“The time has come, the walrus said, to speak of many things…”  
I wrote last month of embracing Change to widen perspective and deepen experience.  And now I find myself doing just that. This will be my last blog post to you, the wonderful Victorian members, as I am embarking on a new phase or the next chapter of my journey.
I want to say thank you. Thanks for inviting me into this extraordinary community of down-to-earth entrepreneurial people. Yes, I mean you. It has been invigorating to be part, for a small while, of a dynamic which is businesslike and interesting and fraught and fun, in equal measures.

Thanks for sharing your ideas and gripes and plans for the future. Thanks for, not only coming to my events, but for participating with such gusto and enthusiasm. And a very special thanks to the complainers. Seriously, without frank and honest feedback we can never improve. I am especially grateful for the time on the phone or detailed emails that businesses and advisers gave me, without fear or favour. (And I realise now that it’s only from your family that you hear the stuff you need to hear, so you can do it better.)

Connect like you’re made of Lego
Share like a cold in a kindergarten
and Grow like there’s nothing to stop you

News from our members

Dyson Group of Companies is very proud to announce that our OH&S Advisor, Paula King, was awarded “Return To Work Coordinator Excellence” at the Worksafe Victoria Awards 2015 on Wednesday 28th October. Click here to see the article.

Our very own State Chair, Jeremy Manford and his team at Compu-stor were finalists in the Transport and Logistics category at the 2015 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards. Although their fearless leader was away working on his succession plan (Jeremy was welcoming his daughter Isobelle into the world – congrats!) the large contingent of enthusiastic Compu-stor staff added much energy to the evening. Huge congratulations on making the finalists from a large number of entries! The overall winner for 2015 was Inver Engineering – also a family business.

Time to Learn

On Thursday 29th October the Victorian Adviser Group held its Annual Adviser Breakfast and this year they outdid themselves with an insightful and comprehensive presentation from Bruce Billson, Member for Dunkley. Billson was the Minister for Small Business until the recent changes but has lost nothing of his passion and commitment for family enterprises. He held the large audience captive as he outlined gritty ideas for the ongoing prosperity of the sector. Thank you, Bruce for your significant contribution. Hopefully FBA will get a copy of his presentation so we can share his 8 take-away points for all family enterprises that will really get you thinking.

In the recent edition of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner eNewsletter they looked at at the changing face of retail and the impact that this is having on the type of commercial disputes dealt with at the VSBC. There are a number of tips for avoiding disputes in this new retail landscape – whether you operate out of a bricks and mortar store, a pop-up or online. Click here for more information.

You can also watch a series of conversations had with The Small Business Institute. In these, retail leasing, dispute resolution and the role of the VSBC are discussed.

Last, but not least, the VSBC Annual Report was tabled in Parliament yesterday. It is now accessible via the link.

Time to Network
 
On the 24th November Norm and Trish from Star Business Solutions are hosting a breakfast seminar at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club on Improving Profit and Business & Operational Intelligence. You may have already spoken to Norm and Trish – they’re the orange stand with the large bowl of chocolates at each National Conference.
For more information on the breakfast seminar email julie.nardella@Star.cd or call 03 8415 8315.

Also from the Brains Trust at the Fordham Group;

On Wednesday 18 November the Global Economic Update will be delivered by Scott Haslem, Managing Director and Chief Economist for Australasia at UBS. Scott was rated the number one institutional market economist from 2011–2014 in the Australian East Coles Equities Report. Scott heads the Australasian economics team, which continues to rank at the top of both equities and fixed income research polls. Prior to joining UBS, he spent seven years working for the Reserve Bank of Australia, primarily in the economic activity and forecasting section.
This will be followed by the Financial Market Update and Portfolio Review by Kyle Lidbury, Head of Investment Research at Perpetual. Kyle is responsible for Perpetual Private’s investment offer. He leads a team of ten investment professionals whose responsibilities include management of the Select Multi-Manager products, implemented portfolios, model portfolios and sourcing unique and differentiated investment offerings to protect and grow clients’ wealth. Click here for more information and to register.

Nicola McKay
VIC and TAS Manager
Family Business Australia