AUGUST BULLETIN

How Hamish Hogben saves ordinary humans from themselves

CEO's Report

As you might be aware, July is grant assessment month at the ILF. Like every other year, the results will be made public at the Awards Ceremony and no sooner, however I can confirm the standard of applicants was exceptional. Due to the high calibre of candidates, several applicants who would have likely been successful in any prior year were unable to be accommodated. The selection committee heard some amazing growth, community contribution and innovation stories and we are certain the new additions will add to the rich tapestry of the Scholars Network.

On top of our usual work, Suzi and I helped prepare for the inaugural Scholars' Showcase, which was held at Mitsubishi Motors on 28 July. The event steering committee of David Hart, Tania Jolly and David Evans contributed a Stakhanovite effort, supported by Kelly Keates, Michael Waite and Vito Rinaldo. The support provided by Scholars in the way of prizes and auction items, food and drinks, and setup/pack down has been very gratifying. I express my sincere congratulations and admiration to all of you.

Out and about

July's activities have been diverse; from cocktail events at the Grand Chancellor to ice-cream tastings and Tonsley tours:

• I joined the President (Richard Colebatch), Vice President (David Heaslip), Emeritus member (David McNeil) and board member (Stephen Ludlam) at the Press Club Movers and Shakers cocktail function at the Grand Chancellor. It was a great opportunity to raise the ILF profile with senior ministers and opposition shadow ministers at the state and federal level.   
• If you've notice I'm looking a little more rounded and content lately, it could be due to a fabulous day with ILF board member Chris Stathy at a Tasting Australia event at the Gelista factory. It's a brilliant concept for the ice-cream lover,  gourmet food lover and those who like to experiment with unusual food and alcohol pairings (or should I say "triple-lings")! Peter and Cath Cox held the first event in March and it's proven so popular that people came back in July to experience it again.

• I was also hosted by Julia Johnson to visit Myriota’s impressive new premises at Lot 14. Their world-leading products and the size of their staff in an industry that didn't meaningfully exist in SA less than a decade ago is inspirational.
• Andrew Downs took the President, Emeritus member and myself on a tour of the SAGE Group premises at Tonsley. Again, the scale of production of products that did not exist a decade ago, the size of the national monitoring room which provides control of devices throughout Australia, the scale of the call centre and so on left me in amazement. Andrew showed us products developed at Tonsley that lead the world. I can only imagine Andrew’s pride and joy at what began as an experiment in his garage 29 years ago!
• Last but certainly not least, I enjoyed the much-anticipated Scholars' Showcase. In case you missed it, Christine Molitor has provided a recap for the bulletin while the social gallery will be on our website later this week.

Beyond business

Lisa and I spent time with our grandchildren during the school holidays. Vivienne (7) from Mt Barker enjoyed crafts and a little bit of TV while it was raining and built a tepee from sticks she found in the garden. These traditional interests are fostered by the Waldorf school curriculum. Noah (14) and Jill (11) from Magill needed some guidance to fill in time away from the screen/basketball hoop so we took them to lunch at Lonestar Rib House in Port Adelaide, capitalising on their interest in everything American. That was followed by a visit to the Gelista factory in Ridleyton (yes, I went back less than a week after the Tasting Australia event)! They got to choose their own flavours and during the 25-minute journey home they gobbled an entire tub of strawberry sorbet. I got a small morsel of the leftovers when we got home and could see why it disappeared so fast.   

Before the school holidays I went to lunch with the Golden Toothpick (GT) Club at Enzo's Ristorante. The GT Club is a group of like-minded, fun-loving gentlemen who younger people might refer to as old farts! We were caught in the act by a Scholar who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent.

At the end of the holidays Lisa and I were invited to a house-warming party which required us to enjoy two bottles of very nice champagne, a bottle of lovely Riesling and a bottle of 2005 Noon Cabernet with 17% alcohol. The house is brilliant but unlike our hosts and their guests, the house did not seem to become more intelligent or beautiful as the evening progressed. 

As always, I hope you enjoy reading this edition.

Geoff Vogt

Scholar in the Spotlight

Hamish Hogben
General Manager, evo hair
Management Acceleration Program
INSEAD Business School, France, 2014

As the adage goes, there's no place like home. After studying in France and working in China and Thailand, Hamish Hogben knew there's was no better place to do business – and raise a family – than South Australia. Hear how he ended up back in SA, "saving ordinary humans from themselves" at evo.

Life abroad

"A bit over eight years ago I completed the Management Acceleration Program at INSEAD Business School in France. Since then, I've been lucky enough to experience a broad range of work experiences which have allowed me to develop and strengthen my leadership skills. At the time I completed the Management Acceleration Program, I was working in the automotive industry at TI Automotive. After working in China and Thailand in sales and operational roles for over eight years, I returned to Adelaide with a wealth of international business knowledge and exposure to diverse cultures and working experiences. With a passion for international business and a study experience of a lifetime under my belt, I had the confidence and drive to grow as a leader. Living and working overseas was a great experience and something I’d encourage everyone to do if the opportunity presents. I was lucky enough to meet my Swedish wife while living in China and we now have two daughters who get to experience an Australian and Swedish upbringing. Living and working overseas was incredibly rewarding, but it also made me realise my passion for supporting South Australian business. Adelaide was voted Australia’s most liveable city for a reason – you can’t find a better place to bring up a family."

Oh what a night! Scholar Showcase recap

Written by Christine Molitor (ILF2017)

Wow!! The word that first comes to mind when I reflect on the inaugural Showcase event on 28 July, developed and organised by the Scholars Network. 

From the moment we entered the new Mitsubishi premises at Adelaide Airport (special thanks to Shaun Westcott and his team, especially Suzanne Cooper, for all of their efforts), and as the night unfolded, we were entertained and dazzled by the sheer talent that is comprised of our wonderful Scholar group and the businesses they represent and are so passionate about.

The donations and prizes meant that almost everyone could walk away with a prize! Silent auctions and raffles, public auctions, door prizes and a few antics to boot (thanks David Evans for revving up the audience on the auctions!) – if you were not a winner on the night, you were probably asleep! With sample packs of hand-picked SA Mushrooms, fun-sized Menz Fruchocs and The Almond Farmer roasted almond sachets, you must have been totally asleep to leave without a memento from the night! 

Or maybe you were distracted by the SAGE-built BBQ like I was. Despite the rain, the crew were outside cooking up a storm and were happy to show us all around a serious BBQ trailer that surely must be an Australian first. Did I mention the lamb (thanks Thomas Foods) or the sausages and chevapachichi (thanks Olga's Fine Foods ) that came off that BBQ? Yum! Or maybe you were distracted by Mitsubishi's Dendo House demonstration, giving us a glimpse of the future of energy integration between electric cars and household power systems. Or perhaps you were distracted by the gelati (Gelista), the cheeses (Barossa Valley Cheese Co, Paris Creek Farms and Woodside Cheese Wrights), the baked goods (Dulwich Bakery), the condiments from Maggie Beer and Spring Gully or the tour of the Dave Benson caravan. I could go on.

No matter what captured your attention on the night, no one could miss auctioneer James Packham of Harcourts Packham, who delivered an action-packed live auction that none of us dared to walk away from! Credit goes to the serious competition that played out for the hot laps at The Bend in a SAGE-donated Mustang, and the reverse auction technique for the contested Zings flashing wickets (I know where I’ll be going for backyard cricket this summer!)

These were just a sample of the amazing array of products and items generously donated by the ILF Scholar network; many providing both products and their time and efforts. The support was also what happened on the night, including the friendly waiting staff capably assisted by Tina, who works with David Evans at Spendless Shoes and simply volunteered her time to help out. Penni Donato from Allin Towbars also helped with auction matters, while the extra support from Kirsty Chapman-Smith from Discount Party Supplies was also appreciated.

An event like this can only be executed with a compelling vision, a great plan and a huge amount of effort and collaboration (and courage!). All of those skills were evident. I believe that everyone had a great evening and the event realised the objective to showcase the Scholar networks’ products and talent, and to provide a great environment to connect socially.

Importantly, the organising committee deserve applause. This comprised David Hart (bookings system manager and principal coordinator), Tania Jolley (chair, concept originator and principal organiser) and David Evans (graphic art and marketing). Thanks for having the vision and the fortitude to get this off the ground. Michael Waite, Kelly Keates, and Vito Rinaldi joined in to assist from June onwards when it became obvious that this was going to be a huge undertaking. Our collective thanks to you also! As always, Geoff and Suzi provided a great deal of counsel and advice, and the committee appreciated their help.

Lastly, our thanks go to this impressive collage of event supporters that also made the event possible. Bring on 2023's event!

Upcoming events

Mind the Gap: Managing contract risks

This breakfast seminar, sponsored by Cowell Clark and Insurance Advisernet, will tackle the risks associated with signing contracts, and what you need to look out for. Speakers include:

• Jamie Watts, Director at Cowell Clarke. Jamie specialises in building and construction, advising private and government clients on drafting and negotiating complex contracts. His expertise has been recognised in the Best Lawyers Australia guide since 2017. He is also ranked by peers in the 2022 SA Doyle's Guide as a leading lawyer in construction and infrastructure litigation.
• Simon Landrigan, Senior Adviser, Insurance Advisernet. Simon's insurance career spans more than 25 years, with experience at international insurance brokerages and a specialist medical indemnity insurer. He specialises in insurance products such as professional indemnity, medical indemnity, directors’ and officers’, management liability, construction and cyber.
• Emilio De Stefano (2014), Director and Principal, De Stefano and Co. Emilio has more than a decade of experience in sectors including defence, oil and gas, water and infrastructure. Having practiced in organisations ranging from start-ups to multinational corporates, Emilio has an innate knowledge and understanding of people, culture, leadership and business. With a Master of Engineering, he has undertaken the SA Defence Industry Leadership Program and an executive program with the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Where: Cowell Clarke, Level 9, 63 Pirie Street, Adelaide
When: 24 August from 7.15am to 9am

Invitations were sent last week via Greenvelope. Please check your spam folder if you can't find it.

Lessons from the edge

Presented by the Australian Centre for Business Growth exclusively for ILF Scholars, this breakfast seminar features real-life stories from CEOs who provide rare insights into keeping a company healthy and growing. They describe their business mistakes and lessons learnt. Each CEO has completed one of the Centre’s programs and are ILF Scholars. The speakers include:

• Dr Jana Matthews, ANZ Chair in Business Growth and Director at the Australian Centre for Business Growth, part of UniSA Business
• Kelly Keates, Managing Director, Zonge
• Matthew Stead, Chair, Resonate and CEO, Ping Services
• Calvin Stead, CEO, Kelly Engineering
• Wayne Duffy, Business Proprietor, Dulwich Bakery

Where: Australian Centre for Business Growth, Level 1, Yungondi Building, UniSA City West Campus, 70 North Tce, Adelaide
When: 8 September from 7am to 9am
Cost: FREE and exclusively for ILF Scholars

Scholar Network job vacancies

Finding, attracting and retaining talent is harder than ever, compounded by the Great Resignation. In this new section, we will post job vacancies at Scholar businesses on behalf of our network. As an ILF Scholar, you might be able to recommend suitable candidates for the role or encourage potential applicants to apply. Alternatively, if you have positions to fill, please contact us and we will post your vacancy.

evo Global Accounts Coordinator

The Global Accounts Coordinator is responsible for managing orders received and issuing orders to the warehouse; maintaining effective relationships and  communication. The incumbent will manage the invoicing function for all evo international business, including the Europe/export region, hotels and Haircare Australia, to ensure stock levels are maintained and managed. The Global Accounts Coordinator will also be responsible for the collection and management of accounts, maintaining effective work practices to meet objectives to maximise cash flow and minimise bad debt.

Qualifications: no formal qualifications required.

Essential experience:

• previous experience within a similar role
• demonstrated Microsoft Office skills and ability to use invoicing systems
• good understanding of international freight and customs
• ability to follow and work within guidelines and procedures
• ability to work with a high degree of accuracy
• demonstrated ability to work in teams and support objectives. 

Desirable experience:

• Pronto computer program knowledge or similar.

Location: Adelaide
Employment type: full-time
Contact: Hamish Hogben, evo GM, 08 8403 8264 / 0438 439 901

evo Supply Planner

The Supply Planner will work closely with the production team to ensure supply and inventory levels are maintained to agreed guidelines. The candidate will assist the production manager to develop and implement end-to-end planning requirements and activities to maximise resource efficiency while minimising inventory stock-outs.

Qualifications: 

• undergraduate qualifications in operations/manufacturing processes management or equivalent
• frontline leadership qualifications (desirable).​

Essential experience:

• 5+ years in a similar job role

• demonstrated knowledge and experience in an administrative setting with exposure to a manufacturing/production environment

• knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office, primarily Excel

• working knowledge of ERP/SAP systems

• attention to detail and ability to work to deadlines

• strong communication skills

• strong analytical ability to support decision-making.

Desirable:

• Pronto computer program knowledge.

Location: Adelaide
Employment type: full-time
Contact: Hamish Hogben, evo GM, 08 8403 8264 / 0438 439 901

Business in Brief

Sunlight and short-sightedness

Worried your offspring are spending too much time on the screen, causing them to become short-sighted? This article from the July newsletter of Electronics Industry Development Adelaide (EIDA) explains that myopia is caused by something very different; a lack of exposure to daylight.

Read the EIDA article.

What Russian sanctions mean for you

We all know about Australian sanctions against Russia, but have you thought about what they mean for you and your business? This short article published by the Governance Institute explains what you need to consider.  

Read the Governance Institute article.

Welcome to the next-gen web

Heard of Web 3.0? The sooner you understand it and start using it, the stronger your competitive advantage will be. This short read from CPA Australia’s In the Black magazine explains the evolution of Web 1.0 to Web 2.0, and what to expect from Web 3.0, which enables Internet users to own their own data.

Read the In the Black article.

The plasterboard company holding NZ to ransom 

Think it's impossible to make super profits from a commodity product? Think again! This article from Everedge explains how Fletcher Building is doing this very thing from something as basic as plasterboard.

Read the Everedge article.

The rumbling Russian rouble

Worried about how long Russia can sustain its invasion of Ukraine? This lengthy and detailed article published by FFP contains credible analysis that indicates it won't be for long.

Read the FFP article.

Scholars in the Media