AIIA’s encouragement of the potential for growth in Australia’s ICT industry is to continue to be enhanced through the involvement again next year of senior ICT executives and interested companies in AIIA’s business skills mentor and training program.

ICT entrepreneurs with the potential and determination to grow their business from one million dollars to one billion are being invited to register for AIIA’s highly successful Developing Business Skills for ICT Entrepreneurs program. Partners are also being sought to support and be involved in presenting the course.

Designed for the next generation of entrepreneurs, the course provides a unique opportunity for companies and their leaders to obtain specialised training and mentoring evaluation by leaders in the ICT industry and an internationally recognised business school of management.

Throughout the program participants are able to rigorously review their own business while gaining the skills required to expand their company internationally. For further information about involvement in the program as either a participant or partner in the 2006 program, contact John Dean or telephone (02) 6281 9410.

A total of 23 ICT business professionals are currently taking part in the course and recommend it as a valuable tool for improving their business acumen.

Following a recent 3-day residential workshop, program participant Richard Yanieri, the managing director and senior consulting engineer at the Victorian defence support company, YTEK Pty Ltd, said the course allowed SME business leaders opportunities to increase their practical knowledge and gain strength through cooperation in open and candid workshops with like-minded, and equally committed, individuals.

“The program is authoritative and rich in relevant content and creates frequent opportunities to develop cooperative networks among participants.” Mr Yanieri said, adding that it had clear objectives delivered by knowledgeable people, and was responsively tailored to meet the needs of SMEs.

“As managing director of a small ICT company of 10 staff, with products in simulation and training as well as services in software development, the program has effectively alerted me to, and increased my knowledge in, the things that matter most to business success and setting a growth path.

“It is a residential program characterised by authoritative presentations and an open forum which allows the free flow and sharing of hard-earned practical knowledge from ICT SME leaders coupled with the support of well-informed and accessible mentors who are successful ICT entrepreneurs in their own right,” Mr Yanieri said.

“The valuable information and advice obtained from colleagues in the residential workshop can be readily applied and represents the greatest value for time, and money,” he said.

Another participant, David Peters, the founder and CEO of Sydney based company, Emagine International, said that participating with around 30 other business leaders had proved invaluable to the company’s future success.

“The program has helped me to focus on building the business, rather than simply running the business,” Mr Peters said.

“The key benefits offered by the program include the access it affords to a range of experienced business mentors who have been there and done that and sharing experiences with other IT companies in the same boat,” he said.

“The formal MBA level training on important aspects of the business such as financing and strategy also are of great benefit for making decisions about the future direction of Emagine International,” Mr Peters said.

Queensland participant, Neil Pentland, the CEO of Golden Orb Technologies Pty Ltd, said that, until attending the workshop, quality assurance standards were perceived to be a cost burden which would deliver no real benefit to the company or its customers.

“With the shared expertise available in the workshop and the overall philosophy centred on project execution, the company has renewed enthusiasm in its approach to quality assurance measures,” Mr. Pentland said.

“Quality assurance and a state of continuous improvement needs to be a core part of the culture rather then some good idea imported from afar.

“Golden Orb Technologies is currently working to attain ISO9001 quality management system accreditation which will allow the company to more easily manage its operations.

“The information and support gleaned from the recent workshop will be invaluable in working through this process,” he said adding that accreditation would confirm the good judgment of the Gold Coast Business Excellence awards committee in making its award to Golden Orb Technologies,” Mr. Pentland said.

South Australian, Dieter Schmerlaib, the managing director of Adelaide based company, Integrated Aviation Software Pty Ltd, said the workshop had been invaluable in providing much needed focus on difficult aspects of the company’s business.

Mr Schmerlaib said it had also helped him to identify issues associated with the operation of his business which previously had not been considered.

“The program’s strategy and marketing session have already prompted a review of our current activities,” he said.

“While the interactive nature of the course has provided a unique insight into the solutions, other similar sized IT businesses have come up with common problems and I am sure that all the participants will use this network extensively in the future," Mr Schmerlaib said.

The Developing Business Skills for ICT Entrepreneurs program is an Australian Government funded service under the Small Business Enterprise Culture Program. The Victorian and ACT Governments also have contributed funding to the program.

More information about the program is available from AIIA’s website: www.aiia.com.au.