Key Note Speaker - Sponsored by Bendigo Bank Caloundra

Rebuild Your Business for Growth and Have Fun in the Process. Practical Tips from Office to Factory Floor.

Tom O’Toole – Beechworth Bakeries

Tom O’Toole is living proof that anyone can achieve their dreams when they are prepared to do that little bit extra. In 1984 Tom O’Toole purchased a struggling bakery in Beechworth and has turned it into one of Australia’s greatest retail success stories. Turnover last year was $11 million.

Today Tom is recognised as one of Australia's most popular and respected inspirational and motivational speakers. At this conference he enthusiastically shares the secrets of his success in motivating staff, innovation, scaling up manufacturing processes, and staying on top.

For anyone that has seen Tom speak before you'll know you're in for quite a ride. He has a lot of new material to share especially with our conference delegates so make absolutely sure you get here in time to hear him!

Morning Conference Stream 1

How to Develop an Innovative and Inventive Company

Nigel Hall - Manager Business Incubator, Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast. Nigel manages the Innovation Centre’s Business Incubator, attracting and developing growth oriented start-up companies. Nigel began his career at Ernst & Young in Germany and then joined Biosym Technologies, a Molecular Design software company.

Prior to joining Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, Nigel was Managing Director of Equator Investments Pty Ltd, a venture capital advisory and seed capital provider in Cape Town, South Africa. Nigel has been involved in raising over A$160 million in funding for various businesses since 1994.

Adventures in Exporting
Busting the Value Adding Myth for Exporters.

Peter Kermond - Managing Director, Macadamia Exports Australia

Value adding is usually seen as adding bells and whistles to increase profits. There are times, however, when the exporter can add value, and profits, by doing less. It's all about understanding your strengths in the supply chain.

Peter Kermond is the founder of Macadamia Exports Australia. He started the business in 1989 and decided to begin with exports. The turnover in the first year was $45,000 and rose to over $8 million by 2008.

Starting as a total beginner, Peter encountered a steep learning curve and is happy to share is mistakes and successes on his personal export adventure. Starting with a clean sheet of paper, Peter found that innovation was an easier option than studying the existing players in his industry.

Case Studies – Government Grants

Geoff Butler - Management Consultant, VESTRA

Government grants are available for a range of projects incorporating innovation, energy and sustainability. Listen to first hand experiences of several businesses that have tapped into government money. Geoff Butler will moderate .

Geoff Butler is the Managing Partner of Vestra Business Advantage, a boutique management consulting practice based on the Sunshine Coast but with clients from Darwin to Tasmania and focussing on the small to medium enterprise sector.

Morning Tea in Sponser Exhibition area

Morning Conference Stream 2

Does Manufacturing Still Belong In Australia?

Michael Campbell – AEC Group Limited

Manufacturing often conjures up images of smoke stacks and steel forges, which are today more closely associated with China than Australia. Does manufacturing still belong in Australia? Michael will explore the role that manufacturing plays in the Australian economy and its prospects for the future by highlighting some local case studies of success.

Outline
Intro

• Brief history of manufacturing in Australia
• Rise of China/India/etc. for manufacturing

Changing shape of manufacturing

• The current transition of manufacturing
• Historical employment and economics of manufacturing in Australia
• Discuss relevant trends
• Highlight mfg companies that have left Australia
• Highlight mfg companies that have moved to Australia
• Discuss innovation in mfg

• Case studies of companies
• Biolytex (Sunshine Coast)
• Garden Gourmet (Sunshine Coast)
• Sony Blu-Ray (Sydney)

• China can’t make everything
• Manufacturing changing and becoming very innovative

Opportunities with Solar

Jock Howard–Solar Power Specialists

Find out more about the cost-effectiveness of integrating solar into your operations, as well as SPS’s own journey towards sustainability.

Solar Power Specialists have been operating in the solar photovoltaic industry for over 20 years. Solar Power Specialists offer stand alone and grid connect solar power systems, evacuated tube solar hot water systems, energy efficient lighting and appliances, energy auditing and a parts and advice service for the caravan and leisure markets. Jock Howard is recognised in the solar industry as a passionate participant.

The company HQ is solar powered, naturally illumination assisting the 100% energy efficient lighting. Insulation and cross flow ventilation means a very low energy footprint. The company also recycles 96% of their packaging.

Innovation, Initiative and the Y Generation

Jack Delosa – Teldar Media

Jack will be speaking on how Gen Ys can produce exceptional results in their pursuits using an innovative mindset.

Jack Delosa has recently been named in the Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30 in Australia by Australian Anthill Magazine. Now onto his third business at age 22, Jack has brought companies back from the brink of bankruptcy, educated thousands of Gen Ys through universities and high schools, and in the last 12 months, increased revenues of his most recent venture by over 500% to well over $1m p.a.

Key Note Speaker – Sponsored by Small Business Solutions

Chris Russell – ABC TV's The New Inventors

Inventiveness brings prosperity and excitement to future growth and development – without them our future would be colourless, growth would be lethargic, and life’s speed bumps would become dead-ends!

Trained as a scientist in agriculture, Chris Russell has spent the last thirty years working in over 20 countries in agricultural and engineering projects. He was also a member of an international UN sponsored team in Mongolia to help the nomadic herders use current science to adapt to a privatised economy after the collapse of the USSR.

His research, advisory and commercial work has been in areas ranging from automated processing of feed grains and crops - to storage and handling of drinking water, waste water and sewerage. Currently Chris is technical director of a private research company working on an animal friendly alternative to mulesing in sheep.

Chris is a past National President of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology and past Chair of the Ethics Committee and Compliance Tribunal of that body. He is also a past Chair of the Australasian Register of Agricultural Consultants (now AAAC). His work in his local community saw him receive the 2004 Australia Day Individual Community Service Award in his municipality. His personal interests include boating, fishing, wood turning and sport.

