Melburnian of the Year 2025 | Jo Horgan

MECCA founder Jo Horgan has been named 2025 Melburnian of the Year. From a single South Yarra store to stopping trams on Bourke Street, the founder of the MECCA empire has been crowned Melbourne's leading citizen for 2025. Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece described Ms Horgan as an "amazing Melburnian'' and compared her success to cosmetics icon Helena Rubinstein who opened her first salon in Melbourne in 1902. 2025 Melburnian of the Year Jo Horgan Founder and Co-CEO, MECCA Brands From a single South Yarra store to stopping trams on Bourke Street, the founder of the MECCA empire has been crowned Melbourne's leading citizen for 2025. In 1997, Jo Horgan opened the first MECCA Cosmetica store in Melbourne with a clear purpose: to empower people to look, feel and be their best. Nearly three decades later, MECCA has grown into Australia's leading prestige beauty retailer, with more than 110 stores, 7,000 team members, and a curated edit of over 200 global brands alongside its own collections - MECCA COSMETICA, MECCA MAX and kit. Jo has embedded purpose at the heart of the business through M-POWER, MECCA's social change movement dedicated to advancing gender equality by educating, elevating and empowering women and girls. Based in Melbourne with her husband and two children, Jo was recognised globally with the Pete Born Impact Award at WWD's Beauty Inc Awards in 2022 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2023 for her contribution to retail and women in leadership. Jo serves on the boards of the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation and the Edward Wilson Trust, and is a member of Chief Executive Women, driving positive change across business and the community. Young Melburnian of the Year: Dr Belle Lim Dr Belle Lim is an emerging leader dedicated to building a more inclusive and globally connected Melbourne.She is the Founder and Chair of Future Forte, a social impact organisation advancing leadership, representation and economic participation for international students. Aboriginal Melbourne - ganbu guljin award Birrarangga Film Festival The Birrarangga Film Festival (BFF) is Australia's leading Indigenous film festival, celebrating First Nations storytelling through cinema. Since its inception in 2019, BFF has grown into a premier cultural and industry event, attracting thousands of attendees, supporting Indigenous filmmakers, and fostering national and international partnerships. BFF operates as a biennial festival, delivered in 2025 from 13 to 18 March across Narrm, and with the next two festivals scheduled for 2027 and 2029. Access and Inclusion Adaptive Music Bridging Program The Adaptive Music Bridging Program is an inclusive music ensemble for children aged 8 to 14 who are disabled, deaf or neurodivergent. This collaboration between the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Youth Orchestras (MYO) assists children to choose, adapt or design a suitable musical instrument and provides their first music lessons, focusing on technique, creativity, music literacy and performance etiquette. Graduates are supported to join MYO's mainstream ensembles or other school or community groups. Arts and Events Asia TOPA 2025 In 2025, Asia TOPA - Melbourne's Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts - returned to the city after a 5-year absence. Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, Asia TOPA took place across 20 venues large and small, celebrating Australia's place as an Asia Pacific Country and bringing 410 artists and collectives from 17 countries to our city's stages, galleries, public squares, nightclubs and university campuses. Attracting over 750,000 audience members, Asia TOPA created a new sense of community that brought people together across generations, geography and cultural backgrounds. City Design Melbourne Place Hotel - Kennedy Nolan Kennedy Nolan was established in 1999 and has since developed a reputation as a design-focused practice with a distinctive approach to the built form. The practice is dedicated to producing architecture that is highly responsive to its context, including focusing on how to practice in a way that cares for Country. Melbourne Place is a new independent hotel accommodated in a "complete design", a new building with fully integrated interiors, carried out by a single team. The design of the building derives from the particular architectural and cultural identity of Melbourne generally but more specifically, the actual site in the east-end of the CBD. Community River Nile School River Nile School is an Independent Senior Secondary School supporting young women aged 15-24 from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds, supporting them to learn, grow and belong through inclusive education, wellbeing and real-world opportunities. River Nile School is a vibrant, multicultural community and welcome zone, full of hope and transformation. They celebrate diversity, amplify young refugee voices and help every young person to their strengths, purpose and place in the world. Knowledge and Innovation Acusensus Australia Thorne Harbour Health is an LGBTIQ+ community-controlled health organisation providing services in HIV, sexual health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, family violence, and more. During Victoria's 2024-25 mpox outbreak, Thorne Harbour Health