Latest News
- American students get a taste of entrepreneurship education at the AGSE
- ARC Linkage Grant success for FBE
- Swinburne student entrepreneurs win global business award
- 2009 Heloise Waislitz Fellowship awarded to Unitus Capital co-founder and social entrepreneur Kylie Charlton
- Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI) students to compete among world's top student entrepreneurs for prestigious business prize
- Michael Liffman appointed to Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS)
- Faculty of Business and Enterprise excels in this year's 2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF)
- Order of Australia Association Foundation Scholarship winner announced
- CounselLink success at JHEC 2009
- FBE Professor at Harvard International Conference
- MEI student launched the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria Website
- Swinburne at Lygon Street Festa 2008 – Italian Competition Winners
- Student wins first prize at Japanese Speech Contest
- Study Tour Awards
- Farewell to MIntA Students
- AGSE Host an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Panel
- AGSE Hall of Fame Induction Dinner
- The Centre for Social Impact
- Research News
- Archived News
American students get a taste of entrepreneurship education at the AGSE
The Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) recently played host to undergraduate students visiting from the United States.
Dr Alex Maritz, Program Director of the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI) program delivered at AGSE, held a workshop on “Twenty Entrepreneur Start-up Myths”. Forty-five students attended the workshop, which included team activities. Each team presented a list of five business success factors for entrepreneurs.
Dr Maritz has a varied background in business and a published academic and media commentator on entrepreneurship. He has over a decade's experience in executive directorship, and was Chief Operating Officer for Ster Kinekor/Sony Playstation. He was also Managing Director at Blockbuster Entertainment and is currently Managing Partner of Showcase Ventures (Australia, New Zealand and South Africa). He is also a practising "pracademic".
ARC Linkage Grant success for FBE
The Faculty of Business and Enterprise (FBE) has been successful in the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant round. A team including Phil Taylor, Libby Brooke, Nita Cherry, Janet Gregory and Margaret Steinberg has secured $330,000 (excluding industry funding) to study the work-life transition issues facing older women. The partner organisations involved are ESS Super, Westpac Banking Corporation and UniSuper.
There are significant gaps in knowledge in relation to the later life experiences of work and retirement among older women, whose career opportunities and trajectories, experiences of balancing work and personal aspects of life, social relationships both at work and in the community, financial security,
and lived experience of ageing, may differ from those of men. As a consequence of such gaps, public policymaking and that of employers is based on an
incomplete understanding of older women's orientations and attitudes. The study will develop policy and practice recommendations for structuring and enriching women's later job and retirement opportunities.
Swinburne student entrepreneurs win global business award
Swinburne student entrepreneur team, Poppet International, has won a prestigious global business award for their pan to bring safe, ready-to-drink infant beverages to the globe using a revolutionary packaging system. The $5,000 Global Award prize, sponsored by sponsored by LES International (LESI), was awarded at the Licensing Executives Society (LES) Foundation Business Plan Competition finals held in Montreal in May.
Made up of students in the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI) program, Poppet International specialises in patented, technology-based manufacturing solutions to deliver single-use infant beverages to the market in sterile, recyclable baby bottles. Each bottle is equipped with a revolutionary molded plastic closure, which when snapped off exposes a safe, recyclable nipple that is specially designed to allow for accurate flow control.
"There is a huge international market for ready-to-drink long-life infant formulas, sterile water, rehydration drinks, infant suitable juices and vaccines,” Poppet International managing director Peter Bares said. “Our concept will not only help busy parents, but also hospitals, day-care centres and other child care facilities.”
Poppet International was one of two Swinburne teams to be selected for the finals of this competition. The other team was CounselLink, a technology services, outsourcing and lead generation company for the allied health industry. This is the second consecutive year that a Swinburne student team has won the LESI Global Award.
