FEBRUARY BULLETIN

For this startup CEO, the sky is literally no longer the limit.

Message from the Chief Executive

Welcome to the February bulletin. The first quarter is flying by and before we know it, we’ll be at the awards ceremony again in September!

Applications for this year's grants open on February 29. If you know of someone you think would benefit from – and contribute to this exclusive leadership program – please do encourage them to apply and/or send them in our direction for an initial discussion.

This edition's Scholar in the Spotlight is another inspiring success and the story isn’t over yet by far. The quietly spoken, yet determined Hervé Astier doesn’t wait for things to happen and has trodden his own impressive path since arriving in Australia a decade ago. As CEO of Neumann Space, he sets compelling leadership examples on a daily basis and has earned the respect of his peers throughout that time. A great read.

The ILFSN committee held a strategy workshop late last year and met again this month to review the key themes. The focus will always be on exclusive professional development and social and networking activities. While that won’t change, we are launching a survey so you can have your say about what’s working best for you. This isn't the same survey as a the annual ILF business conditions survey (which many of you already receive), so please watch your inbox for a separate link to this new ILFSN-specific survey that was just sent out. We anticipate it should take less than five minutes to provide your valuable feedback.

Enjoy this issue. It’s all about you, but never hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect/reconnect and we’re always here to help.

Good hunting.

Richard Barrett
Chief Executive, Industry Leaders Fund
Level 1, 45 Greenhill Road, Wayville SA 5034
M: 0417 283 633
E: richard.barrett@industryleaders.com.au

Scholar in the Spotlight

Hervé Astier
Chief Executive Officer, Neumann Space
Launching New Ventures Program
Harvard Business School, Boston, USA, 2020

Leveraging top international tech experience, Hervé Astier has strategically guided the swift ascent of Neumann Space – evolving the company from a four-man band in a Brompton garage to industry trailblazers soaring new heights in space propulsion.

"I landed a helicopter on Mars and have the logbook to prove it," chuckles Hervé Astier, CEO of cutting-edge space tech company Neumann Space.

While a cheeky claim playing off the rural French hometown's name of his family, Hervé has steered South Australia's Neumann Space to achieve firsts seemingly unfathomable when he began working in their then Brompton garage in 2019.

"I always wanted to be a fighter pilot but it turned out my vision wasn’t good enough, so I went for recreational aviation, learning to fly single engine aircraft and helicopters instead," Hervé explains.

"Landing at the family farm back in a village called Mars was one of the cool moments of my experience as a pilot," he says.

New frontiers

Growing up in the countryside village of Valence along the Rhône River, Herve graduated with an industrial engineering degree from SIGMA Clermont (the former French Institute for Advanced Mechanical Engineering) in 1999 and later with an Executive MBA from EM Lyon.

He then spent the next 15 years working internationally for Fortune 500 and Silicon Valley tech corporations in roles spanning consulting, project management, account management and product management.

In late 2013, Hervé and his wife, Ingrid, took a leap of faith and migrated to Adelaide following the birth of their first daughter. Ingrid, an ER specialist who ran two emergency room practices in France, had to retrain to become a specialist GP, while Hervé was faced with the daunting task of restarting his career in a new country.

"I was fortunate to receive honest feedback about my resume," Hervé recalls.

"I was told that my first name and accent were immediate indications I was not from here and that my degrees, although from top European schools, were not providing much value either. I had spent most of my career in the semiconductor industry which does not exist in Australia, and finally, told that nobody knew me!

"Not willing to change my name, and unable to hide my accent, I was left with the task to reinvent myself."

Save the Dates

*Dates and/or locations be confirmed

Business in Brief

SA's peak business body rebrands

SA's premier business advocate has unveiled its new identity as the South Australian Business Chamber, aligning the organisation with its interstate and global counterparts. Previously known as Business SA, the chamber this month celebrates an impressive legacy of 185 years dedicated to supporting South Australia's business community. Speaking to InDaily, Chief Executive Andrew Kay (ILF2014) emphasised the need for clarity, citing research that revealed confusion among businesses mistaking the organisation for a government entity, given its former name's similarity to state departments. 

Read the story.

Fivecast guides intelligence analysts on Discord challenges

Discord's 350 million registered users makes it widely popular. However, the platform also enables extremism, exploitation and trafficking – posing hurdles for security. Through ONYX, Fivecast's open-source intelligence platform, analysts can:

• streamline intelligence collection/analysis
• detect connections between targeted servers
• uncover insights within massive online data.

By leveraging advanced capabilities to exploit Discord’s open sources, risks can be addressed. Read Fivecast’s latest Industry Brief to understand emerging Discord threats and the need for sophisticated intelligence tools.

Request the Industry Brief

Australian manufacturing on the cusp of AI-driven transformation

Advancements in artificial intelligence and data are revolutionising manufacturing through the convergence called 'Industry 4.0'. SAGE's Future of Digitalisation report provides valuable insights into how Australian manufacturers are adapting. Key findings from over 100 local manufacturers unveil compelling Industry 4.0 trends in the next three years:

• 78% foresee fully automated, data-driven processes
• 84% to integrate data systems for product life cycle visibility
• 90% aim to digitise tasks through seamless, secure data exchange
• 87% will align training to optimise new tech adoption.

As Australian manufacturing navigates this wave of technology-fuelled change, understanding current perspectives provides critical direction on digitally transforming successfully.

Download the report

Introducing the Summit Boardroom

Whether you’re collaborating on strategy or brainstorming innovation, the new Summit Boardroom by Discovery Events (G’Day Group) provides a fresh and inspiring environment to energise your organisation's leadership. Designed for board meetings, workshops and retreats, this sophisticated space boasts a 30-seat board table, state-of-the-art AV equipment and a cozy fireplace. Plus, enjoy access to a stylish adjoining function area complete with a bar, lounge and alfresco space in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.

Discover the Summit Boardroom

Scholars in the Media