Business mentoring program
SED is providing a business mentoring program to help small businesses navigate the economic challenges posed by restrictions imposed to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The program offers eligible business owners up to four 2-hour mentoring sessions to help them
make informed decisions about the future of their business with tailored guidance on:
Business recovery:
To strengthen business recovery (cost reduction, debt and cashflow management)
Market transformation:
To understand how coronavirus (COVID-19) has triggered or accelerated market changes
Digital literacy and engagement:
To help businesses reach new customers and markets
Market and supply chain diversification:
To reduce exposure to supply chain risks
Re-skilling and retraining:
To help businesses up-skill their existing workforce
Contact us to learn more about the business mentoring program
Tony Irish
Partner
BBus (Acc), MBA, CA, Phd (Cand
Tony has Bachelor of Business, Master of Business Administration qualification and is a qualified Chartered Accountant (since 1993). He has been working nationally, locally and internationally in professional services for over 23 years, the last 11 as a partner at SED Advisory.
In 2010 Tony completed Cambridge University’s (UK) Professional Service Firm Strategy and Leadership Program. He is undertaking his PhD candidature at the University of Tasmania’s Australian Innovation Research Centre (AIRC), where he is completing original research into how knowledge intensive business and technical service firms grow and develop in regional locations (specifically Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Launceston).
Tony has a deep understanding of regional policy position and through his work has made significant contributions to the development of policy and regional development across Regional Victoria, particularly through the Grampians and Great South Coast. The preparations for his PhD candidature have required him to review and assess the latest research into regional development and economic geography.
Tony has prepared briefing papers and briefed Ministers and Senior Government staff on a range of issues pertaining to regional investment and development project outcomes. He has presented and briefed to a range of advisory groups, such as the Regional Policy Advisory Group, Regional Cities Victoria, Regional Management Forums, Regional Development Australia Committees, local and regional boards such the Great South Coast, the Wimmera Development Association, Councils and a range of other decision making forums.
Robert Lane
Partner
B. Business (Accounting), MBA, CPA
Robert offers a diverse range of skills including strategic business development, financial analysis, governance and leadership. He brings domestic and international experience in financial management and information technology systems and a sound regional perspective in senior management, finance and human resource management. Widely recognised as experienced in strategy, risk and operational management within governance frameworks, he applies this as an advisor to boards and privately as risk committee chairman of a financial institution.
Robert has specific expertise in financial and economic modelling, strategic planning and strategy development particularly within Food and Agribusiness industry sectors. This has been applied in previous engagements with industry groups and private organisations within the poultry, citrus, dairy, beef and aquaculture sectors, and through his past role as a Director of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (ASX). Robert is a recipient of the CPA Victorian Management Accountant of Year Award, and a former Lecturer at Deakin University (Finance and Economics). Robert’s areas of expertise include:
• Governance and leadership
• Financial management and economic modelling
• Workforce planning and human resource management
• Strategic business and organisational development
• Business mentoring
• Specialist Not for Profit and Co-operative Structures
Robert is a member of CPA Australia in addition to a role as former president of Western Victoria branch of CPA and an AICD member.
Clive Pinnger
Manager
Dip. Farm Man, Dip. Fin. Markets, B Bus. (Ag Man), Grad. Dip. App Fin
Clive has held a number of senior operational management positions for a variety of entities from large corporate, trustee, and private companies to family farms, mostly in agriculture related enterprises. He initially gained experience over a number of years working on various pastoral, broad acre and mixed farming enterprises in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. He also has international experience having worked six years in the live trade to Africa, the Middle-East and Asia prior to training as a commodity trader with Elders IXL. Clive then completing two three year contracts as country manager responsible for overseas trading representations based in Moscow and Bucharest.
Clive has a broad export and agricultural background. As a Senior Manager at SED he has advised clients in the pastoral, cropping, horticulture, milling, vegetable and meat processing sectors and has completed work for the Armenian Government funded by the World Bank.
Graham Shiell
Senior Manager
Dip Bus Studies
Graham has over 40 years’ experience in public administration and community service. He was Chief Executive Officer of the Moyne Shire Council (south west Victoria) from its creation in 1994 to 2007.
During his years in senior local government positions Graham has managed significant change processes, driven strategic planning processes and developed a sound understanding of organisational success.
This experience has equipped Graham with a diverse range of skills, including financial management, governance, corporate and strategic planning, leading significant cultural change and developing and building new organisations.
Graham has been delivering projects with SED for over 14 years and has significant experience in developing and implementing compliance and performance management systems with innovative approaches to service development and delivery. He is also experienced in working and communicating with communities and developing practical and effective relationships.
