Monthly Bulletin - December 2020

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

ILF Mitsubishi Drive Day - 7 November 2020

In This Bulletin 

1.  Geoff Vogt's summary

2.  Quiz Competition 

3.  Coming ILFSN Events -

     Monday 7 December:
     Christmas Breakup Party, including tour of
     Axiom Precision Manufacturing.
     (This event is full but wait list available)

     Friday 5 February 2021:
     Media Training with Ron Kandelaars

4.  Recap on Mitsubishi Drive Day 

5.  ILF AGM - Pathway for Scholars to join ILF Board
 
6.  Lock Down Blues - Another Damn Thing To Do

7.  Scholars in Focus - Neil Gibbins (ILF2014)

8.  Scholars in the News

9.  Promote your product or service to other Scholars

1.  Geoff Vogt's summary 

Increasing the Proportion of Female Scholars

My thanks go to the twelve Scholars who gave two hours of their time on Thursday 26 November to help me understand any issues that discourage female applicants and agree methods to increase the number of successful applicants.

A number of reasons why it was felt some women do not apply were explored in a robust exchange of views.

The positive outcomes included:

• Support for the expanded criteria for membership of the ILF
• It was agreed that the best advocates for applicants are Scholars themselves. Geoff Vogt can approach people but is not a Scholar role model. Participants agreed to approach potential applicants and mentor them through the application process.  
• I am to be notified if Scholars observe additional barriers.
• The group will meet again in late March to discuss progress and compare notes.

ILF successes in 2020

To say this has been a challenging year would be an understatement but the ILF has still notched significant achievements including:

• An awards ceremony that introduced 22 new high calibre Scholars.
• Opening of ILF membership to Office Bearers of the ILF Scholars committee.
• Receipt of the first ever donation to the ILF.
• Presentation of the Colin J Peters AM Memorial Award for the most outstanding ILF Scholar to the first ever recipient, Anthony Kittel.
• Achievement of the highest ever Investment Portfolio value in relation to the CPI indexed value of the original value at the commencement of the ILF.   

This is our last bulletin for 2020. The bulletin will be back on the first Tuesday of February.

The ILF wishes all Scholars and members a happy, safe and restful Christmas break and we hope you come back in the new year recharged and ready to grasp every opportunity and manage every risk that will arise.

2.  Winners of previous quiz competitions

The winner to October's quiz, is Andrew Ramsey (ILF2019)
Andrew has won a bottle of Angove Family Winemakers Organic Cuvee Brut.
The question was:  Will Donald Trump be forced to withdraw from the race? If he does “go all the way” will he win?

The winner to September's quiz, will be announced in February's bulletin.
The question was: Will the 2021 Grand Prix be confirmed to be held at the Bend by 31 January 2021? (This quiz is now closed)

3.  ILFSN COMING EVENTS: 

ILFSN Christmas Breakup Party - Monday 7 December 2020 at 5.30pm

At Axiom Precision Manufacturing 
13-19 Johansson Road, Wingfield, South Australia 5013

Includes a tour of the Axiom Plant commencing at 5.40 pm.

THIS EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED - Registration for wait list 
Please email suzi@industryleaders.com.au 
 

Half Day Media Training Seminar

Grant Thornton
Level 3, 170 Frome Street, ADELAIDE
Friday 5 February 2021
12.30 pm to 6.00 pm
Includes lunch and networking drinks
Trainer – Ron Kandelaars

Invitations will be sent out shortly via Greenvelope. 

Sponsored by

The Experience

This is an opportunity to learn about the media from a practitioner with deep experience. He can be a gentle interviewer and he has conducted super inquisitorial interviews particularly as a political journalist. Ron will show you how the media thinks, what drives an interviewer, how to make your story seem interesting and how to avoid traps. Volunteer Scholars will be interviewed and learn as they feel the pressure, the disappointments, and the joys of getting their position across. Scholars in the audience will be offered an opportunity to contribute comments on each sample interview as the learning process unfolds. You will learn that it is never good to be too confident when you face an interviewer. You will also learn that you have one considerable advantage over an interviewer. 

