APRIL BULLETIN

From the fashion runways of New York and Rome to the cosmos of satellite connectivity, Julia Johnson's career journey is nothing short of meteoric.

Message from the Chief Executive

Welcome to the April bulletin. We have another outstanding Scholar in the Spotlight this edition. Julia Johnson's (ILF2019) rise through textiles and fashion to trailblazing global IoT telco Myriota is truly remarkable. To establish herself as a senior leader in a traditionally male-dominated sector is furthermore an outstanding achievement. Read about how the experience gained at the Stanford Graduate School of Business has been an important ingredient in her success.

2024 grant applications open
Applications opened at the end of February, and we have already seen strong interest. It’s a credit to you (our ILF Scholars) that many applicants are highly motivated to join your network, and it is our task to ensure the quality of each new entrant meets the highest standard. If you feel someone in your network might make the grade, please point them to our website or refer them to me for a confidential chat.

2024 training and events calendar
You may have noticed a brief pause in ILFSN events, which is due to us taking the first ever deep-dive survey of our Scholars' preferences across a broad spectrum of activities. The results are in and the messages, while not unanimous, are clear. Your ILFSN Committee is now preparing the program for 2024/2025, and you can expect to see key themes across ESG, branding and communication, strategy tools, export development and media training.

2024 applicant info night
I’d like to remind you of our upcoming annual information night on 7 May. Thanks once again to Lumination for hosting the event at their brilliant premises in Thebarton. A free event, this will be a great opportunity for existing and potential Scholars to reconnect in a social setting with cocktail catering provided. Look out for your invitation and if you haven’t received one, please contact Suzi.

Flu shots
With flu season almost upon us, we’ve asked Star Discount Chemist if they would provide subsidised shots for ILF scholars, friends and families, and they have agreed to support this. Simply mention the ILF to receive the discounted rate. There is also a corporate program if your company wishes to have on-site shots for your staff. More information on this below. Thank you to Peter Piliouras (ILF2014) and the team at Star Discount Chemist.

I look forward to seeing you at the next event in May and as always, I welcome any feedback and suggestions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out directly if you’d like to discuss anything, and you’re always very welcome to stop by our office for a coffee at any time.

Best regards and 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

Julia Johnson
VP Marketing, Myriota
Executive Program for Growing Companies
Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2019

From the fashion runways of New York and Rome to the cosmos of satellite connectivity, Julia Johnson's career journey is nothing short of meteoric.

"When I was 18, Adelaide was a very different place,” the now 34-year-old VP of Marketing at tech company Myriota, recalls.

“I didn't see a future in Adelaide; we had what's called the brain drain. And so when I turned 18, I moved to Melbourne," Julia says.

After undertaking a Bachelor of Textile Design from RMIT, she spent two years modelling and studying in Rome and New York, immersing herself in the latest trends and cultures before returning to her hometown to lead creative direction for New World Lifestyle Group, a hospitality company with 40 restaurants and entertainment venues across Adelaide.

A pivot towards tech

It was a mentor’s influence that motivated Julia to study a Bachelor of Management (Marketing) from the University of South Australia in 2013 and return to her alma mater five years later to take on an MBA, setting her on a trajectory toward the tech industry.

After finishing her degree in record time and graduating at the top of her class, she secured a management position at Sensei, a Microsoft partner, becoming the company’s first female in a non-admin role at the age of 25.

Fast forward to today and Julia is the marketing dynamo at Myriota, a trailblazing global telco for the Internet-of-Things (IoT), leveraging revolutionary IP to deliver field insights to underserved areas  – all from the once unlikely launchpad of Adelaide.

As VP of Marketing, Julia has witnessed the company's remarkable growth, from 16 employees when she joined as Marketing and Communications Manager in 2018 to nearly 70 today.

“We had 25 new hires just last year primarily in Adelaide – that's significant growth for our size,” she notes.

Reflecting on her own evolution, with three promotions in less than six years, Julia emphasises the importance of adaptability and personal growth.

“You really have to have a growth mindset and be able to evolve with your company because what the company needs in year two or three is very different from what the company needs at year 10.”

William Buck Adelaide 2024 CFO Summit

The William Buck Adelaide CFO Summit has become a premier conference in South Australia, and a must-attend for CFOs, CEOs, finance leaders and other key decision-makers across industry. Now open for registration, the 2024 CFO Summit will take place on Wednesday, 15 May at Adelaide Oval.

Hosted by award-winning journalist Jess Adamson, this year's line-up includes the Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP, Treasurer of South Australia, Charlie Shahin, Managing Director of Peregrine, Anthony Kittel (ILF2010), Managing Director of REDARC, Dr Olga Muzychenko, Associate Head of Adelaide Business School at The University of Adelaide, and Professor Göran Roos, internationally recognised innovator and strategist.

The program will cover critical topics in the year ahead, including:

• navigating growth: insights from Peregrine’s journey to prominence
• culture and competitive advantage in the global context
• mindfulness-based wellbeing
• operating in a green economy
• mandatory climate-related disclosures
• all things cyber: what CFOs and boards need to know.

As an ILF member, you can also enjoy a $50 discount by using the code ILF50 at checkout. Be quick, registrations close on 8 May.

Save the Dates

*Dates and/or locations be confirmed

Special rates on flu shots

As the cooler weather sets in, don’t let the flu catch you or your business off guard. Thanks to Star Discount Chemist, the ILF community can protect their health and productivity with special rates on the flu shot this winter.

Exclusively for ILF Scholars, Star Discount Chemist is providing a 20% discount on flu shots, bringing the price down from $24.95 to $19.95. Simply mention the ILF at your local Star Discount Chemist to receive this offer.

Star Discount Chemist also caters to businesses through its corporate flu vaccination program. Companies can purchase flu vouchers at $19.95 per injection, redeemable at any Star Discount Chemist location, making it convenient for employees to get vaccinated at their preferred time and place.

For larger organisations requiring 50 or more vaccinations, Star Discount Chemist can send their pharmacists directly to your premises. With no extra fee charged for the site visit, employees can receive their flu shots at $24.95 per injection.

For more information, register your details with the code ILF2024 and a member of the Star Discount Chemist team will be in touch.  

Business in Brief

Calls for payroll tax reforms

The South Australian Business Chamber has called on the State Government to reform payroll tax, arguing that businesses are being penalised for creating jobs with "a large tax bill". In a formal submission to Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, the chamber's CEO Andrew Kay, pictured, (ILF2014) outlined a raft of suggested reforms to the tax, which has remained unchanged since 2019.

Among the key recommendations are lifting the payroll tax threshold from $1.5 million to $2.1 million, which would give South Australia the most competitive threshold in the country. The chamber also proposed introducing a 50 per cent discount on the tax for regional businesses operating in the state, aligning with Victoria's approach of taxing regional firms at a lower rate.

Other proposals include exempting wages paid to apprentices, trainees, graduates, underrepresented workers, long-term unemployed individuals and those undergoing reskilling. The chamber also called for widening the payroll tax scale range and relaxing grouping restrictions for small businesses in their first year. While acknowledging the tax's significance in generating revenue, estimated at $1.685 billion in the next 12 months, the chamber argued it impedes business growth and forces many firms to pay it for the first time due to wage increases.

Read the InDaily article.

Scholars in the Media