mobilised quickly with tailored social marketing, vaccination clinics and education for healthcare workers. By engaging queer communities through trusted voices and diverse channels, Thorne Harbour Health reduced stigma, drove record vaccine uptake and set a new benchmark for community-led public health responses. LGBTIQA+ Thorne Harbour Health Thorne Harbour Health is an LGBTIQ+ community-controlled health organisation providing services in HIV, sexual health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, family violence, and more. During Victoria's 2024-25 mpox outbreak, Thorne Harbour Health mobilised quickly with tailored social marketing, vaccination clinics and education for healthcare workers. By engaging queer communities through trusted voices and diverse channels, Thorne Harbour Health reduced stigma, drove record vaccine uptake and set a new benchmark for community-led public health responses. Sustainability Trades Hall and Literary Institute The Trades Hall and Literary Institute is the world's oldest continuously active union building. The building is recognised on the National Heritage List as a place of historic and continuing cultural impact and is part of an international bid for World Heritage listing. When the Trades Hall and Literary Institute first opened in 1859 it was not unusual to use whale oil candles for lighting. Over the decades the building has used gas in various forms and coal fired electricity. In 2018, a carbon reduction program was undertaken to abolish gas, use energy more efficiently and install solar panels. Since that time, carbon emissions have over halved with more efficiencies to come as the team aim for net zero. Melburnian of the Year City of Melbourne congratulates the latest and past winners of the Melbourne Awards. A Melbourne Award is our city's highest accolade. The award provides the City of Melbourne with a platform to celebrate the inspirational achievements of people and organisations whose passion and commitment have helped make Melbourne one of the most liveable cities in the world. The awards celebrate significant contributions in the areas of environmental sustainability community multiculturalism and strengthening Melbourne's profile. Previous Melburnian of The Year 2024: Rebecca Scott (Bec) Rebecca Scott is the Co-founder and CEO of STREAT, a Melbourne-based social enterprise that works with marginalised young people aged 16 to 24 years and provides them with a healthy self, job and home. 2023: Kon Karapanagiotidis Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM is the CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre 2022: Antoinette Braybrook Antoinette has been recognised for her extensive advocacy and leadership in family violence prevention and service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples over the last 20 years. 2021: Peggy O'Neal Best known as the president of the Richmond Footbll Club was the first female president of an AFL club a board member for Women's Housing practises law and next year will be inducted as the chancellor of RMIT University. 2020: Professor Douglas Hilton AO FAA FTSE FAHMS Under Professor Hilton's leadership scientists at Australia's oldest medical research centre have pioneered promising discoveries putting them on the cusp of developing antibody therapies to block coronavirus from entering cells. 2019: Dr Bronwyn King AO Bronwyn King is a radiation oncologist tobacco free lobbyist and an acknowledged world leader in the fight against big tobacco investment. 2018: SecondBite | Ian Carson AM and Simone Carson AM Simone and Ian established SecondBite after watching too much good food go to waste while too many people went hungry. 2017: Susan Alberti AC The inspirational businesswoman fundraiser philanthropist and footy fanatic was honoured for her lifelong work to help find a cure for diabetes. 2016: Neale Daniher AM Neale Daniher AM is the Patron and Vice President for the Cure for MND Foundation. 2015: Bryan Lipmann AM Chief Executive Officer and founder of Wintringham Specialist Aged Care. 2014: Professor Sharon Lewin Professor Lewin is an internationally renowned researcher in HIV cure and the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. 2013: Major Brendan Nottle He has become the face of our beloved Salvos given them a higher profile and selflessly committed his life to help the downtrodden especially Melbourne's homeless people. 2012: Michael Gudinski Born and raised in Melbourne Michael Gudinski built his empire including the Mushroom Group and Frontier Touring Company in his hometown. 2011: Harold Mitchell Prominent businessman and media buyer for his contribution to Melbourne's arts health and education sectors. 2010: Jim Stynes Melbourne Football Club president for his tireless dedication to the welfare of Victoria's youth through his work with the Reach Foundation. 2009: Susan Barton A founder of the Lighthouse Foundation for supporting the youth of Melbourne. 2008: John Bertrand A former America's Cup winning skipper for his charity work. 2007: Lyn Swinburne Breast cancer crusader and creator of the pink field of women events. 2006: Ron Barassi AFL great for inspiring others and his overall contribution to Melbourne. 2005: Andrew Gaze A champion basketballer inaugural Melburnian of the Year for his "outstanding contribution"and for "tirelessly giving back to both his sport and the wider community".