Powercor AGSE Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and Annual Richard Pratt Entrepreneur Oration
Powercor AGSE Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
The Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was launched in 2006 and is the first of its kind in Australia. The event recognises and celebrates outstanding entrepreneurs and seeks to honour Australians who have made a significant difference in their field through entrepreneurial skill and talent. The AGSE Entrepreneur Hall of Fame recognises the value of entrerpeneurship not only in the business world but also in other categories such as social, government and environmental.
Annual Richard Pratt Entrepreneur Oration
The AGSE has hosted this prestigious event since 2005. The annual oration on entrepreneurship theory and practice is presented by a prominent figure in the business community and honours Richard Pratt, one of Australia's greatest entrepreneurs. In addition to being a prominent businessman, arts philanthropist and football figure, Richard Pratt was Swinburne's Foundation Chancellor from December 1992 to April 2000.
Powercor AGSE Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame 2009
This year, not only are we inducting into our AGSE Entrepreneur Hall of Fame some of the most exceptional Australian entrepreneurs, we are also thrilled to have Andrew Demetriou present the Annual Richard Pratt Entrepreneur Oration. Andrew is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Football League and a former Australian Rules footballer.
| Date: | Wednesday 22 July 2009 |
| 6.30pm - 10.30pm | |
| Venue: | Park Hyatt Melbourne |
| 1 Parliament Square, off Parliament Place | |
| Melbourne VIC 3002 |
For more information email agse@swin.edu.au
2009 Richard Pratt Entrepreneur Orator
Past Hall of Fame Inductees
2009 Richard Pratt Entrepreneurship Orator
Andrew Demetriou– Chief Executive Officer, Australian Football League (AFL)
Andrew Demetriou is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Football League and a former Australian Rules footballer. Elected to the position in 2003, Andrew was instrumental in securing a record-breaking $780 million television rights deal.
Prior to that, Andrew was CEO of the AFL Players Association, and played a key part in establishing programs to look after both career and retired players. He led the implementation of the AFL Players' Association Retirement Fund, the Player Welfare Fund, as well as the Education and Training Fund, among many others. He also negotiatied a landmark five-year collective bargaining agreement on behalf of the players.
Andrew is also a qualified teacher, and has taught business, law and politics at Trinity Grammar School and RMIT.
Past Inductees
2008
Leon Serry – Founder and former Managing Director, Circadian Technologies Limited
Leon Serry has played a pioneering role for nearly a quarter of a century in attracting investment and funds to biotech. He has persistently and passionately over a long period of time created an awareness of biotech and its value to the community. In 1985, Leon Serry founded Circadian Technologies Limited which was the first biotech company to list on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Leon has been instrumental in creating an awareness in Australia amongst financial institutions, brokers and the investment community of the nature and benefits of biotech stock investment and the need for funding of projects at Australian universities.
After retiring from Circadian early this year after 25 years at the helm, Leon is now involving himself with several biotech start-up companies, and will be involved in start-ups in water and energy conservation projects. In addition, Leons charitable contribution is in the form of devoting part of his time on behalf of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research of New York to create an awareness of their cancer research and clinical trials.
Roger and Lesley Gillespie – Current Co-founders and joint Chief Executive Officers of Bakers Delight.
For Roger and Lesley Gillespie owning and running their first bakery was a result of practical motivations. It provided an opportunity to not only support themselves and their family, but to assist others in getting a head start. Roger and Lesley have always had a strong desire to contribute to community initiatives. In the 70s they were involved in a philanthropic group and chose to open a bakery to fund this.
Roger is a fourth generation baker and was involved as a proprietor of a hot bread shop in partnership with his parents and two sisters. He then moved on to found the Old Style Bread Shops, the forerunner of Brumbys, before breaking away from these businesses and founding Bakers Delight with wife of two years, Lesley in partnership with Gary Stephenson.
1980 the first Bakers Delight store opened in Hawthorn. 1988 saw the franchising concept embraced to grow the business from 15 to 43 bakeries in just three short years. Currently there is a 700 strong network of bakeries locally and internationally (NZ, Canada and the USA). Roger and Leslie recognised that overseas expansion was an important long term business plan. Bakers Delight will fund its American expansion through Australian revenues. The North American market will continue to expand where it expects to operate over 100 stores within two years.
