Family Business Australia - National

Mr. Richard Owens - ROI (Chairman of FBA)

Richard Owens is Chairman of his family's diversified Retail, Real Estate and Investment Company and is a vigneron and wine producer from 'Oakvale' in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia

After selling his supermarket company 'Shoeys' to the large retail group Coles Myer in 1988, be became Executive in Residence in the faculty of Family Business, International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland between 1989-91.

Richard now visits regularly as Guest Lecturer to teach principles of Family Business at IMD Lausanne, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Chicago and Bond University in Australia where he was appointed Adjunct Professor in 2005.

He has been Chairman of IMD's Family Business Advisory Council, Chairman of Australian Family Business Network, and a Founding Board member of FBN, now the largest association of family business owners in the world.

In 2000 the Australian Government awarded Richard the Order of Australia Medal, for his service to business through the Australian Family Business Network and to the community.

Richard has spoken to YPO, WPO and other groups in Australia and overseas on the subject and his experiences in Family Business.

He is Vice President of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children and a member of the Boards of Opera Australia, Hunter Valley Research Foundation.

Mr. David Haymes - Haymes Paint (VIC)

David was educated at Ballarat College. After leaving school he commenced employment at Paddle Shoes in Ballarat as a Management Trainee learning all aspects of shoe manufacturing. Later moving to Melbourne he was employed by the Clarkes Shoe organisation as Assistant Manager of the Hush Puppie manufacturing plant in Abbotsford.

In 1967 David joined Henry Haymes Pty Ltd as an assistant in the warehouse. During the ensuing years managed the chemical plant at Mount Clear he also managed the retail store in Ballarat and in 1974 was appointed Managing Director and Company Secretary. In 1988 purchased the shareholding to become sole proprietor of the business.

1996 David completed Owner/President Management Program, Graduate School of Business, Harvard University. He was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business by the University of Ballarat for “his outstanding service to business and the community”.

David held the office of Chariman of FBA from 2005 until August 2009. He is married to to Jenny and has 3 adult children - Belinda, Matthew and Timothy.

Prof. Ken Moores - Bond University - (Independent)

BBus BEcon MSocSc PhD FCPA FCA

Professor Moores pioneered research and recognition of family business in Australia and as Foundation Director of Bond University’s Australian Centre for Family Business he achieved international recognition for his work. Professor Moores continues to serve this community in a number of ways which include; a regular speaker at family business conferences, an adviser to family firms, a judge of the annual Family Business Awards and as a member of the board of Family Business Australia (FBA) Ltd.

His 2003 book based on involvement with Australia’s family business community (co-authored with Mary Barrett), Learning Family Business: Paradoxes and Pathways, has been widely acclaimed for its insightful observations about family businesses

Professor Moores served as Vice-Chancellor and President of Bond University (1997-2003).

Mr. Kent Aughey - Ashington Investment Management (SA)

Kent has been a passionate member of FBA for many years and is delighted to now 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 a hands-on insight to the challenges and opportunities facing family business entrepreneurs in South Australia.

Kent is the founder and Managing Director of Ashington Investment Management, a Family Office providing financial, investment and wealth management services to his family group. He also manages the family’s 60 hectare grazing property in the Barossa. Having been in that situation himself, Kent is a keen supporter of Next Gen education.

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.

Mr. Michael Stillwell - BS Stillwell Motor Group (VIC)

Michael is a member of a 2 nd generation family business committed to family business “best practice”. He is a major contributor to his family business strategy as a Director and member of their senior management team.

Michael has served for two years on the Victoria Committee and has made a valuable and constructive contribution towards FBA activities locally and nationally.

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

Peter has spent most of his working life (over 30 years) leading manufacturing or processing operations in the Steel Industry. In May 2003 his family company bought a small building business, Townsend Building Services, primarily servicing the Insurance Industry.  The key factors driving this decision were to build a business capable of providing serious income for himself and wife Gay in their retirement together with leveraging the skills of his three children and assisting them to become financially independent at a much earlier age than their parents. 

As CEO of Townsend Building Services, Peter is primarily responsible for strategic direction and growth and has achieved an average of over 60% growth per annum.  Peter is looking forward to working with other family business people and contributing in some way to both the success of the organisation and the business that FBA represents

Mr. Craig Willson - Bremerton Vintners (SA)

Craig was born and raised in Whyalla and joined the family business “The Whyalla News” newspaper and printery in December 1963. He spent 28 years in the family media business starting by sweeping the floors through production, sales and marketing, football writing, to sales manager, general manager and finally Managing Director. During this time the business grew from one newspaper to ten papers, two radio stations, three printing works and five magazines and employed over 200 people spread from Cleve to Victor Harbour. In 1985 the business was listed on the stock exchange as SA Regional Media Ltd.

He moved to Langhorne Creek in 1986 and commenced making some wine and planting a small acreage of vineyard. On leaving the media industry in 1994 Craig decided to continue developing planting, finally reaching 300 acres of vines, opened a cellar door and launched a new family business – Bremerton Wines - which currently sells in all states of Australia and exports to 14 countries. It is now very much a family business with daughters Rebecca as chief winemaker and Lucy as marketing manager and son in law Tom Keelan as vineyard manager. Craig retired as Managing Director in September 2008.

He served for 17 years as a director of the Royal Automobile Club of SA and was founding chair of the Langhorne Creek Water Company, the Langhorne Creek Wine Club, the Langhorne Creek Wine Industry Council and the Langhorne Creek Winemakers Association. In 2008 he was appointed as an independent director to Family Business Australia.

Mr. Andy Kennard - Kennards Hire  (NSW)

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. 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.