Curtin Business School

Mentoring team

A unique feature of the Growth Program is that each participant is matched with an experienced mentor or business coach.

Our mentoring team consists of the following professional people.  Please click on the person you wish to learn more.

Barry Smith

Barry is a director and principal management consultant of the GMCG. He has a wealth of commercial experience as a senior manager with The Shell Company of Australia and currently consultants to the State Government on petroleum industry related matters. Barry has extensive practical management and strategic planning experience. Between 1995 and 2001, he led a diverse operational team of over 350 staff through some very turbulent times including comprehensive industry & network restructuring, rationalisation and business diversification.

Return to list of mentors.

Esmond Lange

After a long and successful international career with both a mainstream oil company and the market leading service provider, Esmond returned to Perth to work in the private sector building smaller companies. He joined the Curtin Centre for Entrepreneurship team in 2002 as a Mentor and also currently holds positions on the boards of a number of private companies.

He is an active member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an ongoing interest in creating growth opportunities for small and medium sized companies by the development of key staff and strategies. His company, Sounding Board Australia, focuses on these interests.

Return to list of mentors.

Tony Stefanoff

With over 40 years in the Accounting Profession, Tony Stefanoff brings a life-time of experience from a very demanding environment. During that time he advised a variety of small to medium businesses in matters of accounting, management reporting, business structures, taxation, etc.

In June 2000 he retired from the position of senior partner of a medium-sized firm of Chartered Accountants, and now provides independent business advice. Tony has a vast knowledge and expertise in advising on start-ups, expanding businesses, disposals, retirements, succession and family dynamics.

Return to list of mentors.

Glenn Taylor

Glenn has extensive experience in leading and managing large workforces and managing large and successful change programs. He transfers knowledge in key areas such as systems development, Human Resource management, and key financial reporting. Glenn is a Certified Management Consultant with the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), and past president of the WA Chapter of the IMC.

Glenn is currently Managing Partner of Genesis Business Advisers (GBA) which specialises in coaching businesses to grow in a sustainable manner, providing win:win outcomes for all stakeholders. Glenn also provides executive coaching to senior management.

Return to list of mentors.

Bruce Watkins

Bruce has been a Director of Genesis Business Advisers since 1998 and a mentor to the Curtin Centre for Entrepreneurship since 1996. For more than ten years he has worked as a management consultant and business coach to small and medium sized businesses across Western Australia.

He is enthusiastic about helping business owners and managers realise their goals and to achieve the necessary work/life balance that will sustain a growing business. Bruce has held a number of board positions on corporate and not-for-profit organisations and is an active member of many corporate leadership teams. Prior to establishing Genesis, Bruce held a number of roles with a national agribusiness firm, including state General Manager and Technical Marketing Manager.

Bruce's skills include:

Return to list of mentors.

Mark Hevron

Mark founded his business development consultancy 'Success By Doing ®, to help successful business owners accomplish their goals. His passion is helping people achieve success and he recognises that even confident people have days when the path doesn't seem clear and the goal seems distant.

Mark's unique skills in strategic thinking and asking the vital questions enables him to provide the ongoing support that helps his clients move forward with confidence. Mark is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI). Mark completed his MBA in 2000.

Return to list of mentors.

Stan Pisulak

Stan's formal qualifications and experience are in Finance, Management Accounting, Commercial Management, Business Development and Administration. Stan is currently involved with a number of business activities assisting as Mentor, providing strategic business development and other technical accounting and general tax services.

He has been involved with a range of small to medium sized business development activities, assisting business types including service, retailing, and wholesaling and also in education, construction, mining, engineering, manufacturing and government sectors.

Return to list of mentors.

Tony Durack

Tony held senior Human Resource, Industrial Relations and General Management roles for 10 years prior to establishing his consulting business in 1991. He has introduced and facilitated enterprise change and improvement with very broad agendas in an extensive range of industries.

