Only two more sleeps until Spotlight on Scaling Up

There are limited tickets left for Spotlight on Scaling Up, and there is a limited amount of time in which to buy them. Don't miss out on this all-star cast of experts examining the importance of manufacturers outgrowing their small business origins and how it can be done.

The event at University of Technology Sydney will open with a keynote from Alf and Nadia Taylor, the husband-and-wife duo behind TNA Solutions, who will share the company’s inspirational tale of turning an industry-leading innovation into a 600-plus employee company with more than 30 locations around the world.

There will also be five expert panels, covering topics as varied as what investors are looking for in a manufacturing business looking to expand, how to address the nation’s scale-up issues, and – importantly – why the nation can and must foster more world-leading, high-tech companies that live up to their potential.  

The June 25 event is 6:30 am for a 7 am start, room CB08.02.005, Building 8, UTS. Catering is included in the ticket price.

Tickets are only $44 and available here. 

Map

Program

6:30 – Guests arrive for a 7 am start, register, enjoy coffee and refreshments

7:00 – Introductory remarks

7:05 – Keynote from Alf and Nadia Taylor, founders of TNA Solutions

7:40 – Finding funding (panel)

8:15 – Presentation by Karl Griggs from Advanced Navigation

8:35 – Intermission, refreshments and networking

9:10 – Patient capital: how long tech takes at times (panel)

9:45 – Presentation by BDO

10:00 – Addressing the missing middle (panel)

10:35 – The clean tech companies of tomorrow (panel)

11:10 – It can happen here (panel)

Panel discussions

Patient capital: how long tech takes at times

A panel discussion featuring three high-tech businesses, each of which took many years to develop and prove their technology through to eventual adoption, and each of which remains strongly focussed on R&D. Featuring BluGlass, Calix, and Microbiogen. Moderated by BDO.

The clean tech companies of tomorrow

A roundtable of high-potential startups working in the clean tech genre, long identified by investors, government and others as an area of high potential. Featuring HB11 Energy, Allegro Energy, and IonDrive. Moderator TBC.

Finding funding

Investment is critical to take any promising idea through to something a customer will pay for, and then, ideally, to industrialisation. What are funds looking for when they’re identifying companies that can scale up? Featuring Breakthrough Victoria, the NRF Corporation, and the Australian Business Growth Fund. Moderated by BDO.

It can happen here

A discussion featuring established manufacturing companies that have grown handsomely through international leadership within their respective niches. How have they changed their industry? How do they continue to stay relevant? And how do they address the challenges of doing this from Australia? Featuring Finisar, Lovells Automotive, and ANCA Machine Tools. Moderated by David Martin from the Australian Industry Group.

Addressing the missing middle

With over 90 per cent of Australian manufacturers classified as small businesses employing fewer than 20 people, the session will delve into the barriers and opportunities in growing these enterprises to medium-sized, sustainable operations. Contrary to common belief, Australia does not face a capability problem – it has a scaling problem. This discussion will unpack this from the perspective of highly capable Australian manufacturers. Featuring Quickstep and Harvest B.