Past Speakers

Guest Speaker:    Eddie Tamir | Cinema Owner | Classic Cinema Group

Topic:   The Cinema Business – now and into the future

Eddie developed an obsession with the screen from an early age as an only child, carrying around a portable TV everywhere he went, watching everything from Felix the Cat to Gilligan’s Island. Eddie studied Creative Writing, and Psychology at Columbia University, New York. He later went on to study a Postgraduate degree at Swinburne School of Film and Television.

He rekindled his love of film through Cinemas. The Classic Cinema Group today owns and operates theatres in Elsternwick, Lido Cinemas Hawthorn, Cameo Cinemas Belgrave, and Ritz Cinemas Randwick

As a sucker for old buildings, Eddie was most inspired by … Read More

Guest Speaker:     Simon Mawhinney | Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer | Allan Gray

Topic:   The Importance Of Being Different – Generating Better Investment Outcomes

Simon Mawhinney joined Allan Gray in 2006 as an analyst. He joined Allan Gray from Alliance Bernstein, where he held a role in Finance from 2004 to 2005. From 2001 to 2003, Simon worked in the Equity Markets group at Macquarie Bank. He also worked at Deloitte and Touche in the Financial Institutions Services team from 1998 to 2001.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Business Science (First Class Honours) with majors in Finance and Business Strategy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (University of Cape Town). Simon qualified as a chartered accountant in 1998 and … Read More

Guest Speaker:      Prof. Danny Samson, Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business and
Economics at Melbourne University

Topic:   The Innovation Imperative – Innovate or Die

Danny Samson has been Professor of Management at the University of Melbourne for thirty years.

In this time, he has:

trained countless senior executives now working in industry
held several leadership roles at the University of Melbourne
founded and directed the Centre for Manufacturing Management
been a board director of the Traffic Accident Commission
led the DIST funded study into ‘International Best Practices in Technology Management’
been a member of the Australian Manufacturing Council
been a member of the Commonwealth Government, Industry Task Force on Leadership and Management

He is passionate about the role … Read More

Guest Speaker:       Robert Wickham – Area Vice President, Platform & Emerging Technologies, Salesforce Asia Pacific

Topic:    Preparing for the fourth industrial revolution

Robert Wickham leads Salesforce’s Specialized teams for Platform & Emerging Technologies across Asia Pacific – this includes Lightning Platform, Heroku, Einstein Analytics, Quip & CPQ. Robert also directs Salesforce’s regional program for start-ups. He is a highly sort after public speaker and media contributor. Recent appearances include Sky News, Bloomberg Radio Hong Kong, Boss Magazine, & The Australian Institute for Company Directors. Robert is also a member of the Victorian Government Innovation Expert Panel.

Prior to joining Salesforce, Robert led the Engineered Systems business at Oracle across Australia & New Zealand. He joined Oracle through acquisition in 2008 … Read More

Guest Speaker:   Graham Goldsmith – Chancellor Swinburne University, Chair-elect Seek Limited

Topic:   The Role and Impact of the Tertiary Education sector on our Economy

Graham Goldsmith became the Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology in mid-2014 having served on the Council since 2010. He was educated at Swinburne Institute of Technology in the 1980’s and graduated in Accounting.

In 2012 he left Goldman Sachs Australia where he had been Vice-Chairman and a Managing Director, after a 25 year career with the firm and its predecessors in Australia, working in both Melbourne and London.

He has also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

Graham is retiring from Swinburne at the end of January 2019 and is becoming chairman of … Read More

Guest Speaker: Dr Adir Shiffman, Executive Chairman, Catapult Sports

Topic: The horrible life of a start-up founder – how Catapult became the biggest sports tech company

Dr Adir Shiffman is an Australian serial startup founder, investor, and Executive Chairman of global athlete analytics leader Catapult Sports (ASX: CAT). He has been rated the World’s 10th Most Innovative Person in Sports Business.

After qualifying in medicine and practising as a MD, Adir made the switch across to startup founder and over the last decade launched, built and sold more than a dozen high-growth tech companies. In the process Adir became one of the foremost technology experts in Australia.    

Adir is currently Executive Chairman of Catapult Sports (ASX: CAT), and Chairman/Director/Founder … Read More

Guest Speaker: Hon. Michael O’Brien, MP 

Topic: Victoria’s Economic Future 

Michael was appointed Shadow Treasurer of Victoria December 2014, having served as Treasurer of Victoria from March 2013 to December 2014. 

As Treasurer, Michael delivered his second Budget on 6 May 2014 with a surplus of $1.3 billion, cut payroll tax, reduced the fire services levy, reduced WorkCover premiums and abolished stamp duty on life insurance products. The Budget funded a record state-shaping $27 billion infrastructure investment including the Melbourne Rail Link (incorporating the Airport Rail Link), the Western section of the East West Link, 13 new schools as well as major hospital upgrades throughout Victoria, and funded stage one of the East West Link. 

Under the Napthine … Read More

Guest Speaker:        Richard Umbers

Topic:                          The changing face of retail – what’s in store?

Richard will explore the nature of disruption to retail and give some insight into how the industry is responding, and how we will all shop in the future.

Richard Umbers was until recently CEO of Myer, a position he held for three years, during a period of significant industry disruption and change. Under his leadership, Myer embarked on a significant investment program, to reposition the retail offer, and pivot the business towards online and digital as a source of future growth. Under Richard’s stewardship, online enjoyed spectacular growth and became a major contributor to the business.

Prior to joining Myer, Richard was the CEO of express … Read More

Guest Speaker:  Grant Anderson, former CEO ANCA Group

Topic:  Future of Manufacturing in Australia

Grant has 40 years’ experience in manufacturing, most recently as CEO of ANCA Group, one of the most remarkable Australian growth stories in manufacturing.  ANCA is a global leader in manufacturing machine tools (computer operated grinding machines that manufacture complex metal products for industry).  ANCA has won multiple awards for its achievements as a home-grown Melbourne company.

Grant joined ANCA as CEO 8 years ago and helped grow the Group from $80m to $300m turnover with manufacturing sites in five continents.

Grant’s talk will cover:

Keys to the ANCA growth success story
What it takes for Australian manufacturing to be globally competitive
The impact of losing … Read More

Guest Speaker:        Wayne Dyson, Adventurer and Managing Director of Bridgeworks

Topic:                          Kokoda – Leadership with no turning back

Singapore had fallen, and the Japanese were marching towards Australia.

The better equipped, stronger enemy had to be defeated, but how?

With only small arms – no artillery – no air support?

In mountainous jungles rife with diseases?

With impossible supply lines?

With young and poorly trained soldiers?

No way! Impossible!

Wayne Dyson will share videos and stories of his recent Kokoda track experience and explore how Australian-style leadership on the battlefield defeated the Japanese.  What are the lessons for today’s leadership.

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Date:                     Friday 3 August 2018

Venue:                  The Kelvin Club 14–30 Melbourne Place

(East-side of Russell Street between Little Collins … Read More