The Trainer - RON KANDELAARS

Ron has conducted media training courses for a host of clients for more than twenty five years and more recently has developed a successful training course which prepares clients for a variety of public presentations. Both courses draw on Ron’s wealth of media and public relations experience.

 Since commencing his media career in the late 70’s, Ron has been involved in many roles, including:

1.  A regular contributor of stories to Channel Seven’s Weekend News bulletins since 2012;
2.  A regular contributor of Off The Beaten Track radio stories for both the ABC’s Radio Adelaide 891 programs and ABC Regional Radio;
3.  Host of Adelaide radio station 5AA’s SA Snapshots program featuring places, events and people around South Australia;
4.  Writer/producer/presenter with Channel Nine’s popular and multi-ward winning travel program ‘Postcards’. In 2011, Ron was awarded South Australian of the year (Tourism) in the Advantage SA South Australian of the Year Awards: and Outstanding contribution by an Individual in the South Australian Tourism Awards;
5.  Contributor to Postcards Australia which was shown nationally on the WIN TVNetwork, and internationally on the Discovery Channel;
6.  ABC TV’s South Australian political correspondent, chief of staff and news producer;
7.  Senior Reporter with several commercial television newsrooms;
8.  Public relations consultant for a variety of corporate and government clients working on both South Australian and national issues.

4.  Recap of Mitsubishi Motors 4 WD Experience Day by Geoff Vogt

We gathered at the back of the Mitsubishi Motors Australia office at Tonsley at 9.30 am on a warm Monday, 9 November and were offered the choice of a variety of Pajero’s, Pajero Sports and Tritons I chose the Impulse Blue Triton.

In very hot weather conditions the air conditioning kept it cool inside as we drove down South Road just past Mt Compass and turned left on the road to Goolwa. For my journey the scenery was excellent from a much higher viewing platform than I am used to and the car was very comfortable, handled well and was totally responsive. Once at Goolwa Surf Club we were offered a fabulous morning tea and received a briefing about the activities to come on and in the sand. While that was happening the Mitsubishi team set the cars in 4wd low ratio and pretty soon we were on our way to the Murray Mouth. The first impression in this driving format was of the drive train working very hard. It was quite an invigorating drive in low range and getting used to the feel in sand of different hardness and depth. Quite soon the hard working drive train began to prove itself as we neared the end of the journey and we had to travel inland of the outlets for the sand dredging sand pipes over a low hill of deep soft sand.

It was at this point the drive skills were tested and lessons began. My army training had taught me that in soft sand you let the tyres down to maximise grip and reduce the risk of having the wheels dig themselves in up to the axles. We were told the drive train in the Mitsubishi 4WD vehicles can handle these extreme conditions and full tyre pressure and they proved that capability. One rule to remember was maintain momentum. Those who did keep up the speed got through easily. Those who did not do so backed up to hard sand and got through on their second or third attempt as soon as they kept the vehicle going. A few who were not caught by the Mitsubishi team in time sat spinning their wheels until they were down to the axles. A few stressed the transmissions in the process and at least one became overheated.

5.  ILF Annual General Meeting

- Pathway for Scholars to join ILF Board

The ILF Annual General Meeting held on 26 November approved a change to the constitution allowing office bearers of the ILF Scholars committee to be eligible to join the ILF. Once they become members they are eligible for election to the board. The office bearers are those who have or are serving as Chairman or Treasurer. Those who are currently eligible have been contacted separately.

This represents the first departure from the previous membership qualification which required a person nominating to be or have been an office bearer of the Engineering Employers Association or an office bearer of the local advisory committee of the Australian Industry Group.

To ensure the ILF continues to provide support to the leadership aspirations of those in wealth creating industries in order to provide economic and employment growth in South Australia it is important that ILF membership will always require a demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the ILF and its purpose. Those who have served Scholars at the highest level as office bearers of the Scholars Network Committee have demonstrated these characteristics.   

The current office bearers are:
Darren Turner-  Chairman
David Hart-  Treasurer

At the first meeting in 2021 scheduled on 8 February there will be a change as the two year terms of the current office bearers expire.

