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Board member in Focus: Paul Haysman
“My involvement with the ILF over the past 8 years has been one of the highlights of my professional career. Meeting inspirational business leaders from across SA gives me confidence that our future is in great hands.”
Serving as president of the ILF from 2018 – 2020, Paul has been a member of the Board since 2012. Like many of the ILF Board Members, Paul’s involvement with the Fund emerged from his close involvement with the Engineering Employers Association of SA, later the Australian Industry Group, of which he was president from 2001 – 2003. Read more here>
From the CEO Geoff Vogt
March has been a busy month for the ILF and our Scholars.
We hosted two Scholar functions which you can read all about below. Social pictures from these events are also included at the bottom of this bulletin.
We had a soft launch of our LinkedIn group and now have over 80 followers and active engagement without formal invitations being sent. You can connect with us by following this link.
To the end of March we have received a record number of 17 applications vying for grants in 2021. This compares with 10 in 2020 and 12 in 2019, but more are needed to ensure the Scholar Network grows and we maximise the benefits to the SA economy. Of these, I believe about 11 are likely to be competitive, with 3 coming from female applicants. The strong start can be attributed to a flow of referrals from Scholars. The ILF funding base is robust at present and more quality applications are welcome. Your acquaintances and friends could benefit, as you have, if you encourage them to apply. It is recommended applicants call me on 0457 900 202 to discuss eligibility before applying. Invitations for the Applicant Information evening, to be held on 4 May, will be sent out soon. If you are referring potential applicants please inform Suzi so they are invited and for catering purposes.
Scholars continue to kick big goals in their businesses, many attracting real media interest, including two mentions for Codan, Naval Group and Nova Systems. If we have missed an article about your business please email us a copy.
Due to popular request we have this month replaced the “Scholar in Focus” with “Board member in Focus” featuring immediate past president, Paul Haysman.
Elsewhere in the bulletin you will find a brief but comprehensive explanation of what is happening at Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG and what it might mean for SA in the “April Reading" section. There is also a short article about diversity, with an interesting example of finding commonality in differences.
There was a very strong response to last month’s quiz. We reveal the answer and the long list of prize winners. Scroll below to see if you are amongst them?
Future events include Media Training, sponsored by Grant Thornton, on 20 April, the annual Information Evening on 4 May, a Hiring and Retaining Key Staff breakfast, delivered by the Australian Centre for Business Growth, on 13 May, and Strategy Training, sponsored by William Buck, on 18 June.
Media Training Event: 20 April 2021, 12.30-6pm.
Sponsored and hosted by Grant Thornton.
Level 3, 170 Frome Street, Adelaide. Includes lunch and networking drinks. To attend register here. N.B. If the event is full please email Suzi so she can add you to the wait list as late cancellations can occur.
Hiring and Retaining Staff Event: 13 May 2021, 7.30-9.30am.
In today’s competitive business environment, it is imperative to learn who to hire, how to assess their ability to perform the requirements of the job and how to get them started in the right direction. The session will be delivered by Dr Jana Matthews - Director at the Australian Centre for Business Growth and an international expert on entrepreneurial leadership and business growth. Australian Centre for Business Growth, UniSA City West Campus, 70 North Terrace. SAVE THE DATE: Invitations will be emailed to you this month.
Upcoming Events - SAVE THE DATE
Strategic Planning and Implementation training with Codan's Donald McGurk: Friday 18 June 2021
Personal Investing Breakfast: Thursday 29 July 2021
SA Mushrooms Tour Event Summary:
With a focus on high standards and top quality underpinning its rapid growth since 1998, this SA family company now produce 60 tonnes of fresh mushrooms weekly. The tour explained the growing process, from compost making at their Lower Light site to the creation of growing beds in large trays, spawning through to picking, sorting and packing.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Event Summary:
More than 30 ILF scholars attended the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence overview breakfast event at Novita’s new headquarters on Port Rd.
Professor Ross Bensley, Director of the SIA, Dr Zygmunt Szpak (Executive Director at Insight Via Artificial Intelligence and Senior Research Fellow at Australian Institute for Machine Learning), and Seth Thuraisingham (ILF2018), founder of Consilium Technology and GAIA Innovations were among the guest speakers.
