AusBiz Magazine – July/August 2021

NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

WHEN TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS is understanding when the time is right.

p.08 ron bartsch and his new book, the corona dilemma P.10 an app that has kids answering important questions P.12 How space technology is transforming ag on earth P.16 the digital transformation of oyster farming p.24 a dive into Australia’s truffle industry P.28 meet Alex Dekker – founder of Alex Makes Meals

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AUSBIZ NEWS

New research identifies patterns in Australia’s climate extremes Words: Alexandra O’Rourke Australia, the driest inhabited continent on earth, is prone to natural disasters and a range of weather conditions such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and bushfires. But why?

Two new Flinders University studies of long-term hydro-climatic patterns have provided fresh insight into the cause of this strong climate variability.

The National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) at Flinders has revealed a seesaw wetting-

drying phenomenon between east and west Australia, mediated by vegetation.

The phenomenon occurs when eastern Australia gains water as western Australia loses water, and vice-versa, caused by alternating La Niña and El Niño weather patterns. Four consecutive periods of seesaw wetting and drying in the past five decades have been confirmed.

“The phenomenon can be explained by vegetation and soil moisture interactions,” explains lead researcher Dr Huade Guan,

Associate Professor in Hydrology.

The revelation provides us with data to predict overall weather patterns in Australia, allowing time to prepare for extreme conditions.

Understanding climate variability is essential for mitigating the risks that come with extreme weather, which impacts everything from our food supply chain to our natural and built environments. The research is a step in the right direction to prepare for, if not prevent, the worst.

AUSTRALIA SET TO UNLOCK RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL Words: Bethany Plint The CSIRO has released new research outlining a bright new future for Australia’s critical mineral resources. The report details how our mining sector can work in tandem with manufacturers to turn minerals such as lithium and silicon into essential components for producing renewable energy. Electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines are pegged as prime contenders for the initiative.

With mining activity under the microscope and pressure mounting to transition to renewable energy, Australia is in a unique position to reshape its mining sector to align with more sustainable goals. It’s a good PR move but will ultimately be a financially motivated one, as CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall points out.

“Australia’s future economic prosperity will depend on how well we can use our vast energy and mineral resources to play to our strengths and create new opportunities through the global transition to net zero emissions,” he says.

“The research demonstrates the economic opportunities that can be harnessed by strategically investing in new critical mineral deposits and processing technologies that reduce cost and environmental footprint.”

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AUSBIZ NEWS

NEW TECH ARMS FARMERS WITH PLANTLEVEL INSIGHTS Words: Alexandra O’Rourke Imagine being able to measure the stress level of plants, trees and vines, and then using that data to provide them with the right amount of water in the right location to alleviate such stress. This concept is becoming a reality thanks to Ceres Imaging, the aerial imagery company introducing plant-level insights to Australia.

The new interface provides growers with data that can help them reduce uncertainty, plan, and improve irrigation for healthier crops. Highresolution aerial imagery allows growers to quantify water stress, chlorophyll and NDVI to improve corrective treatment, helping them

measure the trend of the irrigation strategy and ensuring that the most impactful problems are treated in a timely manner.

“This is the first time high-accuracy water stress data is available to growers through imagery at a plant level,” says Ceres Imaging founder and CEO Ashwin Madgavkar.

“Irrigation is complex, and even subtle inefficiencies compound over time to have a big impact on yield and profit,” he adds. “It’s often difficult to know if your irrigation strategy is achieving the results it should, so having insights at the plant level provides a cost-effective solution.”

Ceres Imaging offers solutions for farmers working on vineyards, fruit orchards, and an increasing number of in-ground crops.

Big boosts for Australia’s leading ag and food technology start-ups Words: Bethany Plint With unforeseen population growth, drastic climate variability and increasing pressure on our food systems, business as usual in the agricultural sector just won’t cut it. That’s why millions of dollars in private funding is being pumped into ag and food tech start-ups, to help Australian farmers build a more sustainable future.

SparkLabs Cultiv8 is a global food technology accelerator – think the Shark Tank of the agriculture industry, without all the drama. The program was established to identify early-stage companies with great ideas but not enough money, and support them through the next phase of commercial growth.

By connecting farmers, researchers, corporate partners and industry experts, the SparkLabs Cultiv8 program aims to create a network where innovative ideas can be turned into reality in order to meet the growing demands of our global food supply chains.

