Four Generations – it’s a boy! During my 9 year association with FBA, I have had the privilege of getting to know some of the FBA members very well and have been on a journey with many as their families have grown in numbers and in generations. This month it has been my personal experience to welcome our Fourth Generation family member with the arrival of a Grandson. So I thought as I know so many of you personally you wouldn’t mind me doing a ‘Granny Brag’.

Watching my son, who not too long ago couldn’t even look after himself, now looking after this tiny little person is quiet surreal. I had to stop myself from stepping in when my grandson was crying, wanting to take over and help, I thought ‘my son is just a child he doesn’t know how to look after another human’. Of course he is a capable intelligent adult and he will do just fine and will learn the same way as we all did… the hard way!

While learning parenting skills may be natural or at best something you pick up as you go along, I am sure the same cannot be said of learning how to run the family business. This brought me to thinking about all the family businesses that have transition from one generation to the next, what was the key driver of this success? The need to make sure the incoming generation not only has all the skills and knowledge required to take on the responsibilities of leading a family business but also has the motivation to do so, cannot be emphasised enough.

This is something we will be exploring at the WA State Conference on Wednesday 7th June along with other topics such as leadership, communication, financing the family business and much more.

The conference will be held at the stunning new venue Beaumonde on the Point. Key Note speakers confirmed are Matthew Pavlich, retired Fremantle Dockers Player and Andrew Horabin from Bullshift. Both these fantastic speakers are sure to add the to the fantastic program. Mark the day in your diary and we will send you more information in the very near future.

Past Events Wrap Up

Taking a look at the year so far, our first Family Business Insider event for 2017 was held at Wanneroo Botanic Gardens, over 75 people braved the wet weather to enjoy a funny and insightful presentation by business owner Paul Woodcock. Paul’s family and business partners from the Leapfrogs café provided outstanding hospitality in a beautiful setting. Thank you for their generosity in opening the family business to us.

The Next Gen Members gathered at the Hippocampus Distillery to hear from fellow next generation family business members on their personal experiences on entering and moving through the challenges of working with their family.

Our first Adviser Connect event topic ‘’Understanding Profitability in the context of the family business” was popular and was full to capacity. Lyall Bear gave a great presentation full of well researched information and case study examples, the attendees even had opportunity to work together.

That’s all from me for now; I will look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming events.

Warmest regards,

Lorraine Willis
WA State Manager
Family Business Australia