International recognition for young entrepreneur
Ms Ruyen Sarah Voon, a highly accomplished digital media professional and alumna of the University of Newcastle, has won the Young Entrepreneur Award at the 2024 Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (MAAC) Alumni Awards.
The business powerhouse and entrepreneur received the award at the High Commissioners Residence in Malaysia on Thursday evening.
Established in 2010, the MAAC’s Alumni Awards recognise and honour exceptional Malaysian graduates from Australian universities and institutes of higher learning. The Young Entrepreneur Award recognised Sarah’s dedication and achievements in media and business.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Communication from the University of Newcastle in 2012. Sarah wasted no time in launching her career in the media industry. By the age of 30, Sarah became the youngest general manager at Tickled Media Malaysia.
Tickled Media is the largest online content and community platform for women in Asia whose flagship brand, theAsianparent.com, is Southeast Asia’s number 1 digital parenting destination, reaching over 30 million parents in the region.
Sarah has now moved on from Tickled Media to the world of esports as the Operations Manager for ESL FACEIT Group (EFG).
In a domain where male participation and viewership dominate, Sarah takes pride in her role at an organisation at the forefront of championing women in esports. At EFG, women are not just participating, but actively managing operations, shaping products, and effecting global change.
“I’ve learnt so much in my journey [at EFG] and I’m so proud to be part of this team that continues to push past boundaries and achieve greater heights in esports.
“Having been a gamer most of my life, I see the stigma slowly cracking and paving way for a bright future for the generations of gamers to come,” Sarah said.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global), Professor Kent Anderson, praised Ms. Voon's outstanding achievements and her significant impact in the fields of digital media and esports.
“Sarah’s recognition at the MAAC Alumni Awards is a testament to her exceptional talent, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit.
“As an alumna of the University of Newcastle, she exemplifies the values and capabilities we strive to instill in our graduates—innovation, leadership, and a drive to make meaningful contributions on a global scale.
“We are immensely proud of Sarah and her incredible journey, and we celebrate her success in breaking barriers and paving the way for greater diversity and inclusion in esports and beyond.”
Read Sarah’s full ‘Meet our Alumni’ story here.
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