Tony offers advice and assistance in the areas of improving productivity, efficiency, employer/employee relations & cost reduction through better management, facilitating change management, workplace & industrial relations, management & development, coaching and support for management, writing, negotiating and introducing innovative workplace/enterprise agreement and general management.

Return to list of mentors.

Paul Mackell

Paul Mackell, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, established Alldale Executive Contracting in 1995 to provide management Accounting and reporting services to clients in WA. His target market is small to medium sized businesses (SMES) and not for profit organisations who are ready to go to the next level but require the structure/resources to enable growth to happen.

Prior to establishing Alldale Executive Contracting he gained significant commercial experience and held senior financial and management accounting positions in a diverse range of industries, both in Australia and overseas.

Paul was approached by the CCI in early July 2000 and asked to join its Training Services operation. He conducted some 30 GST workshops between August and November 2000.

Since early 2003 he has conducted monthly workshops on behalf of the Small Business Development Corporation ("SBDC").

He has been a Mentor on the SBDC Mentoring Program assisting business owners with the management and growth of their businesses since June 2003.

Paul's passion is helping businesses grow through the systemisation of their business processes and the integrity of their management reporting. Both enable management to make decisions on an informed basis.

Return to list of mentors.

Mary Argese

Mary’s first qualifications were in Pathology, but after becoming involved in the AIDS Campaign as a Counsellor, she returned to University, to attain a Postgraduate in Business in Human Resource Management and became qualified in high level training and development of staff. She then ran her own Training Consultancy business, balancing this with being a mother with four young girls under six.

Her interests have turned a more personal one-to-one approach, so she returned to university to attain postgraduate qualifications in coaching, and is now is one of the most qualified Coachs’ in WA. She has a wide range of experience in both the public and private sectors. As a Coach, Mary works with CEO’s, Executives, Managers and Staff to be the best that they can be. She supports them to find answers within themselves, based on their values. She develops and models trust, honesty and mutual respect in communication and working relationships. She focuses on developing co-operation, working as teams, emotional intelligence and having a clear vision, goals and targets.

She works with clients to take charge of their lives and become empowered to make decisions, to take control and lead while balancing work, personal life and managing stress. Organisations benefit from Mary’s coaching by having increased performance and productivity. 

Return to list of mentors.

Gabor Hernadi

Gabor, with over 18 years consulting and senior corporate experience in Perth and Sydney, specialises in innovating, planning and executing breakthrough business strategies.

Gabor has worked across small, private and large, multi-discipline, multinational corporate environments where he gained significant experience in the retail, agribusiness, professional services, hospitality, tourism and resources industries.

Prior to establishing his consultancy, Gabor has held senior management positions with high profile FMCG companies such as Arnott’s Biscuits, McWilliam’s Wines and Palandri Wines as well as prestigious B2B organizations like Kailis & France Foods and Innerspace Commercial Interiors.

He has a B. Bus. degree with a double major in Marketing and Information Technology as well as an MBA.  He is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM) and is an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.  He holds several other professional memberships and directorships including Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and Regional Councilor for Redkite Cancer Fund for Children.

Return to list of mentors.

Rob Sproule

Rob is an experienced consulting psychologist, management consultant, and executive coach with a national client base in Government (commonwealth, state and local); financial services, professional services, oil & gas, mining, engineering services and construction. Following a management career with Shell Australia, in system design, organisation development and training and development in 1985, Rob set up his first consultancy (Organisation Effectiveness Associates) to specialise in organisation development and change management.

Since forming Executive coaching (WA) in 2002, he has completed in excess of 300 hours of personal and executive coaching. Rob has specialist training in cognitive therapy – Institute for Rational Emotive therapy in New York; and in organisation development, and team development from Shell International (London).

Rob has accreditations and experience in using leading self-report and 360 emotional intelligence, leadership and interpersonal style assessment tools for individuals and teams; and is skilled in providing feedback and in coaching for team development, learning and personal growth based on the results from such instruments.

