Mr. Andy Kennard - Kennards Hire  (NSW) (Chairman of FBA)

Andy was born in 1942. He passed the leaving certificate at Shore School only to fail at University. Following some jobs and travelling overseas he joined Kennards Hire in 1964. Founded in 1948 by his father Walter, Kennards has grown from 1 store to be Australia’s largest family owned hire business with over 100 outlets nationally.

Andy’s succession started when he stepped down from the CEO role in 1995 and from the board in 2007. Angus is now the family member on the board.

Andy became a life member of the Hire and Rental Industry of Australia in 2002 and was the first non American to be inducted into the American Rental Association Hall of Fame in 2003.

He and Prue married in 1966 and have 4 children, 8 grandchildren and more likely.

Mr. Kent Aughey - Ashington Investment Management (SA)

Kent has been a passionate member of FBA for many years and is delight to be leading the SA Chapter through its next phase, following sustained growth and development over the past two years despite difficult economic times.

After many years working for his father in various businesses covering property, hospitality, agribusiness, financial markets and retail, Kent has had hands-on experience and insight to the challenges and opportunities facing family business entrepreneurs in South Australia.

Kent is the Founder and Managing Director of the Ashington Group, a Family Office now providing corporate advisory services to grow oriented enterprises as well as wealth creation opportunities in property and private equity for our investor networks.  He also manages the family’s 60 hectare grazing property in the Barossa. 

Kent is a keen supporter of Next Gen education, having experience this situation himself.

Mr. Stephen Samson - Sadleirs Transport - (WA)

A qualified civil engineer, Steve Samson has enjoyed a varied career in the public sector with the WA State Government and in education, prior to becoming a director of his family firm, RC Sadleirs Pty Ltd. Better known to FBA members as Sadliers Transport, the company encompasses, among others, Lionel Samson and Son Pty Ltd, Plantagenet Wines Pty Ltd and the transport arm.

Stephen is a member of the AICD and holds ten directorships including that of FBA.

Mr. Mick Burgess - Urban Contractors - (ACT)

Mick trained as a landscaper and after various jobs in and out of the industry eventually started his own business, Urban Contractors, in 1984.

Urban Contractors started with a six man crew and has grown to a staff of 40 people.

Under Mick's leadership as Managing Director, Urban has completed landmark projects around the Canberra area including landscaping around the National Museum and the Australian War Memorial.

Mick is heavily involved in community activities including participation in the Landscape Contractors Association, Master Builders Association 'of the ACT, ACT Civil Engineering Contractors Association and as Vice President of the Belconnen Football Club.

Mrs. Di Tompson - Novaris Pty Ltd (TAS)

Diane Tompson is the General Manager of Novaris, a manufacturing business which custom designs products to protect electrical equipment against lightning strikes. Diane oversees all financial aspects of the business, human resources, staff training and marketing. In addition, she is a director of five other electrical engineering and communication companies.

The former Conservatorium of Music graduate is also a member of the State Government's Tasmanian Agreements Training Committee. Novaris are Tasmania 's 2005 1 st Generation Award winners and Diane is the Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year 2005.

Angela Ciliberto:   C-Direct P/L

Angela is the Director of Operations at C _ Direct she holds a Graduate Certificate Business Administration, Certificate Personnel Management & Industrial Relations.     

Following a career in both the public and private sectors where she gained extensive experience in H.R., accounts and credit management Angela purchased the original retail business Bulleen Music & Photo Scene in February1978. In late 1979 husband Peter joined her and together they built the business to 6 retail stores and a national wholesale operation.

In 1991 the company restructured and divested itself of all retail operations to concentrate on wholesale. C-Direct is a national sales, marketing and distribution company, with major contracts servicing specific market channels on behalf of both Telstra and Kodak The business employs 30 people including 4 family members.

Angela joined FBA in 1996 and has attended every Victorian state conference and attended 11 national conferences. A keen supporter of forum groups, Angela is a member of the original FBA forum group started by Jack Gance in 1996. C-Direct was awarded FBA 1st Generation national Award in 2007

Dr. Jill Thomas: University of Adelaide

After a career in Human Resources Management and Training & Development in both the private sector and higher education, Jill has developed a keen interest in family owned businesses. Her PhD studies were in the area of leadership and family business and she is also exploring issues relevant to boards and governance of the SME family business.