The office bearers from that date will be:
David Hart- Chairman
Anne Hinton- Treasurer  

- Other AGM news

• Change of ILF Board office bearers

At the conclusion of the AGM Paul Haysman’s two year term as President concluded and he becomes Immediate Past President.

The other changes are:
Richard Colebatch becomes President after two years as Deputy President and Treasurer.
Mark Canny becomes Deputy President and Treasurer after two years as Vice President.
David Heaslip becomes Vice President. It has become customary for the Vice President to attend Scholars Network Committee meetings as an independent board observer to ensure there is a strong link between the Board and our Scholars so the committee can expect to see more of David.

There were a number of significant events during Paul’s stewardship of the ILF including:

• The expansion of the criteria for membership of the ILF as described above.
• The tenth awards ceremony in 2019 with a record number of grants offered.
• Receipt of the first donation to the ILF.
• Establishment of the Colin J Peters AM Memorial Award with the first award made to Anthony Kittel.

6.  Lock Down Blues- Another Damn Thing To Do.

To say the Lock Down from 18 to 21 November was inconvenient would be an understatement. There are businesses that lost large amounts of stock and turnover which damages profitability in the best case and threatens survivability at worst.

There is a lot of discussion about whether the threat from COVID is as great as some would us believe, about whether the restrictions are too tight, whether notice of the latest lockdown was too short, and whether it was necessary at all.

No matter how hard it is for many, there is a majority of the electorate who support the Government actions to date, and there has been plenty of praise from overseas and interstate experts. In other words no matter the longer term consequences for business it is unlikely the government will make wholesale changes any time soon. The best we can hope for is modifications to its approach.    

A lot of emotional energy could be consumed debating these issues for no practical benefit.

The simple fact is that a lock down has been a real possibility since COVID19 reared its ugly head in March and it could happen again at any time, and it could be just as quick next time.

In addition to COVID19 it is worth remembering that SA is still regarded in insurance circles as the earthquake capital of Australia, that a power failure is not completely off the agenda, and that increasing interference by “international actors” could disable other digitally controlled essential services for lengthy periods of time.

The question is how do we manage unexpected business shutdowns? My list would include:

• Lobby the Government to pre-define COVID19 restrictions, what businesses will be allowed to operate and which will not at different levels or types of threat.   
• Lobby the Government to give more warning if possible.
• Critically review and refresh the old disaster recovery and business continuity plans every business should have. There will be lessons from the latest experience that may well not have been contemplated before.  
• Review the survey results published in the last bulletin. The key main message I took out was that those business leaders who did best saw apparent setbacks as an opportunity to reinvent their business.
• Remember the famous quote that it is not the most innovative who are most successful, it is those who can adapt to change the fastest.
• Expect and plan for errors by government decision makers. Many at the 2020 Awards ceremony commented how genuine Grant Stevens is and how much he understands the issues for business. I believe the COVID decision makers have the best intentions, but under huge pressure, often sleep deprived and with limited rubbery information mistakes will be made. In army training we call it the “fog of war”. Decisions cannot be stopped because they may be wrong, but hopefully errors will be recognised fast and fixed quickly.

It is said good business leaders fail often and fail fast. Let’s hope the COVID decision makers don’t fail often and if they fail, they fail really fast.

In summary, and it may seem hard, implement the Scout motto  - BE PREPARED – DIB DIB DIB, DOB DOB DOB.

7.  Scholars in Focus - Neil Gibbins and Vintage Energy Ltd

Introduction

Vintage Energy Ltd (Vintage) is an ASX listed oil and gas company with a market capitalisation of approximately $37 million.  The Board and management team at Vintage, including Reg Nelson (ex-Beach Energy Ltd Managing Director) and Neil Gibbins (ex-Beach Chief Operating Officer), have acquired a geographically diverse portfolio of underexplored, but highly prospective Australian onshore oil and gas permits.  Within two years of listing on the ASX in September 2018, Vintage made two discoveries and has a number of appraisal and exploration opportunities that it will be looking to drill in the near future. The Company has interests in permits in the Cooper/Eromanga Basins (SA and Qld), onshore Otway Basin (Vic and SA), Bonaparte Basin (NT), Galilee Basin (Qld), and Perth Basin (WA).

