Top entrepreneurs in the south named
Friday, 17 July 2009 — Six of Victoria and Tasmania’s best entrepreneurs – in industries spanning carbon offsetting, salmon farming, steel production, hospitality, car sales and electronics – have been recognised in this year’s Southern Region Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Melbourne last night.
Congratulations to the 2009 Southern Region winners:
- Andrew Grant, CO2 Group (Cleantech category)
- Mark Ryan, Tassal Group Limited (Listed category)
- Joe Calleja, Apex Group (Products category)
- Paul Constantinou, Quest Serviced Apartments (Services category)
- Greg Roebuck, Carsales.com (Technology & Emerging Industries category)
- Ruslan Kogan, Kogan Technologies (Young Entrepreneur category)
The Awards also celebrated the achievements of well-known food writer, cook and restaurateur Stephanie Alexander, and leading fashion retailer and arts, science and education benefactor Naomi Milgrom.
Stephanie Alexander was named Southern Region Social Entrepreneur Of The Year for her work with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. Naomi Milgrom was awarded the Southern Region Champion of Entrepreneurship, recognising her business achievements as the sole owner, Executive Chair and CEO of the Sussan Group.
Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Markets leader, Jon Dobell, says the awards celebrate and recognise entrepreneurial spirit.
“Despite this challenging business environment, entrepreneurs see opportunities where others see challenges, adapting to the changed market with fresh ideas and new business models,” he says.
“In pursuing their own vision, entrepreneurs generate success for those around them. They create jobs, develop their industries and contribute to our broader community.”
The Southern Region category winners and social entrepreneur will go on to compete in the 2009 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year national awards in November.
Andrew Grant, CO2 Group (Cleantech category)
Starting with no staff, no clients and just an idea, Andrew Grant has proved that carbon offsetting can be commercialised. In the mid-1990s, Andrew recognised the looming issue of carbon emissions and the potential for a company that could offer the market carbon offsets. In the face of deep scepticism, he pioneered Australia’s carbon credits market, resulting in a highly successful business, the CO2 Group. Today, CO2 is the largest provider of dedicated carbon sink plantings in Australia, moving from a loss position in 2006, to a million dollar profit this year. The company is a regular finalist in local and global environmental awards and has earned the respect of regulators, competitors and the market. It is firmly committed to innovation, with plans to invest $1 million in research and development in 2009.
Mark Ryan, Tassal Group Limited (Listed category)
In 2002, Mark Ryan was appointed receiver for Tassal Limited, which at the time was producing 3,500 tonnes of Atlantic Salmon. He opted to continue the business, with a bold strategy to not only restructure and turnaround Tassal, but the entire Tasmanian salmon industry. His goal was to deliver global cost/best practice from both a cost of growing and processing perspective, together with achieving premium returns from his sales and marketing initiatives. In 2003, Mark acquired Atlantic Salmon competitor, Nortas, and then Aquatas two years later. Today, Tassal is Australia’s largest aquaculture company, producing 18,000 tonnes of Atlantic Salmon. The company is operating close to or at global best practice for cost of growing and cost of processing. In addition, Tassal is a price leader, with clean ‘green’, fish health and quality underpinning its product offering.
Joe Calleja, Apex Group (Products category)
Having started in the steel industry at the age of 18 driving a forklift, Joe Calleja has built two major steel companies. Today, Apex and Horan Steel continue to deliver strong revenue and profit growth, through Joe’s ability to negotiate favourable supply contracts and generate strong customer relationships. Furthermore, Joe has recently secured a rare and lucrative Bluescope distribution franchise arrangement for Apex. This agreement, 19 years in the making, will give the group access to significantly discounted inputs, providing the flexibility to dual source from a local company as well as existing international suppliers. Joe also continues to pursue his successful foray into restaurants, which began through an introduction to renowned chef George Calombaris and led to their first collaboration, The Press Club in Melbourne, followed by other Melbourne establishments, the Maha Bar and Hellenic Republic.
Paul Constantinou, Quest Serviced Apartments (Services category)
Soon after commencing his hospitality career, Paul Constantinou recognised that the accommodation industry was failing to meet the needs of the extended-stay business travellers. Paul identified that the extended-stay business traveller preferred a stylish, spacious and well-appointed serviced apartment that gave the guest a true ‘home away from home’ experience. It didn’t take Paul long to realise his vision and in 1988 he opened the first Quest Serviced Apartment Business, Quest Royal Gardens. His pioneering spirit and determination to capitalise on this unique concept has helped Quest Serviced Apartments (Quest) become Australasia’s largest network of serviced apartments with 127 properties in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Today, Quest is 100% franchised and its unique business format model is the benchmark for both the franchising and hospitality industries in Australia, winning numerous industry awards including the prestigious FCA Service Franchisor of the Year in 2007.
