Khoa Do

Khoa Do is a film director, screenwriter and teacher who has had extensive experience working with the most disadvantaged in our community, inspiring them and guiding them to incredible success. Khoa's belief is that everyone on a team, no matter what their background or experience, is extraordinarily gifted, and our goal is to help others to realise their true potential.

In 2002, a group of young kids in Cabramatta, southwestern Sydney, had come to a welfare centre seeking help. One was homeless, sleeping in refuges and in McDonald's play areas, another was a shy Aboriginal young man who never spoke a single word, another a long-term drug addict, and another was an accused criminal currently on parole. None had ever finished high school. Two years later, they were all AFI Award nominees, walking the red carpet. Hear their extraordinary story in The Finished People, and how Khoa harnessed their talents and abilities to make an internationally acclaimed film, which became a true lesson in teamwork, motivation and inspiration.

Khoa's own amazing story - coming to Australia as a refugee on a tiny fishing boat crammed full of people to becoming the 2005 Young Australian of the Year is a journey of courage, resilience and hope amidst incredible opposition. Growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney, Khoa recalls going to school with sticky-taped shoes and coming home to find out that their electricity had been cut off because the family couldn't afford to pay the bills.

In 2004, he was the youngest film director in Australian history to be nominated for an AFI Award for Best Director. Over the years, he has received many awards for his work in the community and with young people - Young Vietnamese Australian of the Year Award 2000, Young Citizen of the Year Award 2001 and the Young Australian of the Year Award 2005.

In film, he has had incredible success, being nominated for 3 AFI Awards, 3 Film Critics' Circle Awards, 2 Australian Writers' Guild Awards, and an Australian Screen Director's Award. His first short film was shortlisted for a 2001 Academy Award, and in 2003, he won the IF Independent Spirit Award for his filmmaking. He has also written and directed Footy Legends and is working in a further project, Missing Water.

Khoa travels widely speaking on youth issues, motivation and is a true inspiration!

 In his presentations Khoa addresses:
 Finding and harnessing your talent
 Working as a team amidst incredible opposition 
 Your obstacles are your greatest opportunities
 Tapping into your creativity
 Following your heart

Client Ovations: Khoa's presentation was outstanding and so real. Put's life into real perspective!

Dunlop

Khoa was a great inspiration to all who attended our meeting. Everyone very much enjoyed his encouraging and spirit filled story and were both impressed and excited to have had Khoa at our meeting. We feel privileged to have met such a humble young man who puts a lot of faith back into the future of our youth.

Colgate Palmolive

He moved us alternately to laughter and tears and his spirit of generosity and caring served as an inspiration to his audience. Given that this was his own life, it was authentic and all the more powerful for the very personal manner in which it was delivered.

Flinders Housing

What a way to finish off what was a great conference. Khoa “hit the spot” and was a highlight with all of our delegates. He told his amazing life story in a sincere, genuine and entertaining manner. He “blew us all away”, without any hype, yelling or hi-tech PowerPoint

Beaumont Tiles

Khoa is a great communicator. He engaged us both emotionally and rationally. The richness of Khoa's communication comes from the empathy and interest he establishes with the audience. His own story is an epic in itself; yet he has continued to use each episode as a reason to aim higher in the next.

Optus