Iwan Sunito
Iwan Sunito – From Humble Beginnings To Remarkable Success
The story of Iwan Sunito is a story of immigrant success that should inspire anyone leaving their home country for greener pastures abroad. Born and raised in Indonesia, Sunito moved to Sydney in 1985 to finish his education and ended up setting up a successful construction company known for its quality apartments. He is one of the founders of Crown International Holdings Group and is its current CEO.
Iwan has a degree in architecture (with honors) and has a post-graduate degree in construction management, which he completed at the New South Wales University in 1992. He became a licensed architect in South Wales in the year that followed.
Iwan's career began as an architect at Cox Richardson Architects, one of the largest architectural companies in Australia. But as with most people who are meant to become businessmen, Iwan soon realized that he’s better off striking it out on his own rather than live life as a salaried employee.
So, along with two friends, he built his first residential project located in the Bondi Junction. Just four short years after graduation he, along with his business partner Paul Sathio, Iwan Sunito leads Crown Group in 1996.
Iwan’s success in business can be attributed to his ability to read trends in the real estate market. In Sydney, there is a huge demand for quality apartments that are in the area of “affordable”. Iwan knew this and was at the forefront of some popular development projects in the area, including Pennant Hills, Five Dock, Eastwood, Epping, among others. For a comprehensive list of the company’s projects, visit its official website.
The company recently launched a new residential project called Skye by Crown – a 20-storey residential building designed by Koichi Takada. All things considered, it is poised to become a landmark in North Sydney.
It features 231 apartment units, each with their own balcony. The building itself has a glass facade, a veil interior bronze-colored metal, and features winter gardens. The company has already generated a lot of interest although it still has to be advertised. After Skye Crown, Iwan plans on building more residential projects that befit the reputation of Crown.
Iwan's success in business has inspired him to give back to others, especially for the people in his home country. He organizes business-related workshops in Australia for Indonesian students. He heads B2B, a mentoring program for young professionals. He also organizes charity event and music festivals in his native Borneo and in other parts of Indonesia. He is also doing his part in helping Indonesia’s less fortunate children. On a personal note, Iwan is a family man with three children.
Some of Iwan's most charitable projects include serving as chairman of the Tsunami Corporate Appeal, which aided in Indonesia’s recovery following the 2006 tsunami that rocked the shores of Indonesia and other parts of Asia. He was also actively involved in raising fund for charitable organizations like the Sydney Children Hospital and the John Fawcett Eye Foundation and the Sydney Children Hospital.
Iwan’s story is an inspiration for everyone, not just for Indonesians.