2009 Heloise Waislitz Fellowship awarded to Unitus Capital co-founder and social entrepreneur Kylie Charlton
The Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Investment and Philanthropy (APCSIP) at Swinburne has named senior finance executive and social entrepreneur Kylie Charlton the Heloise Wasilitz Fellow for 2009. Kylie is the co-founder and managing director of Unitus Capital, a financial advisory firm that focuses on facilitating equitable access for social enterprises to domestic and international capital markets. Prior to that she was vice-president of the Capital Markets team at Unitus, Inc., an award-winning international non-profit organisation that provides capital investment and capacity building assistance to microfinance institutions, and has also held the role of Vice-President, Project and Structured Finance at Citigroup, Inc.
Kylie's qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce (Banking and Finance) from the University of Canberra and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Oxford, United Kingdom. She has also completed the HBS-ACCION Program on Strategic Leadership on Microfinance at Harvard Business School, USA. She was the co-founder and student co-chair of the Oxford Business Network for Social Entrepreneurship and has been on the panel at numerous social entrepreneurship conferences.
The annual Heloise Waislitz Fellowship enables a senior practitioner to visit Australia to discuss international developments in the fields of philanthropy, social investment and grantmaking, examine the Australian experience and promote the further exchange of ideas.
Previous fellows have come from the USA, the UK, Brazil and the Philippines. The program is proudly supported by the Pratt Foundation.
Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI) students to compete among world's top student entrepreneurs for prestigious business prize
Two student entrepreneur teams from Swinburne have been selected as finalists for the 2009 Licensing Executives Society (LES) Foundation Business Plan Competition, to be held in Montreal, Canada in May. The two teams, named Poppet International Pty Ltd and CounselLink Pty Ltd, comprise students of the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innvoation program offered at Swinburne's Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE).
CounselLink is a technology services, outsourcing and lead generation company for the allied health industry. The allied health industry consists of medical professionals who are not doctors, such as physiotherapists, dieticians and psychologists. Poppet International is a development company specialising in patented, technology-based manufacturing solutions targeting identified market needs in infant feeding and biomedical security.
The finalists will travel to Montreal for the final round of the competition, where they will present their business plans to a world-class panel of judges in a simulated real-world venture capital setting. They will compete for a grand prize of US$10,000 and in-kind prizes worth up to $50,000 from Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, and 24IP Law Group, as well as the prestigious $US5,000 Global Award sponsored by the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI).
The LES Foundation noted that they received nearly 60 outstanding business plans from all over the world including the US, Canada, Australia, Chile, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. This represents significant growth in the submissions and level of competition to the 2008 event.
“These students have built extraordinary business plans around cutting-edge products and technology,” said Linda Chao, Senior Associate with the Office of Technology Licensing at Stanford University and Chair of the 2009 competition. “Many of our past winners have gone on to launch successful businesses and we're confident that this year will be no exception.”
More information on the LES Foundation and the competition can be found on the LES Foundation website.
Michael Liffman appointed to Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS)
Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Investment and Philanthropy (APCSIP) director Michael Liffman has been appointed to the Coordinating Committee of Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS). WINGS is an international peak body for the philanthropic sectors from over 140 nations throughout the world. WINGS is supported by, among others, the Ford and Mott Foundations.
This is the first time Australia has been represented at the executive level of WINGS, and the first time that any university has been involved. This places APCSIP at the very centre of the world's leading international philanthropic networks.
Faculty of Business and Enterprise excels in this year's 2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF)
The Faculty of Business and Enterprise has excelled again in this year's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund. The faculty has been ranked in Band A2 in the Business, Law and Economics discipline group. This makes us one of only two Victorian business schools to be ranked in Band A for three years in a row.
Order of Australia Association Foundation Scholarship winner announced
The 2009 Order of Australia Association (OAA) Foundation Scholarship has been awarded to Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical)/Bachelor of Business (Management) student James Hicks. The award recognises James' outstanding leadership potential and involvement in community engagement activities.
A volunteer from a young age, when he was a Scout, James has been involved with a range of local organisations and currently devotes his spare time to filming and editing the program ‘4WD TV’ on Channel 31. The scholarship will cover James' tuition fees, accommodation, living allowance and other education expenses for the remainder of his degree. He will also have onvoing access to a mentor, which for him is the highlight of winning the scholarship. “It’s going to be extremely valuable having some help into working life. I’m looking forward to the personal experience of someone involved in the industry,” he said.