Greg Roebuck, Carsales.com (Technology & Emerging Industries category)
After attempting to buy a car for his wife, Greg Roebuck was appalled by the inconsistency of the information provided in traditional classified advertisements. He launched Carsales.com in 1997 to provide automotive classifieds online, providing consumers with a greater volume of quality information in an accessible medium. To support the business, he developed a proprietary inventory and lead management referral software system – Autogate. In 2002, Greg pioneered a new pricing model, moving from the traditional classifieds pay per month per listing model, to a lead-generation billing model – where dealer advertisers only pay for each qualified lead generated. This was a defining moment for Carsales.com, underpinning his new business motto of “stop advertising, start selling!” At the same time, Greg also introduced Australia’s first “pay once, list until sold” pricing model for private advertisers. Today, Carsales.com is Australia’s leading automotive, marine, motorcycle, construction and equipment classifieds business, with over 23 websites in operation. Carsales.com was the first company to make the BRW Fast 100 for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Ruslan Kogan, Kogan Technologies (Young Entrepreneur category)
In three years, Ruslan Kogan has reinvented the supply chain for consumer electronic goods and in the process built a thriving business. In 2005, shocked at the cost of buying an LCD TV, Ruslan began researching a cheaper way to access the same product. He believed the answer was to assemble the highest quality components from other manufacturers and sell direct to the consumer through minimalistic online retailing. Funding the venture by pre-selling the contents of his first container, Ruslan started undercutting the major brands by up to 50%. He continues to strip costs out of the business, running a paperless office and outsourcing accounting. Following coverage on ‘Today Tonight’ and ‘A Current Affair’, and fuelled by viral marketing, the Kogan brand gained strong recognition. Ruslan challenged the idea that you have to pay high prices for good brands, using online sales, initially through eBay, and then through Kogan’s own website. Kogan is now a well-known Australian brand, featured in every major media outlet and sparking close to 3 million internet articles. In 2008, Ruslan was named as one of Melbourne’s 100 Most Influential People and SmartCompany’s Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30. This year, Kogan Technologies was ranked Australia’s #2 Online Retailer by SmartCompany.
Stephanie Alexander, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation (Social Entrepreneur)
Food writer, cook and restaurateur Stephanie Alexander is the best-selling author of 12 books, with The Cook’s Companion, an Australian classic, having sold more than 400,000 copies. For 21 years her restaurant, Stephanie’s, was regarded as an essential Melbourne experience. She conceived the groundbreaking café, fine cheese and food store Richmond Hill Café and Larder, and was a founding partner for eight years. Through her writing and teaching, Stephanie continues to be an outspoken champion of the quality of Australian produce and the importance of good food in our lives. She was awarded an Order of Australia in 1994 for her services to the hospitality industry and to tourism, and for encouraging young apprentices. Stephanie has long been concerned that we are raising children and young adults with little understanding of what to do with fresh food in their daily lives. This led Stephanie to develop the innovative Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, which was piloted at Collingwood College in Melbourne in 2001. This hands-on program teaches primary school children how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food in weekly classes at primary school. From one pilot program in 2001, it has now grown to 93 projects Australia-wide, with plans to exceed 200 by 2012. Today, through the not-for-profit Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation she founded in 2004, Stephanie is increasingly involved in supporting and expanding the program in more Australian schools.
Naomi Milgrom, Sussan Group (Champion Of Entrepreneurship)
Naomi Milgrom is the first female recipient of the Southern Region Champion Of Entrepreneurship. She has been recognised as one of Australia’s top 25 business leaders, a peerless businesswoman and an outstanding entrepreneur. She is the sole owner, Executive Chair and CEO of the Sussan Group comprising three fashion brands – Sussan, Suzanne Grae and Sportsgirl. Under Naomi’s leadership, the Sussan Group has grown to become Australia’s largest privately held specialty fashion retailer with over 500 stores and more than 4,000 employees throughout Australia and New Zealand. Naomi has also played a pivotal public role in the promotion of the Australian retail and fashion industries, nationally and internationally. Under her leadership, the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival became the largest consumer and retail fashion event globally. She is a benefactor to the arts, health, welfare, and the Jewish community, and an inspiring contributor to the world of science and education. As Chair of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art since 2005 she has propelled ACCA to its present position as the most important launching pad for young Australian contemporary artists. She served for 14 years as a board member of the Howard Florey Institute, Australia’s foremost brain research institute. In 2009, Naomi made a gift for the creation of the Professor Frederick Mendelsohn Chair in Neuroscience. She was both the first woman and the first person in the field of fashion to be invited to deliver the Batman Oration on Australia Day 2006.
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About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award program
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognises the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.
As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.
Since Ernst & Young’s global program began in Australia in 2001, more than 800 leading Australian entrepreneurs have been recognised for their entrepreneurial spirit. Entrants are assessed by a leading panel of independent judges on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction and national/global impact. Their relationships with their local communities are also taken into account.
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program is conducted across five regions in Australia with these winners progressing to the national awards ceremony in November. Independent judging panels, drawn from a broad range of successful Australian businesses, assess the entrepreneurs on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction, and national or global impact.
The Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year is invited to represent Australia at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award held annually in Monte Carlo. Former Australian winners have included Peter Farrell of ResMed Limited (2001), John Rothwell AO of Austal Limited (2002), David Bussau AM of Opportunity International (2003), Robert Gerard AO of Gerard Corporation (2004), Tony D’Antonio and Peter Hosking of Global Machinery Company Worldwide (2005), Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar of Atlassian (2006), Shane Yeend of Imagination (2007) and Rod Jones of Navitas (2008).
In Australia the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program is sponsored by Westpac (primary sponsor), Qantas and supported by the Federal Government through Austrade.
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About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. For more information, please visit www.ey.com.
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