Programme

More information about Deb and Chris’ work can be found on the Family Business Research Group (FBRG) website and The ICEHOUSE website.

• Visit the Family Business Research Group website
• Visit The ICEHOUSE website

Karen Harper: Family dynamics: The importance of communication
For the past 15 years, Karen Harper has made a significant contribution to family businesses by raising awareness of skills relating to communication. Karen is a partner in High Resolutions which has pioneered a family-focused approach to succession planning that clarifies the visions and goals of family members in order to develop a way forward. High Resolutions has worked to develop a cooperative approach to the sensitive area of succession, including cooperation between the family and also the professionals who provide services.

Karen’s session will explore the importance of family meetings and effective communication tools and techniques for managing the dynamics of family business. The focus of this session is on understanding “the habits of communication” – the good, the bad and the indifferent. This session will highlight the importance of open and effective communication as a key to the successful transitioning of a business as well as the day to day operations.

Craig Carr: Carr Agricultural Group Ltd – Past, present and future
In 1997 Craig Carr at the age of 18 joined the Carr Group family business started by his father Greg in the mid 70s’s. Craig entered a newly purchased business in seed processing and over nine years developed one of the best high value seed processing operations in Australasia and then sold the business in 2005 to Agricom NZ.

In 2000 the Carr Group purchased Winslow Feeds and in 10 years Craig and his family has developed an innovative progressive Agri business in animal feed and nutrition, grain and seed, farm contracting and robotic milking equipment selling a mixture of products and services throughout NZ and internationally to over 40 countries around the world.

Craig works alongside his father and brothers and serves as a director to other Carr Group interests, in farm machinery, farming and property and investment developments and plays a leading role in the group's strategic management and governance of a family business.

Craig is passionate about farming and Agri business and growing the Carr Groups business and standing behind the family’s core values of Quality, Trust, Service, Family and Innovation.

Craig Carr, General Manager of Carr Agricultural and the second generation to work in the business, will share his insights and the story of their success. This will include what has changed, what’s remained constant and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

More information on Carr Agricultural Group Ltd can be found by visiting their website.

Visit the Carr Agricultural Group Ltd website

Dominic Pelligana: Transitioning success: From the current generation to the next
Dominic Pelligana is a Partner in KPMG's Private Enterprise practice and works exclusively with large private and family owned business clients, providing a range of tax, accounting and business advisory services. He is actively involved with the Victorian chapter of Family Business Australia (FBA) and is a founding member of the Next Generation committee. Dominic has a passion for ensuring family businesses maximise the value and long term success of their business, advising on issues of succession, governance, managing and preserving wealth, risk management and compliance and strategy.

Dominic is a Family Business Australia Accredited Adviser, and has a great deal of experience in the retail, property, manufacturing and wine industries.

Dominics’s session will focus on the inter-generational family businesses and issues and challenges underpinning succession. Drawing from his work as a practitioner and member of FBA, Dominic will share insights of successful and not so successful family business transitions.

For more information:

Visit the KPMG website

Brent Archer and David Irving: Aucom
AuCom was established in 1978 to design and manufacture a top end range of stereo amplifiers. The name AuCom originates from the combination "Au" for audio, and "Com" for communication. The two founders were brought together by their mutual interest in amateur radio and appreciation of music. Mark Empson was the electronics design expert and Ray Archer the business partner with entrepreneurial skills.

As well as amplifiers, AuCom was also involved in the design of power supplies for radio broadcast systems, taxi alarms and energy saving devices for single phase and three phase AC induction motors. These energy saving devices were manufactured under a license agreement with the American space agency, NASA. From here the electronic soft starter technology was born and this became the main focus of the company who produced the world’s first range of commercially viable soft starters.

Now AuCom expands the range to include a wider range of industrial electronics, motor control centres and switchgear to create a complete solution.

Throughout AuCom's history, AuCom has always been dedicated to innovation and research. Through a mix of agility and hard work AuCom keeps at the forefront of industrial electronic technology. They pride themselves on their attention to detail and are known for flexibility and engineering skill. Aucom are recognised as the world's leading specialist in soft starters.

Brent Archer (son of founder and current CEO)and David Irving (Chairman of the Aucom Board) will discuss the dynamics of growing a successful family business from the first to second generation.