Over 150 business leaders joined digiDirect’s annual Golf Day on 5 February 2025, helping raise $270,000 for charity while launching The digiDirect Foundation, the philanthropic extension of The digiDirect Group.
Sydney’s St Michael’s Golf Course was the picturesque venue for what was digiDirect’s third and biggest-ever Golf Day. The Australian consumer electronics retailer used the occasion to announce its restructure under The digiDirect Group banner, which brings together digiDirect, recently-acquired online bookstore, Booktopia and other businesses – in health, assets & property and hospitality & lifestyle – owned by founder and CEO, Shant Kradjian.
The digiDirect Group announced the formation of The digiDirect Foundation, which would be the vehicle through which the organisation’s philanthropic contributions will be made to charities supported by Kradjian and his companies. In line with this goal, The digiDirect Foundation dedicated $200,000 from the digiDirect Golf Day to its featured charity, the Cambodian Rural Students Trust (CRST), as well as a further $25,000 to Make-A-Wish Australia and $20,000 to Galstaun College – the school where Kradjian graduated.
“This event has grown year-on-year and we accept great pride in bringing together digiDirect’s, and now Booktopia’s, partners for a great occasion, not just in fostering connections within the business community but also because of the generosity of participants to deliver for our joint moral purpose, which now has a common address at The digiDirect Foundation,” said Haig Kayserian, Director of Retail & Logistics at The digiDirect Group.
Canon was the Major Sponsor for the third year running of the 2025 digiDirect Golf Day, joined by Supporting Sponsors Sony and Fujifilm, and Hole Sponsors including PwC, Nikon, Logitech, Panasonic, OM System, CR Kennedy, Lifestyle Brands, Videndum, Outdoor Sports Agencies (OSA), Blonde Robot, Leica, Mastex Corp, Booktopia and Pierge.
Sponsor representatives participated on the golf course and during the glitzy charity dinner, along with fellow suppliers and partners of digiDirect, including Zip, Synnex, Dell, Ingram Micro, Seagate, Dicker Data, Afterpay, Spruson & Ferguson, DJI, Harper Collins, Westpac, SJG Law, Maxxum, DStech, Penguin Random House, Wilkinson Butler, Particular Audience, Google, Salesforce, RQ Media, Protog, Feedops, Amazon and Ebay, among others. TV personality, George Donikian, served as Master of Ceremonies for the occasion.
The digiDirect Group founder and CEO, Shant Kradjian told the gathered: “You have each helped us grow into The digiDirect Group and it is the culmination of this growth that has allowed me to fulfil a lifelong ambition by launching The digiDirect Foundation, which will help so many charities and causes that are no doubt close to all our hearts.”
The digiDirect Foundation chose to highlight the work of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) as the Golf Day’s featured charity due to Kradjian’s long-standing relationship with the organisation. The cause promotes dreamers in Cambodia from the ricefields to inspiring them to enter boardrooms, harnessing the power of education.
“Putting on this event is about all of us at The digiDirect Group mirroring the generosity and commitment to philanthropy of our founder and leader, Shant Kradjian, whose reflex is to share in any of his successes to support those in need,” added Kayserian.
In his remarks as the Major Sponsor, Canon Australia’s General Manager, Aaron Berthelot explained that his company backed the event as its major sponsor for the third time running because “joining our friends in industry to support the charitable commitment of digiDirect and their founder Shant Kradjian was an honour and privilege for Canon”.
The digiDirect Group
Building 2, 34-48 Cosgrove Road, Strathfield South NSW 2136
www.digidirect.com.au
www.booktopia.com.au