Lyn Swinburne – Chief Executive Officer, Breast Cancer Network Australia
Lyn Swinburne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and underwent surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Since that time, and as a result of her experiences, she has become a committed advocate on behalf of women with breast cancer and their families.
In 1998 she founded Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), of which she is presently its CEO. BCNA is now the peak national breast cancer consumer organisation representing 196 member groups and more than 28,000 individuals in all state and territories. BCNA currently has 24 staff members and a vast number of volunteers working for the organisation.
Lyn is the creator of the Field of Women concept, which has now spread to international venues, and of The Beacon magazine of which she continues to be Editor.
Rob Adams AM – Director, City Design and Urban Environment, City of Melbourne
Professor Rob Adams AM is one of the champions of urban design in Australia today with over 30 years experience as a practising designer in both private enterprise and public service. Rob has been awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for services to urban design, town planning and architecture.
In 1985 Rob put in place the first comprehensive urban design strategy for the City of Melbourne. He has, as a designer, guided its implementation from the strategic vision and projects such as the City’s revitalisation project, Postcode 3000, Swanston Street, QV, Birrarung Marr, Queensbridge Precinct, Turning Basin and CH2 through to the detailed bluestone paving, street furniture, lighting, signage and tree planning. Over two decades Rob has been pivotal in the reversal in the way the city is perceived.
More recently he has made a significant contribution to the City’s Zero Emissions 2020 project through such buildings as CH2, Australias first six star commercial building, East Melbourne Library and the Queen Victoria Market solar installations.
2007
Jim Fox - Managing Director, Vision Systems Limited
Jim Fox, FTSE, PhD, was inducted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the technology industry. By far, his most important achievement was establishing a strong work culture among his talented team of staff and his tireless efforts to build an internationally-focused technology business.
Peter Scully - Founder, SAI group
Founder of the SAI Group, a boutique financial advisory practice, Peter was recognised for his success in the venture finance category. His business identified a critical gap in the market for structured products that deliver tax effective, high returns and together with Grant Ross, a graduate of Swinburne's Masters of Enterprise and Innovation, he has transformed the company into a $3 billon specialist funds management group.
Barry Moignard - Start-up entrepreneur
A Swinburne graduate, Barry was recognised for his success as a start up entrepreneur. Barry has started some 40 business ventures in his professional career, including Nitropak, Davnet, Koowee Alarms and the award-winning UK nursery Kelways at the Chelsea Flower Show. He also contributed to the growth of the Over Fifties Friendly Society with $2 billion in asset investment.
Zig Inge - Managing Director, Zig Inge Group
Zig was recognised for his contribution to high-growth enterprise. His passion for quality construction and outdoor living was the driving force behind the construction of his first retirement village development. Today his company designs and builds retirement villages and apartment complexes throughout Australia.
Ross and John Brown - Brown Brothers
Ross and John Brown were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the family business sector. Following in the footsteps of their father and grandfather, the pair have helped make Brown Brothers an international success story with a renowned reputation in the UK, New Zealand, Europe, the US, Southeast Asia and Japan.
Tanya De Jong - Founder of Music Theatre Australia
Tanya was inducted in recognition of her outstanding contribution to social entrepreneurship. Her charity, The Song Room, provides music and arts programs in Australia's schools and communities, particularly those disadvantaged through economic and geographic circumstances.
2006
Dr Peter C Farrell - Founding Chairman and CEO, ResMed Inc
Peter was inducted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to breakthroughs in the health sciences industry. Identifying the high incidence of sleep apnoea and its contribution to hypertension, the NYSE-listed ResMed Inc has pioneered the development, manufacture and marketing of diagnostic treatment devices for sleep-disordered sleeping and respiratory failure.
Noel Waite AO - Chairman, Waite Group and Director, Waite Intersearch
A well-known identity in the fields of human resources and women's affairs, Noel was acknowledged for her role in advancing the development of women in management. She has worked within the Australian Institute of Management to develop ground-breaking programs focusing on equal opportunity, affirmative action and career development for women. Noel is Chairman of world-class executive search company, the Waite Group, and Director of Waite Intersearch.
Evan Thornley and Tracey Ellery - Co-founders, LookSmart
Evan and Tracey were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the information technology and telecommunications industry. Evan has been named by US magazine Venture Capital as one of the most 100 influential people in the digital world. He spearheads Looksmart in the role of Director to oversee the company’s current revenue of over A$100 million per annum.
Past Hall of Fame events
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Further Information |
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Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship
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