded into travel products and international markets.

EY program leader Colin McNeil said the awards recognised entrepreneurs whose businesses help shape Australia's economy. "Australia's most successful entrepreneurs share a commitment to innovation, purpose and long-term value creation," McNeil said.

According to EY, previous Australian winners collectively support more than 135,000 jobs and contribute $21.4 billion to Australia's GDP. The program has run in Australia for more than 25 years, with past winners including Mecca founder Jo Horgan, BioPak founder Gary Smith and Laurent Bakery founder Laurent Boillon.

Leslie now carries that flag to Monaco, with an Australian launch, a possible listing and a $1.7 billion revenue base behind her.