The OAA Foundation supports the next generation of leaders by sponsoring scholarships to young Australians in their early years of tertiary study. One of these scholarships is being sponsored at Swinburne in the field of Business.
CounselLink success at JHEC 2009
Congratulations to CounselLink for coming second place at the John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge. The John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge is a new venture competition for tertiary students.
The competition is designed to:
- Enhance the quality of entrepreneurship education
- To increase the rate of success for new ventures; and
- To extend national and international networks for young entrepreneurs and educators.
CounselLink is technology services, outsourcing and lead generation company for the allied health sector (health professionals who are not doctors such as Chiropractors, psychologists and audiologists). Its patent pending matching system matches clients to practitioners. CounselLink manages appointments, payments and rebates electronically, improving practitioners cash flow and perceived value for money.
Team members included Alison Hardacre (Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and Jordan Trew (Master Management Strategic Foresight).
FBE Professor at Harvard International Conference
Professor John Saee was recently invited to deliver his peer reviewed paper titled: The rising role of China within the global economy in the 21st Century at the prestigious Harvard International Conference on globalization of Chinese Economy and firms held at Harvard University held in October , 2008. The paper highlighted the fact that globalization has also been a major catalyst for exponential growth of the Chinese national economy.
Professor Saee was also invited to serve on the selection panel for reviewing manuscripts to be presented at the Harvard International Conference. Additionally, he has been invited to chair a major panel on Chinese’ Global Competitiveness where several peer reviewed papers were presented examining various facets of the Chinese society including, Chinese political economy and business strategy.
 Pictured: Professor John Saee presenting at the Harvard International Conference |
MEI student launched the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria Website
Final year Swinburne Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation student and also practising barrister, William Lye, officially launched on 13 November 2008 the web site of the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria (CommBar) at a function attended by over 300 guests at the Supreme Court of Victoria’s library, hosted by the Honourable Chief Justice Marilyn Warren, AC.
Mr Lye, who also holds a Bachelor of Science, majoring in computers, and a Master of Laws, was one of the principal architects of the web site.
Having spent 6 months working pro bono on the design and development, the web site is considered to be a world first in the way in which a legal association seeks to present its members. CommBar is an association within the Victorian Bar and the web site presents its members practising in commercial law in a unique, creative and innovative way.
Commenting on the website, Mr Bill Jarrad, founder of mindwerx.com and current MEI lecturer in Creativity and Innovation said “For a professional association, it is the ability to connect people and give a face to the organisation that really makes the difference”.
Mr Lye said that he had to dig deep into his learning in the MEI as he took on the project without any funding, then had to pitch to get a small amount of funding, and boot strapped the rest. It was no different to running an entrepreneurial start up.
“The MEI provided me with the necessary tools to undertake strategic market analysis and design, build effective teams, and craft powerful imagery using presentation tools” Mr Lye said.
With the highly successful launch under his belt, Mr Lye and his team are now looking at undertaking an even larger project.
See the web site at www.commbar.com.au
 Pictured: Mr William Lye presenting the Commercial Bar Association of Victoria website |
Swinburne at Lygon Street Festa 2008 – Italian Competition Winners
The Faculty of Business and Enterprise held a stall for the very first time at the Lygon Street Festa 2008! Held on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November, it was a fantastic weekend of Italian activities and Swinburne involvement in the Italian and greater Melbourne community.
Over the weekend we held an Italian Lygon Street Festa Competition, which involved Pesa la Pasta - guessing the weight of our special Swinburne pasta, answering Baci Booth Italian trivia questions and 2 minute Italian in an Instant lessons with our enthusiastic Italian staff and students.
There were over 850 participants these activities who entered into the draw for a limited edition Swinburne iPod nano, and the correct guess for the Swinburne pasta awarded with an Italian Hamper worth $170 full of Italian goodies including new book The Italian expatriate vote in Australia: Democratic right, democratic wrong, or political opportunism? by Swinburne academics Dr Simone Battiston and Dr Bruno Mascitelli launched on 13 November 2008 at Readings Carlton.