The program, which has raised over $100 million globally, is currently supporting a CSIRO project that feeds specific seaweed to livestock to reduce methane production; a company that makes honey without bees; and a variety of health-food start-ups.

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Q&A

THE NEXT NORMAL World-renowned aviation lawyer, airline executive and author Ron Bartsch came up with his principles of “20-20 Thinking” as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His book The Corona Dilemma: 20-20 Thinking for the Next Normal aims to arm individuals with the tools to think clearly and creatively about their future and seek out actionable solutions.

The Corona Dilemma: 20-20 Thinking for the Next Normal is available for purchase online, RRP $29.95

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Q&A

We’re all likely to face at least one corona event at some point in our lives.

You may have had one already; the pandemic might be yours right now; or perhaps you’ll face one in the years to come. Whatever the case, a corona event

Q. IN YOUR BOOK YOU TALK ABOUT “CORONA EVENTS.” WHAT ARE THEY, AND WHY ARE THEY SO SIGNIFICANT? A. A “corona event” is a term I coined to describe the special situation that arises following an event that derails your train of normality and forces you to divert from your normal way of doing things. These can be traumatic events, such as during the coronavirus pandemic, but not always.

My own corona event was an island of Vanuatu that completely changed the way I viewed my life and the world I had created around me.

Until then I had been passing my time working in public service, and in the belief I was securing a carefree and satisfying future. But within weeks of arriving I began to reassess what in life was really important to me – my family and my relationship. I realised that I’d been nurturing certain values that were, in fact, of little or no value.

So I decided, there and then, to make a change for the better.

moment in your life that forces you to re-evaluate how you’ve been doing things. The important thing – and what my book is all about – is to recognise the moment when it happens, and realise the opportunities that change can present.

Q. YOU DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN INTERPERSONAL AND INTRAPERSONAL CHANGE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS DISTINCTION IS IMPORTANT IN ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE A CORONA DILEMMA? A. At face value it seems we humans are quite good at accommodating change. If we compare contemporary society to the society that existed just a few short decades ago, in terms of the pace of activity and the uptake of technology, you’ll get some idea of the extent to which society embraces change. E-transactions and our cashless society, communicating using smart devices, the proliferation of social media, new mediums for delivering food and transporting people have all become part of our normal and everyday life.

To better understand the unique situation we face after having experienced a corona event, we should consider change as being

of two basic types: interpersonal change and intrapersonal change.

Interpersonal change is generally referred to as environmental change, as it affects more than one person and includes societal and organisational change. This kind of change is reactive and is what we have experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic. It doesn’t require a change to the way we think, but rather it reinforces the notion of our acceptance of common practices within a community or organisation.

In contrast, intrapersonal or individual change is proactive, selfinitiated, and does not happen unless you, as an individual or as a corporation, are prepared to do something different. When faced with a corona dilemma you need to start thinking differently so you can devise strategies to protect your newly reprioritised core values.

Q. SO, HOW DO WE START THINKING DIFFERENTLY? A. A corona event and subsequent corona dilemma provide the opportunity for you to do things differently and so live a better life.

20-20 Thinking is a collection of models and tools I have developed that can be applied to approach thinking creatively about the situation you’re in.

20-20 Thinking is part of the decision-making process that helps you connect remotely associated ideas to form new and creative ideas.

It considers function rather than form in resolving problems.

Q. WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM READING YOUR BOOK? A. Ask yourself the following question: Is there any aspect of your personal wellbeing or professional career that you feel could be improved, but you don’t know what to do about it? If the answer is “yes” then The Corona Dilemma is for you.

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TECHNOLOGY

THE NEW APP EVERY PARENT NEEDS Kids buried in their phones 24/7?

You may not be able to curb their screen time – but you can make it a little more productive.

Mum-and-dad entrepreneurs Ann and Issac Elnekave have invented an app parents can download onto a child’s phone that makes them answer an educational question correctly in order to unlock their favourite apps.

Market research shows 1Question between a parental control app and a study learning app. Furthermore, the parent is in complete control and can monitor their child’s progress, unearthing areas they can improve.

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM AND HOW HAS IT MADE AN IMPACT ON YOUR LIVES? Ann: The idea came about when we were sitting in our lounge room during

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lockdown. The kids were all on their phones and I thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if they had to answer a maths question before they could get into their other apps?’ Open TikTok – sure, what’s 6 x 7? Want to dive back into Roblox? No problem. First, simplify this fraction.’ As soon as they’ve answered correctly, they’re in and can continue with their other apps.