Chris has stated that he is an “invention tragic” and sees Invention and Innovation as being critical to Australia’s feature and very much part of the Australian psyche.

Afternoon Conference Stream 1

Case Study - How Sustainable Business Can Benefit the Bottom Line

Bob Cameron – Managing Director Rockcote

Learn how ROCKCOTE’s sustainable and innovative business practices benefit ROCKCOTE’s people and products and also positively contribute to the community, the environment, and the all important bottom line. Bob will share some practical tips to ensure long term business sustainability whilst saving money and the planet at the same time.

ROCKCOTE is an Australian owned, multi-award winning company recognized as a leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of environmentally friendly, paints and coatings to the building industry. Rockcote has recently (2009) won the Premier’s Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability and the UN Australia Szencorp Green Building Award.

The company’s innovative EcoStyle range of paints was the first to be manufactured in Australia without the use of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) or dangerous chemicals.

Started in 1979 by Sunshine Coast locals Bob and Chris (Christine) Cameron, Rockcote is now a successful AUD $20million+ business which aims to be the first fully sustainable and regenerative company in the world by 2016.

Got An Idea? Protect Your Ideas in Development

Paul Loeffler-White – Manager IP Australia, Queensland State Office.

The Queensland Office of IP Australia is the regional focal point for applicants seeking intellectual property rights relating to inventions, branding, design features and plant breeder’s rights.

IP is the umbrella like tag we use when referring to a wide variety of individual intellectual property rights. Each IP right has its own distinctive features and uses. Using an inappropriate IP right will fail to provide the protection you require to achieve the best business outcome. Semi-trailers are not used for the home delivery of pizzas nor are motor scooters used to carry shipping containers. Which vehicle to use may seem self evident but when it comes to IP the stakes are too high to run the risk of not knowing your patents from your designs. Confusion is not an option!

IP may attain great value but this happens neither as a matter of chance nor will the IP have been left exposed and unprotected for 'copy-cat' entrepreneurs to make theirown.

With a diverse skill set including: legal metrology, fair trading and product safety Paul has been actively involved in promoting an awareness of IP issues for the last 15 years. He has gained an in-depth understanding of the strategic IP issues effecting small and medium enterprises and can provide an action plan for all businesses to ensure their valued IP is protected.

Commercialising Your Next Great Idea. Practical Tips.

Scott McNeil – Innovation Coach, Aust. Inst. for Commercialisation

The AIC's strong track record and extensive experience both in Australia and overseas enables them to provide customised advice for a wide range of needs including IP policy, IP audits, commercialisation strategy and project management.

Scott has worked extensively in the biotechnology industry in Australia and the United States, and honed his innovation and commercialisation skills through roles in academia, industry and government.

He recently established a collaborative network to foster industry development in the biotechnology and medical devices industries. The AIC provides innovators with leading practice programs and professional services that enhance commercialisation capability and assist with converting ideas into successful outcomes.

Afternoon Conference Stream 2

A Case Study in Sustainability. Waste to Profit.

Don Parry – Owner, Queensland Complete Printing Services

QCPS is considered one of Queensland's leading lights in the area of Sustainability. Don has spoken to many business, government, university and community groups about planning for their sustainable and profitable future. In July of this year the company won the 2009 Westpac Queensland Sustainable Industry Award and has been regularly lauded in the media.

Don Parry has been involved in business on the Sunshine Coast since 1980. His business degree has a specialty in Hospitality and he spent time in shopping centres and retail promotions before entering the printing industry. Don now works in the area of business planning and sustainable printing at Queensland Complete Printing Services (QPrint.com.au) in Nambour. He will be passionately sharing his journey in sustainability with plenty of no-nonsense advise.

Micro Enterprises. Petite Businesses Achieving Colossal Outcomes.

Selina Tomasich, Lecturer of Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Business, USC

Find out what it takes to make a small venture succeed beyond wildest dreams.

Currently Selina is engaged in Phd research studying ‘New Venture creation skills: what every Entrepreneurial team should have’, focused specifically at micro-enterprises at the venture start up stage.

Currently Selina holds a Teaching and Research Fellow position at the University of the Sunshine Coast and teaches numerous courses, specifically Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Change Management, Human Resource, Employment and Industrial Law, and Leadership and Team Dynamics.  Case studies in Organisational Development and Change have published with Dr Paul Cocran.

Tapping Into Market Currency

Sam Sheppard – Director, The Buildmore Group Ltd

In today’s world it is vital to keep a close eye on market forces and sentiment. Sam Sheppard discusses her approach to focusing and targeting business products and services to meet consumer needs. Know who your target consumer is when they are losing interest. Know your consumers needs, wants, motivations and beliefs. Diversification will also be discussed.

Last year Sam won the Queensland Master Builders Award for Women in Construction and the Queensland Housing Industry Associations Industry Innovation Award. This inspiring woman also works as a mentor for business owners and the younger generation, particularly students who are deemed at risk of disengaging from society. In addition, Sam continues to build an impressive portfolio of guest speaking appearances.

In 2002 she founded the Buildmore Group, which specialises in boutique housing and producing creative quality homes, duplexes and triplexes for a niche market of discerning buyers. The Sunshine Coast mother of three is a licensed builder and is fast becoming one of Queensland’s most recognisable faces in the building industry.

Innovative Industries Dinner with Chris Russell from ABC's The New Inventors – Tides Restaurant, Esplanade, Bulcock Beach (Numbers limited to 30 for this exclusive event)

9.30am - 12.30pm

Onsite Visits to selected innovative industry sites

QP Printing Services - Nambour

Rockcote - Yandina

Home Power Specialists - Eumundi

Gourmet Gardens - Palmwoods