Morris Clarke
Former MD Clarkes Pies (Mortlake)
Morris brings over 30 years of practical experience in the food manufacturing and retail industry through his involvement as Managing Director Clarkes Pies and 10 years within the meat processing industry.
Morris has worked extensively with SED Advisory providing consultation services to the food industry utilising his personal and commercial experiences combined with extensive business mentoring and advisory services. Morris also provided mentoring support services to MSC in the recent Business Adaption pilot.
Garth Baulch
Manager & Principal GenR8 (Warrnambool)
Garth has been a partner of GenR8 Marketing for 16 years with a total of 26 in marketing and communications. Prior to that had a senior role in a large retail home furniture business.
Garth has worked closely with SED Advisory over the past 20 years providing marketing and consultation services to various industries and SME’s. Garth also provided mentoring support
services to MSC in the recent Business Adaption pilot.
Nic Bolden
Principal Hello World Warrnambool
Nic has owned and operated his own travel business in Warrnambool for the past 22 years and has worked in the travel industry for 28 years, the first 5 of those in Melbourne.
Nic has worked extensively with SED Advisory providing consultation services to the tourism sector and also provided mentoring support services to MSC in the recent Business Adaption pilot.
Garry Trotter
Principal A Leaders Impact (Ballarat)
Garry offers significant experience in leadership development and mentoring. Key outcomes of Garry’s work include senior leaders gaining significant personal insights into what drives them, the current impact they make on others to enable tailored strategies to sustain highly effective behavioural changes.
At an organisational level, the causes of performance outcomes are understood and leadership teams take responsibility for their role in creating a constructive culture based on common purpose and standards of excellence.
Garry developed the presentation for the Moyne Shire Business Adaptation Pilot program and provided mentoring services to selected businesses.
Mick White
Former CEO WDEA Works
Mick brings deep experience in disability employment, open employment, registered training and disability enterprises. Mick was foundation CEO of Western District Employment Access (WDEA) in Warrnambool for 28 years, an organisation that grew from a small Warrnambool agency to a significant regional provider across Victoria and South Australia employing more than 400 people.
In this capacity, Mick was a significant contributor to government advisory panels and industry peak bodies and locally an active leader in Community South West.
Mick’s industry knowledge and experience played a significant role in the delivery of SED’s engagement with Community Southwest to develop the Regional Disability Sector Workforce Needs Analysis an Action Plan for the Great South Coast region.
Robert Layton
Director dataPipeline (Ballarat)
Specialising in data analytics cybersecurity, Robert has more than 10 years experience in the industry sector, backed by 11 years of academic expertise and a doctorate in data analysis and machine learning. He has worked with multiple sectors, including advisory groups, banking, security, start-ups, and small scale businesses. Robert is well published, and has presented at international conferences, both academic and industry.
Robert undertakes consulting and development work for a wide range of industries, focusing on local regional companies and start-ups. Robert engages heavily with the regional tech sector across academic, industry and commercial sectors providing consulting services for data analytics best practices including the management, analysis and security of data and information.
Robert and SED have developed Reboundary, an analytical tool that uses clusters to capture attributes from multiple data layers to describe populations in a new insightful way.
Ian Ross
Senior Manager (Bendigo)
Ian has over 40 years experience in senior management roles with international and local Australian companies predominately engaged in the marketing and manufacture of engineered products for Australian and global markets.
More recently, (the past 14 years) Ian has worked alongside SED with regional Victorian businesses delivering professional advice and support covering business strategy, marketing and sales, operational management and financial budget development.
Ian is a customer focussed professional with strong marketing and operational skillsets developed over many years working within diverse businesses operating in highly competitive markets.
Lee Malady
Manager
Bachelor of Management and Marketing, Advanced diploma of Tourism Management
Lee has over 13 years’ experience in the Tourism industry. Lee begun her career in retail travel before spending the last 9 years as the Marketing and Development Manager with Shipwreck Coast Marketing and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Ltd.
Lee’s expertise’s lie in digital and social media marketing, content strategy, business communications, product development and brand strategy.
Lee can assist to strengthen your businesses unique selling proposition and develop a result focused marketing strategy that adapts to the current climate and amplifies your message to the right audience.
Shaun Miller
Manager
Leading business development activities for Fortune 500 companies and startups both in Australia and internationally. Shaun’s business development and management expertise has contributed growth and stability to a range of industries manufacturing, construction, retail and tourism.
Shaun has led export development programs to countries including China, India, USA and Europe while also providing commercial advisory support to a range of businesses across Victoria.
With a passion for business development activities, Shaun has also extensive experience working in and with all layers of Government and industry including securing funding for a host of programs and projects in education, energy, agriculture and retail sectors.