Once I’d decided it was something I wanted to pursue and had done some research and testing of the initial concept, Issac’s entrepreneurial and tech background really helped grow the idea and bring it to life.

It’s been an incredible family affair.

Our house has transformed into the 1Question headquarters! At times it can be daunting trying to maintain

some sort of boundaries between work and family: we are always ‘on’. As we’ve grown, we’ve added incredibly talented team members and together we’re excited for the journey ahead.

WHERE AND HOW WAS THE APP DEVELOPED? Ann: The app has grown from a seed of an idea to what it is today from our home in Sydney. Team meetings are at the dining table – some days there’s no time for ‘good morning,’ we just jump right in. We’re supported by an incredibly talented team of professionals all over the world, contributing their various areas of expertise. It’s a bit like the United Nations!

TECHNOLOGY

ARE QUESTIONS ALIGNED WITH THE CURRENT NATIONAL CURRICULUM? Issac: 1Question’s content has been developed by a team of educators in line with both the Australian and US maths curriculums. Starting with Year 1 through to Year 6, with 7-9 being added now. We haven’t engaged with the Department of Education… yet.

But stay tuned, we’re in discussions with leading teachers, schools and universities to collaborate on ways to make 1Question even better.

RATHER THAN TRYING TO REDUCE A CHILD’S SCREEN TIME, 1QUESTION HAS GONE DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH. WHY IS THAT? Ann: It’s like trying to work an exercise routine into your day; we thought we’d apply the same concept to study. Our children are growing up in a digital age and are incredibly engaged with their devices, so we’re taking little slices of those moments of engagement and redirecting them towards revision.

In the same way we would help our children by quizzing them before a test, or creating Post-it notes to remember concepts, this is a fantastic way of supporting their learning.

Of course, 1Question does not replace homework or conventional study methods – 1Question is built to complement classroom and other types of conceptual learning. We use the techniques of spaced repetition and the Leitner system to consolidate classroom learnings and help shift that information from short-term to longterm memory in much the same way as don’t need to think about it.

Once you’ve set up the app, 1Question does the work. The AI engine monitors and predicts learner performance and adjusts the learning protocols accordingly, tailoring the process to each individual child.

KIDS ARE PRETTY SAVVY THESE DAYS. IS THERE ANY WAY FOR CHILDREN TO GET AROUND THESE QUESTIONS OR REMOVE THE APP FROM THEIR PHONE ALTOGETHER? Issac: The ‘child’ app is PIN protected, which prevents children adjusting any of the settings, including which target apps the parents have chosen to be locked. From the ‘parent’ app the parent is able to see, in real time, how many questions their child has answered, when they last answered a question, and their current level of

mastery in each topic, as well as their learning progress over time. With this insight the parent will immediately know whether there have been some sneaky workarounds.

We’re sure there will be savvy kids to work around this – please come and talk to us, we want to hire you!

WHAT TOPICS ARE THE CURRENT QUESTIONS BASED AROUND? Issac: Current topics available for maths in Years 1 through 6 include times tables, addition, subtraction, odd and even numbers, place value, time, multiplication, fractions, decimals, division, percentages, geometry, simple equations, Roman numerals, prime and square numbers, and units of measurement.

We’ve also had a ton of requests for the adult version of 1Question, and this is absolutely on our product roadmap.

Really any of us could learn anything using the 1Question platform, from a gardening… the list is endless.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR 1QUESTION? Issac: We have a tutor program in the works, where tutors will be able to create custom questions for their students. This will be a useful tool for tutors as it will ensure tutoring sessions are spent teaching new concepts, rather than spending time consolidating and revising what was covered in the previous session.

We’re also opening up the 1Question platform to allow educators globally to create their own micro courses, based on their area of expertise. This will help us scale incredibly quickly, and also means that anyone will be able to learn just about anything from experts in working with schools and teachers to expand content.

1Question is available on iOS and Android. For more information, visit 1question.app JUL/AUG 2021

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SPACE TECHNOLOGY IS TRANSFORMING AGRICULTURE ON EARTH As climate change and an ever-growing population put increasing pressure on agriculture and food production, a new report has revealed billion-dollar opportunities

Image: AgriFutures

Words: LJ Charleston

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AGRICULTURE

A new report, commissioned by AgriFutures Australia, is promoting awareness to producers of the potential uses of available space technologies, as well as forecasting what “space tech” they can look forward to in the next decade.

