EOA Summer Party Wrap-up

Dear EOA Subscriber,

From all of us at Employee Ownership Australia, we would like to wish you a very happy new year and share our wrap-up of the 2024 EOA Summer Parties in Melbourne and Sydney.

These were our first in-person events since 2019, and it was a lot of fun to reconnect with long-term employee ownership professionals, friends and enthusiasts of all stripes. It was also exciting to see many new faces and the burgeoning interest and curiosity around employee ownership in Australia.

The mingling, networking and laughs over drinks and canapes were balanced out by some (mainly) serious content:

• An inspiring and galvanising speech by EOA Ambassador Graeme Nuttall OBE and EOA Board Chair Andrew Clements, which addressed global EO developments, the Australian context and how we can improve on Andrew’s report card assessment this year

• A panel discussing the inaugural GEO Global Rankings Study and the data around Australia’s position in the final report, chaired by Eileen Liu of Arnold Bloch Leibler and with panellists Hannah Needle FGE of Tapestry Compliance, Sarah Tinsley of Culture Amp (Melbourne) and Joanna Mak of Brambles (Sydney)

• A panel discussing some of the ESS hot topics and trends for Australian companies and advisers, chaired by Shaun Cartoon of Arnold Bloch Leibler and with panellists Sonia Kew of PwC, Marc Bosotti of Vialto Partners and Jordan Foster of Automic Group.

We extend our gratitude to Arnold Bloch Leibler for the beautiful venues and catering, to all of the speakers for their valuable contributions, and most of all to everyone who attended and made the Summer Parties such a success.

For all involved as well as those who were unable to attend the 2024 events, stay tuned for more in 2025! We have big plans for employee ownership in its various forms across Australia, and we look forward to sharing developments and get-togethers with you this year. 

Please get in touch with us at info@employeeownership.com.au with any feedback on the 2024 EOA Summer Parties, suggestions for future events, or requests for assistance with employee ownership matters.

EOA Recommendations

Here are our top picks for some light (well, enjoyable) summer reading and viewing around employee ownership in Australia.

• The Australian article – Employees with a vested interest in their workplace a proven boost to productivity
• RMIT Forward event recording – The Future of Work: Employee Ownership and Economic Transformation with Graeme Nuttall OBE
• ABC News – When business owners are looking to move on and sell up
• EOA press release – Employee Ownership Australia Advocates for Stronger Support for Employee Ownership Trust

About EOA

Employee Ownership Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation that represents a diverse range of members – from listed companies with employee share schemes (ESS), through to worker-owned co-operative and mutual enterprises (CMEs), and a burgeoning group of companies using employee ownership trusts (EOTs) to achieve full or partial employee ownership. Our vision is to realise the potential of employee ownership for all stakeholders including government, companies, employees, advisers, investors and funds.

You can find EOA on LinkedIn, and join our mailing list for employee ownership news and event updates by clicking here.

Becoming an EOA member enables you to join other like-minded organisations in the ongoing exchange of ideas and practices, and gain access to specialist professionals for advice on the tax, legal, financial and cultural aspects of all forms of employee ownership.