Rob is an adjunct lecturer with ECU, where he co-facilitates the (3x day) coaching and counselling practicums within the Career Development Masters program. From this experience, he brings to his work as an executive coach, trainer and change agent contemporary learning and knowledge about the changing nature of organisations and the world of work, and the importance of career self-management skills, and work-life balance for his coaching clients. He is also a member of the Melbourne Business School’s national panel of executive coaches.

Return to list of mentors.

Jane Garrett

An experienced business development executive, with a wealth of practical knowledge gained through hands on experience with the ability to use this experience to guide, teach and mentor others.

With a degree in Physics and over 21 years in general business and company management her business experience comes from starting up three of her own businesses.  Since then has been operating as a ‘company doctor’, teaching, mentoring and consulting to small growing businesses ever since. She jumped at the chance to come to Australia in 2006 and has worked as mentor on the Inventor of the Year 2006 and to businesses generally as well as undertaking consulting roles.

Return to list of mentors.

Yvonne Goold

Yvonne has worked in Soft Furnishings, Insurance, Bearings, Pumps, Electronics, Oil & Gas, Utilities, IT & Software, Transit, Finance, Marketing, Sales and Resources. She enjoys the variety of working in such diverse industries and assisting others in their growth. She enjoys innovative, useful, creative products and solutions, and has a strong desire to assist individuals to create win-win situations. The variety and breadth of her experience has given Yvonne an overall grasp of both the operational and commercial aspects of business.

Yvonne completed an electronics engineering degree in 1996 with honours and a Grad Certificate in Oil & Gas in 2000. Nearly 4 years ago she moved from project engineering into Business Improvement because it was time to grow more. Having been on the personal development path for over 20 years, she has also trained in kinesiology and neuro-linguist programming (NLP). Because of this she is aware of the power of thoughts and words which may be preventing the creation of the desired change.

She is able to assist individuals conquer cold calling, client follow up, sales, public speaking, communication on all levels, account and relationship management from an inner and outer perspective. Other techniques and strategies like ensuring the client’s Business Solution needs are identified and met, marketing, software applications, workshops and trainings can also be addressed as required.  

An objective of Yvonne’s is to improve and streamline operations, encourage others to step up, and help the organisation grow using new perspectives on old problems.

Return to list of mentors.

Sherryn McBride 

Sherryn is a freelance marketing consultant, copywriter and industry trainer.  As Marketing Talk, she partners with entrepreneurial business owners planning to increase their profits through marketing and promotional activities. Her knowledge is drawn from 25 years managing state branches for national/multinational corporations and consultancies from market research, mining equipment, electrical consumer goods, philanthropic marketing - to arts administration and community partnership brokering.

She works in two distinct markets.  With small business owners running out of time and energy to market themselves, and with SME’s ready to outsource their marketing to avoid the overheads of a marketing manager. Her business was featured in the West Australian Business News and is published as a "Success Story" on the Small Business Development Corporation's website.

She has created a series of marketing CDs and Ebooks and prepares a free monthly newsletter full of simple marketing ideas for time poor business owners.  Living near the Shelley foreshore, Sherryn cycles and walks around the river, and often plays hooky on a weekday swapping her home office for the laptop and park bench!  Click here to go to Sherryn's website.

Return to list of mentors.

Philip Angers

Philip has grown businesses in two recessions and his experience can guide others in growing their business in difficult times. As Executive Director for Rothschild Asset Management S.E Asia (Rothschild is one of the world’s oldest, leading,  international investment banks), Philip has successfully turned around unprofitable business units, lead teams of more than 3,000 sales agents and managed large and respected funds management groups through significant change. He has also established and successfully grown a number of his own businesses and now as a natural leader and mentor, he brings a wealth of experience in business coaching and mentoring to SME clients.

Philip’s passion is to help business people to build on their strengths and realise their full potential. Professionals at all stages of their career can benefit from his holistic approach to business mentoring. Business managers looking to move their business to the next level may realise they need to develop or acquire new business skills. Perhaps they need guidance in marketing or advertising, or in developing financial or strategic management skills. It could be they need help in succession management where a family member is asked to take over the business. Whatever the reason, Philip can help to identify your strengths and build on them to create the newly required management skills, or where necessary, help in sourcing these skills from outside the company.  Click here to go to Philip's website.

