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What is 30under30?

30under30 is an Anthill initiative that was launched in early 2008 to encourage and promote entrepreneurship among young Australians. Each year, we invite our readers to nominate young Australian entrepreneurs deserving of recognition for their outstanding entrepreneurial endeavours. Anthill’s editorial team then trawls through hundreds of applications and identifies and profiles the top 30 Australian entrepreneurs under the age of 30. The process culminates in an event held in Melbourne where the 30 winners network and celebrate. We’ve been releasing profiles of this year’s Anthill 30under30 winners via our Twitter account – youngest to oldest. Read 30under30 winners, 2009 (The Full List)

Age: 28 (b. 1981)
State: VIC
Industry: Accounting & Financial Services
Company: Bourke Group

For those of you who think accountants are beige bean counters, we’d like to introduce Matthew Bourke – a new breed of accountant / business leader. He has, perhaps, the most diverse business interests of any of this year’s 30under30 winners.

Bourke is the Director of Bourke Group, a fast growing company specialising in accounting, business advisory and wealth management. He uses this company as a base from which to leverage his other business ventures in offshoring, sustainable agriculture, IT and new media.

Bourke grew up in an environment where entrepreneurship was applauded and encouraged. “It taught me to always look for opportunities, and I always will, regardless of the success of current projects.”

To him, business is not a job. It’s a passion.

Bourke recently launched a business process outsourcing business in India, which has secured over $10m worth of accounting work since March this year. His accounting business has gone from $550k in revenue in 2006 to $2.7m in 2009.

“I like to do things that others say cannot be done and look for the opportunity that presents itself in a problem,” he says. “My motivation is to build something special, and build it with people I admire and respect, and have a positive effect on their lives.”

ENTREPRENEURSHIP LESSONS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

What has been your most significant failure?

When we really started to transform our business, we failed to communicate the direction clearly to our team at times. This created some uncertainty, disharmony. I have bounced back by seeing this as a challenge to become better at communicating the vision.