At South Australian Leaders, we inspire the next generation of leading privately-owned companies. Established in 2006, we have an ever-growing Alumni of more than one thousand companies right across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
South Australian Leaders is by invitation only. As a Member, you’ll be part of a highly supportive and trusted community of Industry Experts and like-minded peers. You’ll be surrounded by knowledge, connections and resources—to help stretch your thinking, become a better leader and take your business further, faster.
If you’d like to join this exclusive community of progressive business founders and leaders, check out how it works and express interest today.
Real impact. Real outcomes. Here’s how privately-owned companies have capitalised on the Leaders experience to move forward with confidence.
Growth is about getting bigger and smarter. Growth drives competitiveness and profit margins, enabling your business to do more with less. This requires strategy and planning based on genuine insights. Scaling up accelerates this process and is often designed to capitalise on innovation.
As a family-owned business providing housing and support services for people living with disability, BET Group joined SA Leaders with an ambition to scale up. The ability to connect with and learn from advisers in a safe space held strong appeal.
An important outcome for this purpose-driven organisation has been the development of a growth strategy with commitments to make a lasting social impact. This process has been supported by the professional SA Leaders community.
Emily Korir, CEO and Bernard Tanui, Managing Director, BET Group Global
Change is constant. Change presents challenges and creates opportunities. To stay ahead, you need to focus on innovation, intellectual property and brand differentiation. True sustainability is about building a thriving business that balances growth and stability over the long term.
To make time to support the transition from working ‘in’ to ‘on’ the business, the founders of Oomiak chose SA Leaders. As a leader in industrial refrigeration, the business priorities were strategy and innovation to achieve sustainable growth.
Through SA Leaders, the founders gained access to a diverse range of relevant expertise and experience. These strong connections have proven to be a great source of new ideas and have shaped the development of the business.
Cate McGuire, CEO, Oomiak
Continuous skill development fuels growth, innovation and profitability. Business owners should aim to work on strategic direction and step back from day-to-day operations. This requires a capable and trusted team, with clear roles and responsibilities to ensure seamless succession.
Hindmarsh Plumbing delivers safe and hygienic water infrastructure solutions. The initial motivation to connect with SA Leaders was to establish a more sustainable management structure with an increased level of team motivation.
The format of the monthly events has enabled the leader to gain fresh perspectives on relevant topics. This management upskilling has been made possible by interacting with and learning from highly experienced business professionals.
Ben Harrington, General Manager, Hindmarsh Plumbing
When buying or selling a business, there are a range of factors that influence the ultimate success of the transaction. It’s about timing, valuation and negotiation. That’s why it’s important to seek independent guidance and support to ensure the best possible outcome for your business.
Corporate Travel Management forged a relationship with Leaders to explore funding options. Through this journey, the business leader gained valuable advice from the expert and peer community around future growth strategy.
As a result, initial investment was secured to fund acquisitions. This was followed by a public listing on the ASX in 2010, which proved to be one of the most successful in Queensland. This listing was underwritten and supported by an Industry Expert.
Jamie Pherous, Managing Director, Corporate Travel Management
Great leaders never stop learning and understand the importance of a growth mindset. Fresh perspectives from outside the industry can drive innovation, challenge complacency and create advantage. A practical way to achieve this is to engage with relevant experts in the field.
The founder of Discount Party Supplies, a thriving online business, recognised the need for professional development. With the business on a growth trajectory, it was important to learn from experts and expand leadership skills.
Through relationships developed with experts, positive changes have been implemented such as leadership training, insurance renegotiation and IT outsourcing. The ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions have enabled the founder to challenge existing thinking.
Kirsty Chapman-Smith, Founder and CEO, Discount Party Supplies
Running a business can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. With the right support system, you’ll connect with experienced leaders who understand the challenges and offer real-world solutions. This guidance will help you make smarter decisions and lead with confidence.
With a focus on the caravan and campaign industry, RV Electronics designs, manufactures and distributes electronic products right around the world. To support this journey, the company become involved with the SA Leaders community.
The ongoing opportunity to share challenges with and learn from the experience of members has been valuable. Advice from experts has enabled the transition from a small business mindset through to a more streamlined enterprise.
Steve Pasfield, Co-owner and Head of Research and Development, RV Electronics