Return to list of mentors.

Simon Ackland

 

Return to list of mentors.

Ainslie Beattie 

 

Return to list of mentors.

Toni Butler

 

Return to list of mentors.

Heike Fowler

Heike has worked many years in Berlin and London as a Senior Business Development & Marketing Manager for companies such as BMW and large global Stock Broking companies such as City Index and E*TRADE.

Heike successfully combines her 12 years International corporate experience with her mentoring and coaching in large and small - medium sized organizations. She has a degree BA (Hon) Advertising & Marketing Communications, is an International Coach Federation accredited Coach and NLP Master Practitioner.

Heike is solution focused. Her enthusiastic and down to earth style inspires business owners and managers to achieve their best performance and enjoy their professional success. Heike’s expertise includes:

Click here to go to Heike's website.

Return to list of mentors.

James How 

 

Return to list of mentors.

David Miller

With a background of commercial banking, small business ownership and now accounting and client relationship management, David brings to the mentor team a wealth of small business experience at a financial, taxation, business management and HR level.

David has worked in both city & country locations - learning to communicate with people (his staff & clients) at real grass roots level. This has assisted in him developing strong interpersonal skills with a sense of care and nurturing.

He has a passion for exploring the natural environment and spends some of his free time as a volunteer for the Bibbulmun Track Foundation Munda Biddi Trail Foundation.

This balance of work and play, gives rise to a mentor who is able to see the big picture, put life and work into perspective and provide clear and focused direction to his mentoring assignements.

Return to list of mentors.

Rory Mitchell

 

Return to list of mentors.

Jane Porter

Jane is an Accredited Leadership and Communications Coach with experience and qualifications in Executive Coaching, Life Coaching, Business Coaching, Counselling, Training and Facilitation. Her 18 years experience in creating positive growth with individuals and their teams spans Europe and Australasia. Industry experience includes Resource and Mining, Manufacturing, Retail, Financial, Insurance, Media and Publishing, Real Estate, Education, Aviation, and Travel and Tourism.

Jane coaches with businesses small and large to develop internal learning and skills to enable you to maximise challenging situations for the benefit of yourself and your business. Working with Jane will help you create dynamic forward thinking change. Core skill areas are high performance coaching, leadership development, communication, work life integration, motivation and change management. Jane coaches on a selection of international coach benches and is an assessor and facilitator for the Life Coaching Institute of Australia.  Click here to go to Jane's website.

Return to list of mentors.

Ross Waring

 

Return to list of mentors.

Darren Wedge

Darren has had over 20 years experience in the areas of management, sales, marketing, team building and business development - providing business advisory services to assist business leaders and their teams to realise their full potential.

Prior to running his own consultancy business Darren had started, built and sold three successful businesses and understands the challenges facing businesses and what they need to do to become successful.

Darren has an uncanny ability to see what business leaders/owners are experiencing and what strategies need to be put in place to move forward.

Darren is the author of Business Owners Success Guide, an easy to read guide to assist both current and potential business owners through the complex issue of starting and building their business.  Click here to visit Darren's website.

Return to list of mentors.

Peter Westlund

 

Return to list of mentors.

Colin Bell

Colin has 20 years experience in business facilitation including enterprise mentoring which is an area of particular interest and expertise.

Over the past 13 years he has been a business mentor to Curtin Growth program, assisting owners to develop their skills and capacity to enable their business to grow.

Colin specialises in strategic planning, business mentoring & facilitation, business improvement, leadership and management, organisational development, change management & implementation.

firsthand experience in leading large operational teams and implementing numerous change programs. He’s also held the roles of Director of Strategic Planning and Head of Risk for growth businesses.

He’s a strong believer that sustainable commercial success comes from leading people positively and from developing supportive and constructive business cultures. Raymond now mentors and consults to business owners and executives in many different industry sectors.

Return to list of mentors

Curtin University