Don Meij Travels from Brisbane, QLD

After starting as a pizza delivery driver in 1987 in Redcliffe, Queensland, for Silvio's Dial-a-Pizza ("Silvio's") while studying to be a high school teacher, Don fell in love with the business and slowly worked his way up the ranks in the following years. Future positions Don held in the company included; Store Manager (1989) followed by Area Manager, State Operations Manager and Director of National Operations (1991-1993). In 1993, Silvio's purchased Domino's in Australia and Don became General Manager. The Domino's and Silvio's brands were operated separately.

In 1996 Don became a Domino's franchisee and built a network of 17 stores, before vending his stores into Domino's in 2001 to become Chief Operating Officer (2001) then Chief Executive Officer (2002). In May 2005, Don led Domino's to become Australia's first publicly-listed pizza chain on the ASX.

In 2012 Don celebrated 25 years with the Australian owned and operated pizza business and largest Domino's franchisee for the international brand in the world.

He has won a number of industry awards including; The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 Northern Region Listed Company, The Ernst & Young Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2004, Australian Institute of Management (AIM) Professional Manager of the Year 2004 (Qld) and the 2002 Qld Retail Franchise. Don's international Domino's awards include; Chairman's Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Domino's worldwide network 2004 and Pizza International Manager of the Year 1996.

He much prefers to go by the role of Chief Enthusiasm Officer bringing to life the wise words from business leader Howard Shultz 'expect more than others think possible'.

When asked what his favourite pizza is he says it's almost like picking a favourite child, he loves them all equally but today it's definitely the trusty faithful Pepperoni on thin crust.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (Domino's Pizza) is the largest pizza chain in Australia in terms of both network store numbers and network sales. It is also the largest franchisee for the Domino's Pizza brand in the world.

Domino's Pizza holds the exclusive master franchise rights for the Domino's brand and network in Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Principality of Monaco and Japan. The Domino's brand is owned by Domino's Pizza, Inc, a listed US company.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises now extend across six countries, with more than 1200 stores, employing approximately 26,000 and is the leading international Domino's franchisee.