Upskills workshops are presented by a team of business consulting experts:
Adam has 21 years experience assisting Territory small to medium businesses find and plug their profit leaks. His know-how can help you lift your profitability and get you on track again, to be in control of your business, and improve your quality of life.
‘If you are a typical business owner or manager, you started your business because you are good at what you do, and that has got you to where you are today.
‘But to keep building your business you may need guidance or assistance in areas in which you haven’t had the time or opportunity to develop expertise.
‘For most small and medium businesses these may be developing a clear strategic direction, developing effective management systems and processes, understanding financial management, or how to effectively market you business.
‘Profitability is not optional!
Adam has many years experience at senior management level in manufacturing (aerospace, marine, farm machinery) and retail industries with responsibilities in general management, marketing and export, backing his hands-on direct management experience running a small business.
‘I have successfully worked with businesses across a wide range of industries, from tourism to real estate, IT, engineering and manufacturing. And every time I have been able to identify some opportunities for improvement which had a positive impact on the business.’
Adam presents on:
Iain has consulted across Australia and New Zealand during the past 17 years focusing on business improvement strategies that are useful to both small and large enterprises.
‘I have worked for myself for all but 11 years of my adult life and have a keen understanding of the pitfalls that confront small businesses.’
Iain’s career started in the oil industry, followed by the insurance and finance sectors before consulting in business development and improvement.
‘Working for myself, I have experienced the process of starting from scratch once or twice, with all of the attendant anxiety and mistake making.’
‘Hopefully through the Upskills program I can pass on my learning's from a very diverse business background.’
Iain has lived in the Territory for the past nine years and enjoys working with the dynamic small business sector across Darwin and all regional areas.
Iain presents on:
Jo Moyle-Reiter
Jo started her first business in her early twenties.
‘I started with an idea, $400 and a cardboard box on the lounge room floor. That was my desk... everything since has been added with time. Would I recommend anyone else start the same way? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But it sure taught me to be tenacious!’
While Jo's skills are suited to any sized enterprise, she gets most satisfaction working with growth enterprises from the start-up stage to businesses with up to 20 team members. Jo focuses on helping people develop creative strategies to improve their business, promotions and brand initiatives with a focus on traditional and e-media, obvious and more subliminal strategies, and developing tactical plans for delivery to the target audience.
‘I've been working with Territory and interstate clients to achieve their outcomes through marketing and promotion for over fifteen years.’
Jo has focused on mentoring, coaching and consulting since 2008. Her clients receive unique strategies, intuitive creative and strong results against their stated objectives.
Grab the chance to get inside her head at a Business Upskills workshop near you.
Jo presents on:
Peter Shepherd
Peter’s specialty is working with small businesses of less than five employees but he also works with not-for-profit and larger businesses on strategic planning to help set their direction for the future.
‘I have worked with about 900 businesses and ran around 700 business workshops across the Territory.’
Peter’s career started in a family-run retail business.
‘It was one of those old stores in a country town that did everything – menswear, ladies' wear and haberdashery.
‘The experience I got from this is still valuable today. It was a family business so I worked in it as soon as I could sweep the floors. It has given me a good grounding in retail.’
Peter moved into regional development working across 14 shire councils in Victoria. He then took his skills to the Kimberley working predominately for indigenous clients but also with cattle stations, mining companies and new businesses.
Peter moved to Katherine as a business facilitator for the Commonwealth Government program ‘Business Advice for Rural Areas’ before moving to Darwin in 1997 as a business consultant doing community consultation, business planning, strategic planning and training.
Pick Peter’s brain at a Business Upskills workshop near you.
Peter presents on:
2008 Telstra Northern Territory Business Woman of the Year, Annette Gillanders is well-placed to help you Upskills your business with five awards for leadership and business excellence under her belt.
She started her own business in a spare bedroom that required the work attire of a sarong, and from there it has grown into an award-winning business that employs four staff.
Annette understands how education can change your world and open your mind, having undergone a self-transformation throughout her career.
‘My goal is to inspire others to reach their potential through skill and development.’
Annette’s specialisations include education, management consulting, coaching, business mentoring, marketing, facilitation and public speaking.
Having lived and worked in the Territory for 30 years, Annette has an extensive understanding of the challenges that face Territory businesses.
Diverse and flexible, Annette has the unique ability to understand the needs of organisations and individuals. Not a fan of the one-size-fits-all approach, Annette treats every client as an individual and is able to hone in on the strategies that will work best for them.
Annette presents on:
A journey that started with a trade apprenticeship evolved into a passion for helping others run the best business they can.
Doug Gillanders is a highly qualified trainer with a diverse background in engineering, adult education, information technology, work behaviour and personality profiling, personal development, human resources and career planning.
‘In 1995 I facilitated an Enterprise Bargaining program and that brought me in touch with a lot of industrial relations and human resources issues,’ he said.
‘That lead to nearly 10 years of personnel management, from hiring and firing to setting up recruitment processes and I ended up doing anything that was “too hard” or no one wanted to touch, so I got to deal with the good, the bad and the ugly side of human resources.’
These days Doug Gillanders is the General Manager of award winning business BiZnorth Pty Ltd. He has a wealth of knowledge to share and is currently demystifying the new Fair Work Australia Act for businesses across the Territory.
Doug presents on: