Keynote Presentation

Disruption is the new normal. We need to be able to anticipate and respond to change, regardless of our role in the business. That is, we need to learn how to think like a futurist. Hear from one of Australia’s leading (and few accredited) futurists on what the future has in store based on some innovations and trends from around the world today.

In this keynote, Ben will cover the art and science of what futures thinking is and the benefits to both you and your organisation so that you can better anticipate and embrace change, ambiguity, and alternate futures in the pursuit of legacy.

With massive labour and skills shortages, technological advances and generational change, it is not uncommon for family business workplaces to change more rapidly than the underlying business principles and practices which support them.

Finding and keeping good people is, more than ever, essential, no matter the organization or the industry: we’re now all in the ‘people’ business.

In this thought-provoking presentation, Mandy Johnson explores innovative ways to navigate effectively in this rapidly-changing world. She outlines practical tools and techniques to engage the best people and build a high-performance workplace that they will never want to leave.

To develop and maintain a lasting legacy for your Family Business it’s crucial that you develop and foster a culture of inclusivity and support within the family itself. How else can you be sure that the extraordinary foundations you have laid will be passionately carried on by future generations?

It was once true that families were homogenous and, therefore, the chances that your children, grandchildren and future generations would hold similar views, have similar passions, carry on family traditions and meet family expectations were justifiably high.

But society has changed. Young people now have an enormous range of opportunities before them. In-laws, grandchildren and cousins are very often multi-cultural or hold different political, religious and societal views. Although there is still a way to go, women are well on the road towards equality and gender orientation and sexuality are far more fluid than they were in the 20th century.

All of these changes in society must now be taken into account in all organisations. In a Family Business gaining the skills to communicate and embrace all of the changes to modern society will not only develop even stronger ties with all family members (and employees), but also set you and your business up for a legacy that will withstand the test of time.

In this session, Natalie McVeigh will explore the nuances of how these cultural changes can influence communication between family members, discuss some of the challenges individual family members may be dealing with and prepare you for how the conversations within your family can shift.

Storytelling is one of the greatest ways for humans to experience connection, and in family business, no two stories are the same, making family legacies unique and captivating.

Kerry Heysen and Scott Hicks are no strangers to storytelling and working collaboratively in a family business. The power film couple have been behind acclaimed South Australian films, including Shine, Highly Strung and The Boys Are Back. Together, their extensive works include the feature films Fallen, The Lucky One, Glass: A Portrait of Philip in 12 Parts, No Reservations, Heart in Atlantis and Snow Falling on Cedars. Today the Hicks Heysen partnership has extended to producing grapes from their Yacca Paddock Vineyard on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula.

From the outset, Hicks and Heysen worked together intimately, sharing each other’s visions and practical realities, with many discussions about their work held around the kitchen table at night with their two sons, Scotty, and Jett.

Scott, Kerry, Scotty and Jett will take us through the power of storytelling to not only inspire in life and business but to remind us that we are all connected to something greater than ourselves.

This session will explore how sharing stories in a family business can unite a family and their company and capture a lasting legacy that can be passed down and celebrated by future generations.

Facilitated by Peter Goers.

President Trudeau recently said, “The pace of change has never been this fast, yet it will never be this slow again” and even though family businesses have been traditionally hard-wired for longevity and stewardship, family enterprises must adapt and evolve to survive.

Solvay has been adapting to an ever-changing World for more than a Century and a half. It had to reinvent itself many times, always building on a strong heritage of social responsibility, technical excellence and a family character.

The Belgium company was born in 1863 out of a technological breakthrough, the ammonia-soda process set up by Ernest Solvay and a small circle of relatives including his brother Alfred. Solvay embarked on a rapid international expansion and in 1900, 95% of the soda ash consumed in the World were produced using the Solvay process.

The Group survived both World Wars, thanks to its family shareholder base and jealously guarded manufacturing secrets and by the early 1950s, Solvay diversified and resumed its global expansion.

Sixth-generation family shareholder Arnaud de Coninck will not only share the unique evolution of the company but will also discuss how the family business has sustained its longevity by being prepared to evolve and innovate, the role of the owners in supporting this approach and the measures taken to achieve their purpose.

As a fifth-generation descendant of Samuel Smith who founded Yalumba in 1849, Chairman and Proprietor, Robert Hill-Smith did not need to find an industry in which to build a career. Born at Yalumba the world of wine was in his blood before he ever became aware of it. The Hill-Smith family has been an important part of the Australian wine industry history for more than 170 years, spanning six generations. What began as a single brand with Yalumba has evolved over the years to include several different renowned wine brands, estates and distribution entities, and ultimately a new name – Hill-Smith Family Estates.

During this “fire-side” chat, Robert will share the history of the family and how he developed an awareness of legacy, the ownership structure under his leadership, managing change in the family, and the thought process behind the new name to position the business for future generations.

Through these changes, the Hill-Smith family remains focused on preserving its legacy and ensuring that the business thrives for future generations.

Facilitated by Susan Hawkins, ANZ Private.