Speakers

International speakers

Karen Harper
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. Her aim is to encourage leadership development through long-term planning and respect for different personal styles, generations and genders. Karen has been conducting Family Business Communication Workshops throughout Australia. These popular workshops have seen Karen work with hundreds of families and businesses throughout Australia.

Dominic Pelligana
Dominic Pelligana is a partner in KPMG Australia'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. With a passion for ensuring family businesses maximise the value and long-term success of their businesses, Dominic advises on issues of succession, governance, managing and preserving wealth, risk management and compliance and strategy. He is a Family Business Australia Accredited Adviser and has a great deal of experience in the retail, property, manufacturing and wine industries.

New Zealand speakers

Craig Carr
In 1997, at the age of 18, Craig Carr joined the Carr Group family business started by his father Greg in the mid-70s. Craig entered a newly-purchased business in seed processing and developed one of the best high-value seed processing operations in Australasia, which was then sold to Agricom New Zealand in 2005.

The Carr Group purchased Winslow Feeds in 2000 and has since developed an innovative agri-business in animal feed and nutrition, grain and seed, farm contracting and robotic milking equipment, selling a mixture of products and services throughout New Zealand and to over 40 countries around the world.

Craig works alongside his father and brothers and serves as a director to other Carr Group interests including farm machinery, farming, property and investment developments. He plays a leading role in the group’s strategic management and governance. Craig is passionate about farming and agri-business and growing the Carr Group’s business through the family’s core values of quality, trust, service, family and innovation.

Brent Archer
Brent Archer is the CEO of leading New Zealand technology company, AuCom Electronics. From its humble beginnings in a Linwood garage, AuCom has grown to employ over 150 staff, with distributors in more than 110 countries throughout the world.

The older of two boys, Brent was born in Christchurch to proud parents Ray and Kathy Archer. Early in his career, Ray established a commercial aluminum joinery business. As a result, Brent grew up surrounded by people who were striving to achieve business success.

Brent was schooled at Christchurch Boys High School and went on to study at the University of Canterbury where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing. When AuCom was established in 1978, Brent became the fledgling company’s first part-time employee and worked on the assembly line building soft starters. Upon the completion of his degree Brent moved on to manage the sales and marketing activities for the company. Over the next years Brent watched as the company grew beneath him, and he eventually took the position of CEO.

Brent is married to wife Robin and has 2 children James and Alice. James is studying business at Massey University, whilst Alice is studying design at Victoria University. Brent says that the decision whether to join the business lies with them, provided they are willing and capable.

David Irving
David Irving is the retired CEO of Heinz Watties Australasia, and a founder of The ICEHOUSE, part owner and Chairman of Cable Bay Vineyards, Chairman of Prolife Foods, AS Wilcox and AuCom Technologies and an Adviser to Marstel Holdings and other owner managers of New Zealand medium sized businesses.

David is now an Honorary Professor at The University of Auckland Business School. He plays an active role in The ICEHOUSE Owner Manager Programme through passing on his knowledge in the classroom and reviewing owner manager’s business plans.

David has published two books – It Must Be Watties in 1998 and Changing Gears in 2009, and was a "management" contributor to Unlimited Magazine for four years. He frequently contributes to conferences as a speaker, facilitator or judge according to the requirements.

Session facilitators

Doctor Deb Shepherd
Deb Shepherd teaches change management, innovation and professional development at The University of Auckland Business School. Her research interests include understanding entrepreneurial SME growth and family businesses. She has worked as a researcher, consultant, facilitator and experiential trainer with a variety of companies, as well as non-profit organisations.

Deb has participated in The ICEHOUSE since its inception in 2001 and has been involved in the design, development and delivery of the ICE Bridge programmes since 2001. Her consultancy work with SMEs specialises in strategy, leadership, senior team management development, change management and business growth. She is also a director of a number of owner-managed businesses and a member of the Family Firm Institute.

In 2009, Deb and her colleagues from the Owner Manager Programme, David Irving, Chris Woods and Darl Kolb, wrote the book Changing gears: How to take your Kiwi business from the kitchen table to the board room. This book is based on research undertaken at The University of Auckland and their involvement with the ICE Bridge programmes.

Doctor Chris Woods
Kiwi born and bred, Chris Woods’ interest in entrepreneurship and the small to medium business sector was sparked after working in Malawi as a small business adviser. Instead of catching malaria, she caught the entrepreneurship bug and became “hooked” on the passion and energy that entrepreneurs bring to what they do.

Chris currently teaches entrepreneurship and innovation at The University of Auckland Business School. In 2003 she played a key role with the Postgraduate Students' Association to establish the Spark entrepreneurship challenge. She has also been involved with The ICEHOUSE business growth programmes since their inception in 2001 and is a member of the Family Firm Institute.

In 2009, Chris and her colleagues from the Owner Manager Programme, David Irving, Deb Shepherd and Darl Kolb, wrote the book Changing gears: How to take your Kiwi business from the kitchen table to the board room. This book is based on research undertaken at The University of Auckland and their involvement with the ICE Bridge programmes.