The Australian National University (ANU) study, ‘Space-based technologies – opportunities for the rural sector,’ shows Australian $2.2 billion over a 30-year period by improving geolocation.

The report also says that satellite connectivity has the potential to add $15.6 billion to the gross value of and forestry industries each year. it’s important to note that space tech is already being utilised by producers, who are using satellite imaging, low bandwidth sensors, GPS tracking, autosteer, paddock level imagery and weather forecasting.

SPACE RESEARCH IS EXPANDING INTO THE RURAL SECTOR While space tech has traditionally been used by the mining and defence sectors, AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager, Rural Futures, Jennifer

Medway says we are only on the cusp of unlocking opportunities for the agricultural sector.

“It’s exciting. The farmer of the future will have space technology fully integrated into their everyday production systems and decision making. For instance, dashboards will enable farmers to remotely manage manual processes, and interoperable data systems will radically shift the way on-farm decisions are made,” Jennifer says.

“All this is made possible through space technology, which has the potential to revolutionise the working day of tomorrow’s farmers.”

AgriFutures is connecting farmers with tech developers, researchers and the Australian Space Agency via its evokeAG digital platform, which will help to accelerate the development of space technologies for agriculture.

There’s also the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, which is investing in a $245 million research program in advanced telecommunications, intelligent satellite systems, Earth observation and remote sensing analytics.

Jennifer says the Australian Space Agency has a mandate to triple the size of the domestic space industry by 2030. “Agriculture’s time is now. To

stay competitive and continue to up the ante on increasing productivity and ‘outside the square’. Space technology According to Martin Amidy, Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology, Industry Engagement Senior Manager, an Australian farmer’s ability to manage multiple tasks with the click of a button is now a reality.

“In addition to the report, easily digestible fact sheets summarise available space technologies and their impact for livestock farming forestry, as well as more intensive farming systems like horticulture and dairy,” Martin says.

“It is important to emphasise the opportunity space technology presents, but it is equally important to arm producers with practical information on how they could implement it, and the return on investment they can get from adopting these technologies.”

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AVAILABLE AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON The report also highlights what’s happening on a global scale and consolidates the technologies and

Image: Landsat

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AGRICULTURE

applications that would be suitable for Australia. It argues that there are three main components in addressing challenges for rural industries: remote sensing, connectivity and geolocation, as well as the barriers to adoption.

According to Jennifer, the next crucial steps will involve collaboration between rural industries and tech companies to help both sectors understand ways to maximise space-tech opportunities. “The space landscape is fast paced. Space companies and tech developers are in our sights and we need further discussions to explore how technology can be applied to solve agricultural challenges,” Jennifer says.

of the changes relating to space tech are imminent. We also need to accept the horizon is getting closer as technology use is exponentially growing. We need to challenge our thinking and look at the scalability of the technology already in use.”

And, while big, game-changing technologies already exist, in many cases we are not linking it to space. According to Jennifer the interconnectivity between countries and space is expanding what

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Images: IBM Research, Australian Institute of Marine Science and CSIRO/David McClenaghan

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

FAST FACTS • The large-scale nature of extensive livestock farming and broadacre cropping in Australia lends itself well to spacebased remote sensing due to satellite speed when scanning large areas.

• More intensive farming systems – including horticulture and dairy – can be better served by drones or in-field technologies.

• Earth and marine observation (including satellites, drones and sensors) had an estimated value to agriculture, fisheries and forestry in the Asia-Pacific region of $37 billion in 2019. we can do on a global scale. She believes Australian agriculture needs to change its mindset to capitalise on the technologies that are here now.

“Application of technologies to view land and sea (remote sensing), technologies focused on location (geolocation) and technologies to connect (connectivity) have the potential to revolutionise the working day of tomorrow’s farmers,” Jennifer says.

“Across the board, these technologies will increase the productivity, sustainability and

• Improvements to geolocation could benefit agriculture by $2.2 billion over a 30-year period.

• Satellite connectivity will assist in furthering the application of internetenabled technologies, with such technologies having the potential to add $15.6 billion to the gross value of production in agriculture, fisheries and forestry each year.

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TECHNOLOGY

RISING WITH THE TIDE: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF OYSTER FARMING McAsh is his name and oysters are his game. This entrepreneur is bringing oyster farming into the 21st century with new technology that will transform the industry.

Words: Will York

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TECHNOLOGY

“After 15 years of oyster farming, I was the only person who truly knew what to do on my oyster lease and when... and that was stopping me from growing my business any further”

business model almost immediately.