Managing Director, Neil Gibbins

Neil Gibbins is the Managing Director at Vintage and has over 35 years of technical and leadership experience in the petroleum industry in a wide variety of regions in Australia and internationally.  He has been involved in many successful exploration, development and corporate acquisition projects.  Neil was employed at both Esso Australia and Santos Limited, initially as a geophysicist and later in supervisory roles.  He then moved to Beach Petroleum in 1997, initially as Chief Geophysicist, then as Exploration Manager in 2005, and Chief Operating Officer in 2012. Neil was acting CEO in 2015 and led Beach Energy during its merger with DrillSearch Energy Ltd in 2016.  He joined Vintage as Managing Director in March 2017.  Neil is also a passionate supporter of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Variety, The Children’s Charity.

In September 2014, he was awarded an Industry Leaders Fund (ILF) grant and attended the London Business School Mergers and Acquisitions Program prior to joining Vintage. He has seen a wide variety of companies and cultures across world, in settings from major multi-nationals to emerging minnows and is relishing the challenges of growing Vintage Energy from an exploration company to a ‘soon-to-be’ gas producer

8.  Scholars in the media – Forging ahead in a challenging environment

The following articles are also available on the ILF website. Please send us your news for inclusion in the bulletin – copies of news, articles published in papers or magazines or MP3 recording of live interviews preferred.

David Heaslip Managing Director of Century Engineering and ILF Honorary Board Member talks about Century Engineering supplying ASC P/L.

Century Engineering
David Heaslip (ILF2012) and Alexander Jenner-Oshea (ILF2013) 
ASC Shipbuilding
Matt Sinnett-Jones (ILF2018)

Evans & Ayers
Marc Allgrove (ILF2012) and

Wirra Wirra Vineyards
Andrew Kay (ILF2014)

Working alongside to create a platform to help wineries support relationships with their customers. 
The Advertiser 17/11/2020

The following ILF Scholars, Members and their businesses mentioned in Who’s Who of Business in SA. 

Geoff Vogt, CEO of the ILF
Stephen Ludlam, ILF Honorary board member and ASC chairman
Matt Sinnett-Jones (ILF2018), ASC Shipbuilding
Andrew Kay (ILF2014), Wirra Wirra
Carrie Trembath (ILF2017) & Glenn Toogood (ILF2018), Beach Energy
Anthony Kittel (ILF2010), Ben Marsh (ILF2013), Jo Hugman (ILF2014) and Tarnia Conti (ILF2019), REDARC Electronics
Victoria McClurg (ILF2016), Barossa Valley Cheese Company
Richard Sims (ILF2012) & Phil Sims (ILF2017), Robern Menz
Dr Margaret Law (ILF2017) & Steven Patriarca (ILF2019), Naval Group
Jon Seeley (ILF2014) & Michael Hamilton (ILF2016), Seeley International
Nektarios Nicolaou (ILF2018), Thomas Foods International
Alf Ianniello (ILF2011), John Scott (ILF2013), Zoe Detmold (ILF2016), Detmold Group

The Advertiser 14/11/2020

Beach Energy

Carrie Trembath (ILF2017) and Glenn Toogood (ILF2018)

Beach Energy has discovered new gas in the Victorian Otway  Basin at its joint venture exploration well, Enterprise 1. 
The Advertiser 11/11/2020

Beach Energy will spend two-thirds of its capital on boosting east coast gas supply. 
The Advertiser 26/11/2020

Thomas Foods International

Nekta Nicolaou (ILF2018)

Will start building its new abattoir near Murray Bridge next month, after appointing a builder to oversee the $300m project.
​The Advertiser 14/11/2020

SA’s second biggest private company, Thomas Foods turned over $1.99bn in the 12 months to June. 
The Advertiser 14/11/2020

Naval Group

Dr Margaret Law (ILF2017) & Steven Patriarca (ILF2019)

Inspiration for Australia’s new fleet of submarines passed a major milestone in France this week. 
The Advertiser 15/11/2020

Lifestyle Bakery
Damien Puyenbroek (ILF2020) and

Robern Menz, Richard Sims (ILF2012) & Phil Sims (ILF2017)

Both included in the winners of the SA Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards. 
The Advertiser 17/11/2020

Mayfield Industries

Ryan George (ILF2015)

Going public helps Mayfield bring manufacturing home. 
Australian Manufacturing Forum 30/11/2020

9.  Promote your product or service to other Scholars

In the interests of supporting fellow South Australian businesses, Scholars are encouraged to promote their products to fellow Scholars in the Bulletin.