The event was hosted and facilitated by the Smart Industries Alliance (SIA), a South Australian organisation recently established to support businesses as they seek to understand and exploit the wave of disruptive changes generated by Industry 4.0.
2021 Grant Applications:
Do you know someone who would benefit from an ILF Grant? An Information evening will be held on on 4 May to inform people who are not sure about which course to choose. RSVP here.
2021 Client Choice Awards:
Congratulations to Resonate Consultants for winning Best Acoustical Consulting Firm Award in the 2021 Client Choice Awards.
Sarah Leo (ILF2018) was appointed Resonate General Manager in 2019, allowing founder Matthew Stead (ILF2019) to transfer his energies into another start up, Ping Services. This is a great achievement considering the awards are an Australia-wide popularity contest, with the weight of votes from Sydney and Melbourne, so Adelaide respondent’s views are in the minority.
Grant Thornton, ILFSN training and event sponsor, was a finalist in the Best Accounting and Consulting Services Firm with turnover greater than $200m category.
April Reading:
Surveys show diversity in the workplace increases profitability and innovation
"Why you should hire a diverse team," published in the March 2021 CPA Australia “In the Black” magazine, by Amanda Woodard.
GFG in trouble?
"A rundown of how Greensill unraveled, the key players, and what could be next."
Published by Bloomberg, by Lucca de Paoli.
Scholars in the Media:
Beer Holdings extends online reach
Maggie Beer Holdings added another string to its bow, spending $40m to buy an online hamper and gifts outfit.
Myriota tracking objects all over the globe
The technology provider delivers the world’s first low power, ultra-low cost, global IoT solution. Read more here>
Myriota pushing hard into US and Canada
The launch of a seventh Myriota nano-satellite, the size of a loaf of bread, forms the bedrock of the push into North America. Read more here>
SA Distillery claims two major awards at the World Whiskies Awards
Adelaide Hills Distillery founder Sacha La Forgia is on a mission to redefine the identity of whiskey in Australia.
Angove's organic growth
The company’s shift to organic winemaking techniques, initiated 15 years ago, is delivering a sales boost.
Nova's star is rising
Nova Systems is aiming for $1b in annual revenue.
Naval locks in local spend
At least 60 per cent of the Future Submarines contract will be spent in Australia. Read The Advertiser article here>
Digital shipyard transition to keep ASC at the cutting-edge of submarine sustainment innovation
ASC has embarked on an ambitious project to fully digitise its shipyard operations.
Challenges fail to clip McBride’s plans
One of the nation’s largest woolgrowers is bucking declining wool prices, bushfires and COVID-19 to set itself a new stretch target to spin more wool than ever before.
Leaders’ fund set for post-COVID boost
ILF chief executive Geoff Vogt forecast a 25 per cent increase in applications this year to 60.
Codan joins S&P/ASX200
The inclusion is the latest in a string of wins for the Mawson Lakes company.
Scholars in The Media
Please send us your news for inclusion in the bulletin.
Event Social Pictures:
ILFSN Machine Learning Breakfast Event – 10 March 2021
Prof. Ross Bensley and Jo Hugman.
ILFSN SA Mushrooms Tour and Cocktail Event - 29 March 2021
Eddie Lane, Kris Lloyd AM, Kelly Keates. See more here>
Scholars Quiz winners:
Brett Miller was a model scholar when he wore his ILFSN Pin at a recent event. David Jucha, Christine Molitor, Steve Todd, David Evans, Matthew Stein and Glenn Toogood each win a bottle of Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Vermentino, to be collected at the next ILFSN event they attend. Brett will also receive a bottle of the above wine plus a bottle of exclusive Kay Brothers Cuthbert Cabernet Sauvignon, for wearing the pin.
Scholar Offers:
In the interests of supporting fellow South Australian businesses, Scholars are encouraged to promote their products to fellow Scholars in the Bulletin.
Aaron Fiora (ILF2019) - Ahoy Media. Read offer details here>