Australian oysters are amazing seafood, and rather than watch his oysters get lost in the wholesale market, he sold directly to restaurants and oyster-lovers. Every box was

Ewan McAsh is not your typical Australian farmer: his paddocks are underwater. There’s a certain level of mystery that surrounds his profession simply because a lot of people don’t know that oysters can in fact be farmed. Ewan has all the tell-tale traits of a man in the oyster farming business – salt in his beard and a trusty pair of rubber waders; but he stands out from the rest because he has ambitions to bring the ageing industry into the digital world.

More than sixteen years ago, Ewan graduated with a marine biology degree, leaving the classroom with a curiosity for aquaculture. Alongside his father, he bought an oyster farm in the Clyde River on the NSW South Coast.

Soon he began to notice the creeping rust on the industry as a result of out-dated methods and a complete absence of technology.

Oyster farmers in New South Wales made their dime by hauling sacks of

became the face of the operation.

and Ewan saw through this outdated

from Moruya airport every week to

farming story, describing the unique Signature Oysters was born, and became so successful that Ewan recruited farmers from other oyster regions to pack and send oysters; all shipped directly to restaurants, all celebrating the story of the farmer, the growing region and the unique characteristics of the oysters. An oyster from a Signature Oysters farm commanded a 30 per cent premium. management problems.

STAGNANT WATERS

meet clients and search for new ones. time to grow his client list, but the time spent away from his farm meant production slowed down.

The oyster industry has remained stagnant for nearly 40 years. The constraining factors of tides, barnacles, weather and disease mean oyster

scale up.

A wheat farmer doesn’t need to remember where his crops are – he can see them in plain sight. Oyster farmers deal with murky water that is often impossible to see through, and until recently Ewan had to literally memorise where his oysters were and when to harvest them, or rely on notes scribbled on a whiteboard. alone farming underwater,” he says.

“After 15 years of oyster farming, I had created an environment where I was the only person who truly knew what to do on my oyster lease and when to JUL/AUG 2021

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TECHNOLOGY FROM LEFT:

do it – the location of thousands of oyster baskets, schedules and tasks.

All the history, all the best practices, were remembered by one person: me.

And this was stopping me growing my business any further.”

There are 600 oyster farms across Australia that generate $100 million each year for the aquaculture

of aquaculture farmers do not use software to manage their farms and rely entirely on memory. Ewan decided it was time to make a change and launched SmartOysters.

A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION “There have been no advancements in the oyster industry that would easily allow me to scale my business – and every other oyster farmer in Australia is in the same situation. That is until now. SmartOysters technology makes the knowledge accessible for all farmers and their workers.”

SmartOysters uses GPS maps and customisable reports to capture the

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farmer’s ‘unique farm practice’.

people. There’s even been stories

their next grade is due and keeps track of the exact location of their gear and oysters. Not only does the platform keep track of every stage in an oyster’s development, it automatically schedules and assigns tasks for the maintenance of the oyster lease and helps recruit and train new staff.

The new platform aims to combat the industry’s record prices caused

downstream and returning them to their pastures,” Ewan says.

over the past two years. With the help of SmartOysters, farmers can show backers the data of their farm. The platform assists in claims, funding applications and loan approvals.

It means oyster farmers not only have the time to harvest more; they also have the resources to help their local community recover as well.

“Farming is never easy, but amongst the devastation there are so many amazing stories of our oyster farmers supporting their local community.

Farmers have delivered groceries

RISING WITH THE TIDE It’s common knowledge that the agricultural sector in Australia has had a rough trot over the past few

plague and, of course, the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, have put immense pressure on our farmers to produce the food that we so often take for granted. Many people see oysters as a luxury; for Ewan, they’re his lifeblood.

“Thanks to the wild weather and tough farming conditions, the rivers have been closed for harvesting oysters many times – sometimes for weeks, sometimes months. But the oyster industry is amazingly resilient, a trademark of what is truly sustainable seafood,” says Ewan. A sign of what’s to come, we hope.

SmartOysters at smartoysters.com.

BUSINESS

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SCALE A BUSINESS? Most business owners will agree it’s to start one from scratch. But when done well, the results can be lucrative. the time is right.

Words: LJ Charleston

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BUSINESS

Most entrepreneurs endure a lot of angst trying to scale a business.

Companies such as eBay, Google and PayPal achieved their enormous success because they were able to create scalable models, as opposed to just growing in size.

Scaling is often confused for growth – but there’s a huge difference between growing and scaling. To grow a business means adding resources at the same rate you’re adding revenue; this is growing, but it’s not scaling.

Scaling is when you add revenue at an exponential rate while you add resources at an incremental rate.

A good example of scaling up is Google: the company was able to add customers very quickly, while adding very few additional resources to service those customers. Using this model, Google has been able to increase its margin at an incredibly fast rate in a short amount of time.

WHY IS SCALING A BUSINESS SO TRICKY? A recent global study known as The Growth Project analysed 45 companies from countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, Israel, and the Netherlands. All had achieved turnover between $8 million and $200 million a year and achieved more than 30 per cent year-on-year growth for at least three years.

The Australian companies that were involved in the study were based in capital cities as well as regional areas, and included businesses in traditional industries such as tourism, hospitality, agriculture, construction, mining, and high-tech start-ups, as well as manufacturing.

The Australian section of the project was overseen by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School Associate Professor Danielle Logue. She says one of the main reasons behind the study has been to gain an understanding about why scaling a business is so incredibly

tough; research shows only 1 per cent a year mark.

Danielle says Australia places a much bigger focus on start-ups than it does on navigating the scaling process and “What we observed was that these This was because they had leaders and managers who were personally were good at and what they were not so good at,” she says.

The global study was initially created

by Professor Charlene Zietsma from Penn University in the US, because she wanted to explore why so many entrepreneurial ventures fail and even more fail to grow.

According to Charlene, many startups get “stuck” serving niche markets or only early adopters. They have to change what they do, and how they do it, to appeal to larger markets.

unless we grow them, we don’t actually get the jobs and economic “There are lessons to be learned from other countries that, like Australia, have to look beyond their domestic market for sustained growth. Like other countries, Australia has invested heavily in incubators. But as these businesses emerge from the start-up phase, they need help to scale, to create engines for Australia’s economy.”

The other challenges include raising capital and recruiting. Many entrepreneurs hire while they are “in the moment” rather than searching for the right talent that can scale with the company.

Other business owners feel under pressure to meet the expectations of investors, which might cause them to lose sight of their original vision for the company.

“As businesses emerge from the start-up phase, they need help to scale, to create engines for Australia’s economy.”

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BUSINESS

“Many challenges are common to all rapid-growth firms, so fresh insights can be found further afield.”

KEY TIPS TO SCALE A BUSINESS

WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT…

• Begin with the end in mind: have clear long-term objectives.

As for the million-dollar question: “When is the right time to scale up your business?” the hard, sad news is that there’s no magical answer.

But it’s important to know the key questions you need to ask: 1. Is there enough demand for my business that means it will be sustainable moving forward?

Understand your market trends.

2. in place so that your company can pay for all business essentials as you move forward?

3. Are all the essential processes in place to accommodate your company’s structure?

4. Are you absolutely clear about your customers’ expectations?

You need to spend the bulk of your time innovating and connecting with your customers.

business model, then scale up (and repeat the process).

• Pivot with a purpose: when a business model isn’t working, pivot to a plan B. • Let go as you grow: realise you can no longer do everything – hire, delegate and consult.

• People agility: hire the right people their roles.

• Build scaffolding for growth: develop structures, systems and processes needed to scale up. through the system – it is the oxygen that fuels growth.

• Targeted execution: develop a metric driven culture and focus on key priorities.

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5. Does your company have the right tools to ensure all your systems are need to be up-to-date with the latest and best technology. If not, you might need to hire an in-house IT expert.

6. And last, but not least, do you have a documented plan in place to scale your business?

The answers to these questions should be a clear indicator of whether you are ready to scale, or whether you have a lot of work to do beforehand.

According to Charlene, it’s crucial for business owners to seek advice when feeling overwhelmed with growth and scale challenges.

“They may not realise that the challenges faced while growing rapidly are not unique to their own sector,” she says. “Many challenges are common to all rapid-growth

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AGRICULTURE

BLACK GOLD When Tim Terry harvested his Tasmanian farm in 1999, he

producer in the world, with an entire calendar of events dedicated

Image: Tourism Western Australia

Words: Bethany Plint

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AGRICULTURE

The cool climate, pure water and fertile soil of Tim Terry’s Deloraine property in the foothills of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers provides perfect growing Long lunches, hunts and a range of

which explains why they thrive in of Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria have also found some success, but their focus has shifted towards agritourism and education.

COST OF TRUFFLES IN AUSTRALIA across the Bass Strait to get involved in the action this season.

TRUFFLE GROWING REGIONS centred around the French black or Périgord variety. Western Australia’s Manjimup region produces the majority than 80 per cent) but there are now more than 300 farms scattered across the country. With so many producers production is estimated to be between 12 and 12.5 tonnes per year.

Extremes on both ends of the temperature gauge provide optimal growing conditions for these rare fungi,

Prices vary each year depending on availability, demand and quality of the season, but the going rate for this year’s harvest is $2.50 per gram. Given most retailers have a 20g minimum and many recipes call for up to 10g per person, you’re looking at $50 a pop for dinner for two. If you’re cooking for a crowd, you’d better be ready to splash some serious cash. ask? It comes down to a few factors.

Detection dogs must be expertly trained in order to pick up the intense aroma to be harvested. Secondly, they take a long time to grow: inoculated trees often take four to seven years to produce

LEFT: RIGHT: MACHENMIST TRUFFLE FARM IN BREDBO, NSW

Image: Destination NSW

“Many truffle farmers have incorperated elements of agritourism to diversify their income and future-proof their business.”

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T R U LYAU S .CO M

THE PLACE TO FIND REAL AUSTRALIAN STORIES

Image: Tourism Western Australia and Frances Andrijich

AGRICULTURE

FROM LEFT: TUCKING

only reached after 12 years. And lastly, there’s carry a level of prestige, and therefore people are willing to drop bulk cash on them. But for diehard fans of these delectable fungi, they’re worth every cent.

founder Nigel Wood with a warming coffee of those elusive black and white diamonds.

TRUFFLE TOURISM And they’re even harder to grow on a large incorporate elements of agritourism in their business to diversify their income and futureproof their practice. The result? A wealth of hands-on experiences to educate, entertain

hunt and taste these rare fungi for yourself.

guests wrap up the adventure with a glass of

Robertson Truffles, Southern Highlands NSW the season. The stunning Southern Highlands region provides the backdrop for an exciting two-hour adventure, where visitors tend to get

Red Hill Truffles, Mornington Peninsula VIC Situated on the stunning property that has

knowledge to draw from.

Macenmist, Bredbo NSW experiences throughout the season. Join the super sniffer dog Thomas on a hunt for

or eight-course degustation.

Truffle Paddock, Grantville VIC Surrounded by ancient indigenous trees and

Just an hour’s drive from Canberra, nestled along the Cappanana River, Macenmist wine – a winning combination! Macenmist or lunch, as well as family-friendly hunts where season (June to September), the farmgate is open from 11am-4pm every day.

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CHARITY

FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY ONE LASAGNE AT A TIME Words: Bethany Plint

People like Alex Dekker don’t come along very often. When the world descends into chaos – like it did at the start of 2020 when COVID-19 emerged – most of us revert to survival mode.

We drop everything to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. But every now and again, an individual comes along closest connections and extends to the far reaches of society, touching those who are truly in need of help.

Until March 2020, Melbournite Alex was on the path to becoming a global studies graduate, majoring in international studies with a bonus chemistry degree on the side – until a single tray of lasagne set him on a completely different but far more rewarding course.

In a nutshell, what is Alex Makes Meals about?

We make sure the most vulnerable people in our society have something This goes beyond simply meeting nutritional requirements. Food is such an important part of our lives. It’s a way for us to connect with and care for each other, and if we’re just serving bland, tasteless meals to people who it can take a real toll on their dignity.

So, we provide meals that we would be proud to serve to our friends and family. And thanks to ongoing support from the community, we are able to provide more than 3,000 meals every week to people in need.

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What was pre-COVID 19 Alex Dekker doing?

Before the pandemic hit, I was at uni completing a degree in global studies with a major in international relations.

I always had a bit of an ethical struggle with it, though. One of the biggest critiques about international relations, as opposed to international studies, is that it’s amoral at its core. It focuses on the movement of giant powers but it always neglects the human. This is what frustrated me so much about my degree and became even more heightened as the world was falling into despair amid the COVID outbreak.

What was the turning point for you to drop uni and go full steam ahead with Alex Makes Meals?

When COVID-19 began and it became clear the underprivileged people in our community were going to suffer immensely, I began talking to them and hearing about their experiences.

I was shocked by the standard at which their needs were being served.

I thought: ‘Oh damn, we are failing these people.’

