AGSE Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame

The Faculty of Business and Enterprise officially launched the AGSE Hall of Fame on March 2, 2006. The AGSE Hall of Fame, is the first of its kind in Australia and is dedicated to recognising and celebrating outstanding entrepreneurs.

Hall of Fame 2007
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Hall of Fame 2008

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Inductees

On Thursday 24 July, Swinburne University of Technology’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship inducted five of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs into its Hall of Fame in recognition of the contribution they have made to Australian society.

The five inductees are Roger and Lesley Gillespie, co-founders and current CEOs of Bakers Delight, Leon Serry, founder and former Managing Director of Circadian Technologies Limited, Lyn Swinburne, founder and CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia, and Rob Adams, Director, Design and Culture, City of Melbourne.

The Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship’s Hall of Fame seeks to honour those Australians who have made a significant difference in their field through entrepreneurial skill and talent, and recognises the value of entrepreneurship not only in the business world but in the social, government and scientific spheres.

A key feature of the event was the Annual Richard Pratt Entrepreneur Oration. This year it was given by Domenic Carosa, current CEO of Dominet Digital Corporation Pty Ltd, and founder and former CEO of destra Corporation. Domenic’s keynote address focused on the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur, including his recent experiences with Destra Corporation and how he is back in business with several new internet ventures.

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Chancellor Bill Scales	Professor Russell Kenley	Antipod Entertainment	The ladder, the light-bulb & laughter Entertainment
Professor David Hayward	Orator Domenic Carosa	A night enjoyed by all	Mark Sturgess and Julian Lippi
Domenic Carosa and David Hayward	Engaging Motions Entertainment	Seaside Entertainment	Professor Dale Murphy
Inductee Leon Sherry	Inductee Lyn Swinburne	Inductee Denis Littleford on behalf of Roger and Lesley Gillespie	Inductee Professor Rob Adams

Orator

Domenic Carosa is the founder and CEO of digital media Investment company Dominet Digital Corporation Pty Ltd. Prior to this he co-founded destra Corporation in 1993, when he was in his late teens and then listed it on the Australian Stock Exchange in May 2000. At the time, Domenic was the youngest CEO of a public-listed company in Australia.

Under his direction, destra has branched out from its core web hosting and communications business to become one of Australia’s leading independent media and entertainment companies. The company had annualised revenues over $100m in 2008.

Domenic is committed to innovation, with other achievements including building Australia’s largest independent digital music website (MP3.com.au) and launching Australia’s first legal and commercial digital download service (destraMusic).

Domenic is currently Chairman of the Internet Industry Association, Chairman of the IIA Digital Music Taskforce and has won numerous young achiever awards.

Inductees for 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.