When Swarup Afsar first came to Perth as a child of 15 with language barriers and a considerable stutter, he never could have imagined just how successful he would be.

On Friday Sam was named the winner of 2025 40under40 Large Business Award, powered by Business News. 

The prestigious awards recognise young professionals who stand out in terms of innovation, inspiring others, leadership and philanthropy.

Together with his wife Maryum and their business partners, Sam has 11 Pharmacy 777 Pharmacies in WA and Victoria with 150 permanent staff, and says he is tremendously humbled to win.

“When I look back and remember the 15-year-old boy who came to Perth with so many challenges, I think he would be proud,” Sam says.

“I bought my first pharmacy at 23… but it wasn’t my vocation initially, until I had a moment of realisation that came from a meaningful interaction with a local Pharmacist. I was thinking of switching courses to study engineering.

“But the night before my engineering interview changed everything…I had a stye and had to find a chemist that was open, which in the early 2000s in Perth on a Sunday was no mean feat. I did find one, the Pharmacist was fantastic, and it made me realise how important Pharmacists are to communities.”

Sam decided early on in his pharmacy career, that he wanted to be the best Pharmacist he could be and help others be the best they could be.

“It’s very important to cater to the community that your pharmacy is in, that’s what really makes you part of your community, if you’re catering to a need,” Sam said.

“Each Pharmacist has their own passion, so it’s a matter of committing to it and then finding the right community to help.”

Sam’s pharmacies in WA are in Nollamara, South Lake, Shoalwater, Butler and Bridgetown, his Victorian pharmacies are in Hawthorn, Springvale, Cheltenham, St Albans and Pascoe Vale. 

“When I first met with the Pharmacy 777 Group, I knew that their vision and my goals perfectly aligned,” Sam says.

“Pharmacy 777 is a culture; they are very clear on both their vision and support. I thank the Pharmacy 777 Group for the journey I’ve had because their support has meant we can do things like have a psychologist working out of a pharmacy and give communities what they really need.

“They truly understand what it means to be a community pharmacy.”

Pharmacy 777 Managing Director Kim Brotherson said Sam was a credit to the group and the wider Pharmacy industry.

“Sam is an exceptional Pharmacist, who gets to know every community that his pharmacies are in. He works hard to bring the best out in his teams and inspires others with his innovative leadership approach,” Kim says.

“We’re incredibly proud of him, his wife Maryum and their team for their outstanding efforts. This award is much deserved by them all.”

Sam is the only Pharmacy 777 owner to also be awarded the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Pharmacy of the Year award for Nollamara and Shoalwater.

He also plays a big part in his local community, founding the Royal Bengal Cricket Club in WA and currently serves as a Multicultural Ambassador for Cricket Australia.

Congratulations to all 40under40 Award winners!
Read more about all of the 40under40 Award Winners here.