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We are very pleased to announce the winners of our Italian Lygon Street Festa Competition 2008: Pesa la Pasta Competition Winner: Ivy Lee of Carlton North, for correctly guessing the weight of the Swinburne pasta at 5278 grams! |
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Winner of the limited edition Swinburne iPod nano: Further information about Italian Studies |
Student wins first prize at Japanese Speech Contest
Keiichi Nakano (first year student in Japanese language advanced stream) has won the first prize in the background speaker division on 6 September at the 39th Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest, Victorian State Final 2008, run by the Consulate-General of Japan, Melbourne and The Japan Foundation, Sydney. Keiichi was awarded a trophy, $120 book voucher, Japanese Kimono, a return flight to Sydney and one night accommodation in Sydney to participate in the national finals as a Victorian representative.
Keiichi was also successful at national level, winning first prize in the background speaker division on 18 October at the 39th Australian National Final Japanese Language Speech Contest 2008, held in Sydney, run by The Japan Foundation, Sydney.
Keiichi’s prizes included:
- A return flight to Japan complete with accommodation package and;
- Shinkansen Bullet Train ticket.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Keiichi to travel to Japan and further improve his Japanese language skills.
Congratulations to the talented Keiichi Nakano as well as commendation to the support and excellent teaching from the Japanese language staff (Lee Chen, Tokuya Mizuno, Tsunehiko Nawano, Theresa Savage) at the Faculty of Business and Enterprise.
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The Treviso Study Program in Italy and the Asia-Pacific Study Tour Awards function (8 October 2008, AGSE207, 4-5.30pm) was a very successful event with attendance from over 70 students, families and friends. The event provided a briefing on the nature of the two international events offered by the Faculty of Business and Enterprise.
The success of such an experience was also measured by the 16 scholarships of $1,000 these experiences had attracted . The most important part of the evening were the presentation of the awards to undergraduate Swinburne students who participated in either the international experience in 2008 and distinguished themselves for academic merit, leadership and engagement skills. The scholarship sponsors were: Swinburne International ($8,000), the Grollo-Ruzzene Foundation ($6,000), and the Antoinette Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Farewell to MIntA Students MIntA Intake 8 students from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were farewelled at CPA House after a most successful visit to study the final unit of the MIntA program, Contemporary Issues in Accounting. The unit was taught by Dr Nick Mroczkowski, Dr Geoff Speight and Dr Julie Foreman. CPA very generously provided the venue for the farewell function as well as their continuing support of the program since 1998 by way of scholarships, hospitality and information session support.
Swinburne started MIntA in 1998 and we are now up to Intake 10 in our 10th year. Intake 2 students visited Melbourne first in 2002. More than 150 students have taken the Australian Study Visit option since 2002, there have been 232 MIntA graduates - Intakes 1-7 with over 20 staff teaching into the program over the 10 years. The Centenary Celebrations in 2008 included the graduation ceremonies in Vietnam which celebrated 10 years of MIntA along with Swinburne's Centenary.
AGSE Host an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Panel
New trends, new media and new opportunities was the message 3 Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation representatives presented to a full-house at the recent VISA/VECCI Sales and Marketing Conference held at Federation Square recently. Present were Dr Alex Maritz (Program Director: MEI) and entrepreneurs Tony Featherstone and Bert Verhoeven (MEI Graduates). Pictured Alex with Tony Weeler, Founder and CEO of Lonely Planet.
AGSE Hall of Fame Induction Dinner
Congratulations to 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 for their induction into the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. For more information on the night.
The Centre for Social Impact
On July 15 the formal launch by the Governor-General of the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) took place at the University of New South Wales.
The CSI is a major new initiative drawing together and consolidating the growing Australia-wide interest in philanthropy, social investment, the not-for-profit sector, and social entrepreneurship. The CSI brings together Swinburne University (through the AGSE's Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment), the University of Melbourne (through the Melbourne Business School), and the University of New South Wales, at which it is based.
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