Historically, there has been a lot of fear around talking to underprivileged members of our society. I think guilt plays a big role in this. We don’t understand them or what they need and, as a result, we either patronise them, or worse, ignore them. The conversations I was having as I served these incredibly diverse individuals made me realise something needed to change. When I thought about

CHARITY

OPPOSITE PAGE:

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CHARITY

my university degree, I realised I’d be able to help a lot more people through Alex Makes Meals than I could in any other capacity.

Did you always have a passion for cooking?

No more than your average Joe! Obviously I’ve now spent a lot of time in the kitchen with some really talented chefs, and luckily some of their skills have rubbed off on me – but before that I was a pretty ordinary cook.

And my lasagne was only just above average! I honestly stumbled upon this, but it seems like we’re doing some good work, so I think I’ll stay in the kitchen for a while.

How is Alex Makes Meals different to other food charities?

We truly value the people receiving our food. The reason we cook meals to such a high calibre is not just because of the physical impact it has, but the emotional, too. We serve the same food to our volunteers as we do our community members, because the operation we run has very real the counter. We want everyone to feel

What kind of meals does the team dish up?

After a year and a half of testing and troubleshooting, we’ve managed to nail about six different recipes that we use on a rotating basis. The trick is quality and high volume. One of my favourites – no surprises here – is our infamous lasagne. We also do a great sticky fried rice.

What support have you received from the community?

We wouldn’t be able to achieve the volume of food output we have without support from a few commercial kitchens around the city of Melbourne.

We currently have access to a catering kitchen in Port Melbourne and Preston

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which helps us pump out thousands of meals every week.

We’ve also just partnered with an ethical fresh produce supplier who sells goods to us for far less than cost price. The fruit and veg we receive may be too big, too small or slightly out of shape to meet supermarket standards – but when you’re cooking at such a high volume, a supersized carrot isn’t a bad thing!

We’ve spent time crafting this important partnership because we, as an organisation, don’t take donations for fresh produce. We can’t guarantee the quality or reliability. We might have a great week and provide an awesome service to our community, but the following week our standard drops and we leave people feeling why these ongoing partnerships are so vital to the process.

On an individual level, we’ve had so much support from local volunteering groups, schools and the general community. I’ve had the opportunity to speak all over the city, sharing what we do and encouraging people to get involved. That’s the only reason we still exist: people generally do want to help. They just don’t always know how.

How can people get involved?

Currently we rely entirely on public donations, and the smallest amount can make a huge difference. We’ve recently launched The Founders Club,

where people can make monthly donations on a recurring basis. Just $15 can feed one person one meal a day for an entire month.

Peer fundraising is also something we’re exploring. We’ve had people run marathons in support of us and even dedicate Facebook birthday fundraisers to us. Just having people become aware of the problem and do even the smallest thing to try and improve it is fundamental in changing the mindset that the underprivileged are responsible for or deserve to be in the situation they’re in.

What’s next for Alex Makes Meals?

As much as we are making a huge difference here in the local community, the problem is far more widespread.

In Melbourne alone, we are currently 30,000 meals per week short of what we want to be providing. And that number is purely based on the people who know what we are doing and have requested more. If that demand exists in Melbourne, of all places, you know it exists nationally.

We would love to establish additional satellite kitchens in other states, but the logistics behind any large-scale expansion would be tricky.

Luckily we have some wonderful people on our side who have been While the Government has been putting a lot of money into food relief, the quality is low. We would need to community kitchens in order to serve the needs of the community. It’s a challenge that we’re willing to take on, and we’re sure people around Australia are happy to support us.

Meals or pledge a donation, visit alexmakesmeals.com

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Northern Peninsula Area

WITH RESPECT AND PRIDE WE STRIVE TO BUILD A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN BASED ON UNITY, EQUITABLE SELF–GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE. Cape York is at the very northern tip of Australia. It’s a narrow peninsula only 80 miles south of Papua New Guinea, with the Coral Sea to the east, the Arafura Sea/Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Torres Strait Islands to the north.

The Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is a land of two seasons: the wet season, December to April,

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC)

Track or drive by the Scenic Peninsula Development Road all by 4WD only.

This sacred area is full of wonderful nature at every turn, scenic views, waterfalls, and sunsets equal to the best in the world and make your way to the very tip of the Australian continent, a must do when you visit this remote area.

For all the latest information about the NPA visit the Council website – www.nparc.qld.gov.au

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