Scholar in Focus: Cameron Thompson (ILF 2018)

While many dream of a mid-career break, few actually do it. Throw in a global pandemic and it becomes even more challenging. However,  for Cameron Thompson, last year the timing was just right.

Cameron became the chief executive of Eyre Peninsula-based Cowell Electric 2014, after joining the organisation as an 18-year-old.  He embarked on his trip of a lifetime with his wife last October.

After 34 years in the business, he says “he needed a break” from the job he loves.

“For me it was just needing to clear my head and have a reset,” Cameron says.

“We both love our jobs but were getting a bit stale in them, our kids have been off our hands for a while, so it was a good time to take 12 months off.”

Founded in 1928, the company has grown from providing electricity to the township of Cowell to contracting, power transmission and distribution systems, as well as management of remote area energy supplies for the SA Government. 

Read full article here>

From the CEO Geoff Vogt:

July been a busy month assessing the record number of grant applications made busier as Suzi had to reschedule a full day of interviews and a board meeting due to the lockdown, but we are back on track now.

The Personal Investing Breakfast was also cancelled, and we expect to reschedule soon.

A burning issue for many recent Scholars is what to do about offshore courses with no reliable indication when Covid travel restrictions will be lifted. You will find the latest ILF view in this bulletin.

Looking forward, we have a Cyber Security breakfast planned for Wednesday, 25 August. There was a strong response in the first 24  hours after invitations were sent. To make sure you can attend please respond ASAP. You can bring an “In house” IT employee with you.

Also coming soon is your invitation to the 2021 Awards Ceremony, ILF’s biggest event of the year. The SA Premier, the Hon. Steven Marshall, will be presenting the awards, with immediate past Chief Entrepreneur, Jim Whalley, as MC. A Scholar will be telling an amazing success story and the second recipient of the Colin J Peters AM Memorial Award will be announced. 

Thanks to Christine Molitor (ILF2017), there are details about the new improved, better than ever, Mentoring Program, which we might call Season 3 (thankyou Netflix!).  

Been prevented from attending your course by COVID travel bans? The answer to your queries should be found in the ILF Policy on course delays.

The August reading section includes articles about:

• International trade disruption is a concern to all of us. Eye-opening information on this is included in a concise must-read on this subject from I by IMD, titled, “Localisation of Supply Chains and Militarisation of Supply Chains”.
• Another article about the evolution of ransomware from InDaily provides good background and preparation for the ILFSN Cyber Breakfast on 25 August.

Are you or someone you know on an NFP board and not sure what your responsibilities are. The answer could be a Company Directors Course Scholarship offered by the AICD for NFP Directors.

Scholars in the Media seems to have been a bit busier than usual. The standout describes a brilliant result achieved by Patrick Power (ILF2014). Especially pleasing is the mention of his ILF grant. Such mentions raise the profile of the ILF and more importantly magnify the achievement of all Scholars in qualifying through the rigorous ILF selection process. Thank you Patrick.   

Read more of the August CEO Report here>

Upcoming Event: Cyber Security Breakfast, 25 August 2021.

At this breakfast event you will learn about Cyber-crime and how to combat it. You will hear about simple and more complex methods and learn that insurance cover may not be the answer you might have expected.

Speakers include:

Kym Welsby (ILF2015).  Regional Director APAC- HelpSystems. HelpSystems enables organisations to detect, inspect and secure critical data through their proprietary industry leading Data Protection solutions across email, web and the cloud. Kym built world leading software in his own company which was ultimately acquired by UK-based, worldwide Clearswift, which was in turn acquired by USA-based HelpSystems in December 2019.  

Marcello Orlando, Cyber Security Specialist- Logic Plus. Logic Plus is a national ICT company with decades of IT managed services systems experience, specialising in Cyber Security and IT Risk Management. LogicPlus sets the ‘Plan, Build and Manage’ benchmark for quality IT Managed Services Infrastructure, coupled with excellent customer service across a diverse range of valued clients.

Will Laundy, Director and owner, Pillar Brokerage. Will has been an insurance professional for over 15 years and has worked with a broad range of wealth creating industries, so his focus aligns with that of the ILF. His corporate career includes employment with a number of global insurance firms, including as a Lloyd’s of London broker. In creating Pillar, Will’s aim is to fill the gap between transactional insurance brokers who have a household and/or small business focus, and international firms who work for large corporate organisations and may lack client focus and flexibility.

As the subject technical in nature, we have decided that Scholars may be accompanied by their in-house IT expert as well, as a special one off.

Location:  LogicPlus, Level 3, 70 Light Square, Adelaide, 7.15-9am.

Major Sponsor: LogicPlus, Supporting Sponsor: HelpSystems.

Register here>

ILF Scholars Mentoring Program: 

By popular demand, we will be running a third round of the ILF Scholar Mentoring Program commencing in November 2021. Many Scholars will be familiar with this program, and some have directly benefited.

In brief, the broad objective of the program is to help Scholars improve their professional skills, to work through specific business challenges, and also learn from those who have had specific or broadly applicable experience.

Shortly, all Scholars will receive an optional survey to register as either a Mentor or Mentee, with matching to take place around early to mid-October 2021.

Read the full report here>

Course Delays - COVID 19 Travel Restrictions:

A number of scholars have queried what happens if they are unable to undertake courses due to Covid -19 travel restrictions.  

Read the full details here>

If you have any concerns or questions, please  email or call Geoff on 0457 900 202.

August Reading:

AICD Scholarships for NFP Directors:

The ILF often receives enquiries about a grant to attend the AICD Company Directors Course, to allow someone to better perform as a member of a Not for Profit or charity board. The answer has to be no, as the ILF purpose is clearly to create additional wealth and employment in South Australia through the development of CEO level leaders and people with that potential. Being a better director of a charity is very worthy and deserves to be acclaimed, but does not fit the ILF application criteria.

However there may be another way. The AICD has just announced it is offering Scholarships for NFP directors to attend the course.

More details here>

Scholars in the Media: