Australia honours franchise leaders

Franchise pioneer Jack Cowin has been appointed a member in the Order of Australia (OA) in the inaugural King’s Birthday honours list for significant service to business and to philanthropic support.

Canadian-born Cowin opened one of the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Australia in the late 1960s before launching burger chain Hungry Jack’s (as Burger King is known in Australia) and later becoming a substantial shareholder and Chair of Domino’s Pizza in Australia.

Meanwhile, Stephen Giles has been awarded the Order of Australia medal. A Director and former Chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia, Stephen is one of the country’s most experienced commercial lawyers, with more than 35 years in private practice, including 30 years at partner level. 

Stephen was a valuable advisor to the Franchise Association of New Zealand when it was first established as a separate body in 1996. Stephen was inducted into the Australian Franchising Hall of Fame in 2009. His pro bono work has included being a member of the small team that organises an annual community charity ball that has to date raised over $1 million for research into Motor Neurone Disease.