Jill has developed an elective on Family Business for post-graduate management programs, published chapters in texts about family business issues and presented papers at numerous national and international family business conferences. She teaches the Leadership course in the MBA programs of the University of Adelaide both here and offshore in Hong Kong and Singapore and also teaches in the Business School’s Executive Education programs

Jill is a member of FBA’s National Education Committee, the State Executive Committee and the Family Business Subcommittee to the Business Development Councils.

Nick Bloor - Technigro (Chairman)

Nick Bloor is Founder and CEO of Technigro, Queensland's leading vegetation management company.
A qualified horticulturist, he is the current Chairman of FBA Queensland and the current President of the Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.
Since its inception in 1987, Technigro has expanded into a multi-award winning industry leader that employs over 75 people. Nick's management style stems from Technigro's roots as a family business, and relies upon developing excellent relations with his people and fostering a positive culture within the company.
Nick is the 2011 recipient of the FBA Jason Lea Award for entrepreneurial excellence.

Mr. Andrew Mostyn - Craig Mostyn Group (WA)

Andrew spent the first 4 years of his working life as an accountant in a shipping company before deciding to join his family business, Craig Mostyn & Co. Pty Ltd in 1986.

The Craig Mostyn Group was founded in 1923 by Andrew's grandfather Robert L. Mostyn originally as a supplier of machinery and consumables to the tannery industry and in the export of leather. Since then the Craig Mostyn Group has grown and diversified into import, export, manufacturing and service industries employing over 500 staff in 16 locations across Australia and conducts business on a regular basis with over 60 countries.

Andrew has spent the last 19 years in the family business in a number of roles and since completing a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors has held a position on the Board of Craig Mostyn's various companies since 1993. Andrew also completed the Stanford University / National University of Singapore Executive program in 1995. As part of his interest in business, the community and sport he sits on a number of committees aligned in those areas and has been a member of the NSW FBA Chapter Committee for the past 4 years.

Mr. Justin Taylor - T & T Corporation (QLD)

(Next Generation Representative)

Prior to being involved in the family business, Justin’s career path focused on positions including project and environmental management for the steel industry. 

In 2003, Justin’s family acquired a building company however, this was soon modified based on an agreed growth strategy and it now resembles a project management company, utilising contractors in multiple locations from northern Queensland to central New South Wales.

While the company has been in this growth phase there have been many challenges in both business and family, with the ultimate goal to provide three separate business arms with specific areas of interest for each sibling while having support and backing under the one company umbrella.  Since 2008, the family business has expanded to include; the original building company focusing on insurance repairs, a shop fitting section which is expanding to service all Australian mainland states, property development and the newest addition a vet practice.

Justin has a keen interest in Next Generational issues and looks forward to learning from and supporting other families.  In addition, Justin has taken up the position of Chairperson on the Next Generation National Committee; this committee focuses on energising each state’s “Next Geners” with social and educational events, ultimately giving them opportunities which may not have been achieved outside the FBA.

Mr. James Kirby - Hungerford Hill Wines (NSW)

James is Chairman and Chief Executive of Hungerford Hill Wines, a medium-sized wine producer based in the Hunter Valley, 160km north of Sydney, Australia.

Hungerford Hill was founded in 1970 in the Hunter Valley, and gained a great reputation for its wines. The Kirby family had been involved in manufacturing and engineering for over 75 years. After selling their business in 1999, they decided to invest in the Australian wine industry in order to build a sustainable export business based on Australia’s comparative advantage in viticulture. The Kirby family purchased Hungerford Hill Wines in 2002 and put together a management and winemaking team with extensive international wine industry experience.

James’ other involvements include:

• Pildra Properties Pty Ltd, the Holding company for the Kirby family’s investments, which include industrial property, listed equity and venture capital investments.

• Dadanco Pty Ltd, a start-up developer of high efficiency air conditioning solutions based in Adelaide.

• Family Business Australia, a national organisation which provides education and support to family owned businesses.

James had previously been a director and senior executive with the James N Kirby Group, the family-owned engineering and manufacturing business founded by his grandfather in 1924. The Kirby group was the leading Australian manufacturer and wholesaler of refrigeration and air conditioning components, and a leading manufacturer and exporter of machine tools and components for the automotive industry.

Mrs. Philippa Taylor – CEO Family Business Australia

After studying graphic design at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Philippa Taylor worked as a textile designer, before taking a break to raise her two children.

A career change in journalism ensued, initially free lance, then full time, and after four years, she was appointed editor of a large community paper with Independent News Limited. She held this position for a number of years, and entered the not for profit sector in a leadership role with a South African human rights organization.

This experience in dealing with government, and the NFP sector has served her well in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Family Business Australia.