Phillip Di Bella’s love for coffee stemmed from an early age, when he would prepare and serve Italian-style coffee to guests at his family’s Brisbane home.

His natural people skills led to a career in hospitality and nine years at Brisbane landmark Cosmopolitan Cafe where he earned a reputation for his coffee skills and outstanding customer service. During this time he completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Griffith University, piquing an interest in business and marketing.

In 2002, Phillip’s passion for coffee and entrepreneurial spirit led him to start up a small coffee-roasting operation in the suburbs of Brisbane; he named his company Di Bella Coffee.

Starting off by leasing a roaster part-time and working nights, going door-to-door to attract clients by day, Phillip quickly caught the attention of local cafes with his enthusiasm and passion for both his product and customer service.

While steadily building up Di Bella Coffee’s wholesale customer base, Phillip sold his house and established a commercial premise in Bowen Hills from which to run the operation, living onsite and dedicated all of his waking hours to building the business. Phillip very quickly secured his place as a key player in the local coffee scene.

Over the following 9 years the company continued to thrive and expand. The speed of this growth was recognized in the 2006, 2007, 2009 BRW Fast 100, where Di Bella Coffee is the only coffee company to make the list in consecutive years.

As a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, Phillip was a finalist for Owner Manager of the Year in 2007, and won Young Manager of the year in 2008. He is actively involved in the Young Presidents Organisation. Phillip’s success has earned him a place BRW’s Young Rich list for four years running.

Phillip Di Bella’s entrepreneurship has been celebrated on several occasions; he was a finalist in Ernst & Young’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2005 and went on to win the award in 2008. More recently he was the winner of Brisbane Business News’ Young Entrepreneur Award in 2010 and Highly Commended Award in 2011.

Phillip’s professional life goes beyond the scope of his own business. Fiercely proud of his hometown, he is actively involved in the Brisbane community. His numerous community-building roles include: Director of Brisbane Marketing, Chairman of both the Queen Street Advisory Board and the Valley Malls Advisory Board, and member of the Lord Mayor’s Business Round Table. Phillip’s significant local involvement was recognized in 2009 when he received the Lord Mayor’s Corporate Citizenship Award.

In March 2011, Phillip was appointed Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Department of International Business and Asian Studies at Griffith University. Proceeding to then be recognized as one of the Universities Outstanding Alumnus, based on his sustained exceptional success in his field and outstanding contribution to the profession and community.

In 2010, Phillip Di Bella became the world’s youngest recipient of an Italian knighthood, bestowed with the ‘Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity’ for contribution to the Italian Community.

Dedicated to building relationships and encouraging improvement in those around him, Phillip is passionate about inspiring passion in others. He contributes to and is involved with numerous charitable organisations; most notably is his affiliation with the Royal Children’s Hospital, a cause very close to his heart.

Maintaining a presence at Di Bella Coffee’s headquarters in Bowen Hills, Phillip can also be found visiting his Roasting Warehouses and wholesale clients around Australia; guiding and mentoring staff and external parties; undertaking speaking engagements; and constantly seeking new and exciting entrepreneurial opportunities to explore.

Phillip Di Bella’s success story is fuelled by passion, commitment, and innovation- qualities that continue to earn him recognition and respect amongst both his employees and his peers, and qualities that will ensure that much of his story is yet to be written.