The new Chinese Australian entrepreneur

Exploring the impact of Chinese-born Australian entrepreneurs

This third report in the KPMG–The University of Sydney Business School series examines how Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Australia are navigating geopolitical shifts and what their locally embedded, cross-border capabilities mean for Australia’s trade, innovation and economic resilience.

Drawing on survey and in-depth interviews with 100 first-generation Chinese migrant entrepreneurs, the research highlights how these founders are adapting in real time — diversifying supply chains and markets, strengthening compliance, and continuing to innovate across borders. Together, their experiences offer practical insights into how Australia’s China-related business capabilities are evolving on the ground.

We thank all entrepreneurs who generously shared their time and insights. Their openness strengthened this study and highlighted the capabilities and cross‑border expertise Chinese migrant entrepreneurs bring to Australia. This report would not have been possible without their trust and collaboration.

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Download the Chinese Migrant Entrepreneurs in Australia – Third Edition 2026 to explore the findings and case studies in full.

Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Australia

Enterprise & China Business Practice, KPMG Australia The University of Sydney Business School

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Key findings

Geopolitical impacts and confidence levels

Geopolitical tensions between Australia and China have created trading delays, higher costs and general uncertainties. However nearly half of the surveyed entrepreneurs report no significant impacts on Australian businesses. Many entrepreneurs are responding through diversification, localisation and improved compliance processes to keep their businesses resilient. Market confidence remained stable to positive, with industry confidence showing significant improvements.
Connecting Australia’s opportunities with China

Respondents maintain strong personal and business connections with China. They act as the bridge between Australian opportunities and the Chinese market through trade, capital, innovation and technology. An increasing number are importing Chinese industrial and consumer products into Australia. They also demonstrate practical, cross‑system understanding of both Australian and Chinese regulatory environments and market dynamics.
Drive and resilience

Migration is often described as “starting from zero”. Founders frequently rely on "learning-by-doing", self-directed skill development and persistence through setbacks. Experiences of disruption — from cash-flow shocks to the pandemic and geopolitical change — have reinforced resilience rather than prompted exit.
Innovation across borders

Innovation is often cross‑border, driven by sourcing new and high‑quality overseas products and services, as well as adopting new technologies. More than 80% of respondents undertook some form of innovation activity in the past three years with a strong market focus.

In summary

Chinese migrant entrepreneurs are an important source of China capability for Australia. They manage geopolitical disruption in real time, maintain business and knowledge links across borders, and bring overseas innovation into Australian markets within local regulatory frameworks. Rather than building China capability from scratch, Australia can strengthen and leverage the expertise already embedded within this entrepreneurial community.

About the report

This report is the third in a collaborative research series by KPMG and the University of Sydney Business School. Earlier reports examined the emergence of a new generation of Chinese Australian entrepreneurs (2020) and the development of Australia–China entrepreneurial ecosystems (2023).

The 2026 report focuses on how Chinese migrant entrepreneurs are responding to geopolitical change and what their capabilities imply for Australia’s trade, innovation and resilience strategies.

Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Australia

Enterprise & China Business Practice, KPMG Australia The University of Sydney Business School

Download

Methodology

This report draws on survey and interview data from 100 first-generation Chinese migrant entrepreneurs collected between September and October 2025. Participants operate across a wide range of sectors and business sizes.

Each participant completed a questionnaire and semi-structured interview, providing both quantitative indicators and detailed personal responses. Interview participants were identified through research, networks and referrals. The findings capture the experiences and strategies reported by our respondents. They are not intended to be representative of all Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Australia.