New entries will need to be lodged by 5 pm Wednesday 27 January and should be no more than 50 words. The entry can be repeated upon request for one further month at a time without modification. Links to your website can be included. Special offers for Scholars only are encouraged.  

Please email Suzi@industryleaders.com.au

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SCHOLARS

Wirra Wirra

Andrew Kay (ILF2014)

Iconic McLaren Vale winery, Wirra Wirra is offering scholars a 20% discount off the price of its famous wines throughout the month of December.

Simply head to their online shop at https://wirrawirra.com  and use the promotional code ILFSN20 at the checkout.

Ben Smit (ILF2019)

Free Webinar: Building Optimism for 2021

We’ve all had a challenging year that no one could have predicted. It’s challenged us on so many levels to test our resilience, critical thinking, empathy and let’s face it, it’s been incredibly tough to maintain our optimism throughout this time.

Join Teamgage and Aspen Solutions for a live webinar on Thursday, December 10th at 1.30pm (AEDT) to understand how to create optimism for 2021 and how we can utilise this to be more effective, productive and motivated in both our personal and professional worlds. 

When? Thursday 10th Dec, 1:30 – 2:30 PM (AEDT)

Register here:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/5816050695732/WN__YLbCu8ESdKbNpqXUL0meg

Seeley International

Michael Hamilton (ILF2016)

Seeley International are Australia’s largest air conditioning manufacturer and a global leader in the development of ingenious, energy efficient heating and cooling products
for residential, commercial and industrial markets. We would be pleased to offer scholars a non-obligation assessment for any residential or commercial air conditioning requirements.

Contact Michael Hamilton General Manager – Commercial Sales  & South Africa
Mobile     +61 416 222 460
Phone      +61 8 8328 3201
Fax          +61 8 8328 3966

Address   112 O’Sullivan Beach Road, Lonsdale SA 5160 Australia
Email       mhamilton@seeleyinternational.com
Web         www.seeleyinternational.com      www.climatewizard.com

Detmold Group 

Zoe Detmold (ILF2016)
 

Cup & Carry

Small Quantity Custom Printed Packaging

At Cup and Carry we specialise in bespoke, fully recyclable paper cups, carry bags, wine cartons and tissue paper printed to your requirements in small (or large!) volumes…FAST.

Our revolutionary printers and super speedy team mean we can print high-quality photographic images with no artwork or set-up charges with a 5 day production time.

We would love to extend a 15% discount on our entire range to the ILF community, simply enter the code ILF15 at checkout to redeem.

Our custom printed packaging is perfect for Christmas gifts and end of year events.

www.cupandcarry.com.au
hello@cupandcarry.com.au
1800 497 134
Lachlan Peter
Sales & Marketing Specialist

Better Business Basics

Annie Flannagan (ILF2017)

At Better Business Basics, we were designed to help SMEs get their financial records organised and systemised, using data from what’s happened in the past to assist them to survive and thrive in the long term.

Exclusive to ILF Scholars, receive a complimentary Financial Healthcheck, valued at $495, for a complete review of the People, Process, and Programs of your finance department.

Contact Annie to find out more: annie@betterbusinessbasics.com.au or 1300 991 059.

OTHER SCHOLAR BUSINESS INFORMATION

Angove Family Winemakers

Victoria Angove (ILF2015) & Richard Angove (ILF2020)

The Barossa Valley Cheese Co

Victoria McClurg (ILF2016)

The Barossa Valley Cheese Co have put together their Christmas Hampers for the coming Festive period:

https://barossacheese.com.au/collections/barossa-cheese-hampers?page=1

The Industry Leaders Fund Scholars Network thanks our Sponsors:

The Industry Leaders Fund Scholars Network thanks our Supporters: