George Stamas, AM

George Stamas, AM, is the Owner and Director of GJK Facility Services. He began his career as a part-time cleaner and worked his way through to management, until ultimately becoming the owner and managing director of GJK in 1987.

Under George’s leadership, GJK Facility Services has grown from a fledgling business to today employing more than 3000 people across Australia and New Zealand. He was nominated for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2016, the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.

George led GJK into a joint venture between the Victorian State Government (Office of Housing) and the Brotherhood of St Lawrence, which began with a pilot project that secured employment for 35 to 40 long-tea unemployed public housing tenants in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. The project was critically acclaimed by Harvard University and was awarded the prestigious H.Bruce Russell Global Innovators Award for Community Redevelopment.

Awards

  • Member of the Order of Australia (General Division), 2022

  • Life Member, Facility Management Association of Australia (FMA), 2023

  • Excellence in Sustainability Business Award, City of Yarra, 2012

  • Australian Business Award, Community Contribution, 2011

Board appointments

Government

  • Member of Business to Business Conduct Study Group

  • Member of CEO Forum for Disability Action Plan Framework

Affiliations

  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM)

  • Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)

  • Property Council of Australia (PCA)

  • St James Ethic Centre

  • International Facility Management Association Foundation (IFMA Foundation)