GUEST SPEAKERS - 1997

Gary Jackon
MD of Cisco Systems
5/3/97		 Trevor Mouat
Business Information Support Manager
- City of Melbourne
9/7/97		 Bob Waldie
Founder – Stallion Technologies,
Moreton Bay Ventures,
Oz Electronics Manufacturing
10/12/97

DECEMBER

Bob Waldie
Founder – Stallion Technologies, Moreton Bay Ventures, Oz Electronics Manufacturing.
TOPIC: "I’m living proof - networking builds empires"

Our guest speaker Bob Waldie who is the founder of Stallion Technologies, Moreton Bay Ventures, Oz Electronics Manufacturing convinced us all with his persuasive arguments that he was indeed "living proof - networking builds empires".

Bob Waldie told us how he built Stallion Technologies (design, manufacture, sales of network remote connectivity hardware) into a multi-award winning $16m business listed in the top 100 fastest growing companies in Australia. Not content, he then built Moreton Bay Ventures and is about to launch its multi-modem into the USA.

His advice - be actively interested in other industry ventures and you will learn by other people’s experience and network your way to success. He is on the board of a number of local technology ventures and also serves on a number of advisory bodies including Queensland’s Information Industry Council.

He has learnt from others and from his own experience that here are many different ways of running businesses and he has come to the conclusion that he no longer wants to own the biggest tree but wants a forest of small ones. In that way you regain control of your business and of your life.

SEPTEMBER - Sydney

Gail Burke
Head of Information Services and Executive Director of Macquarie Bank

Over twenty senior I.T. professional women gathered at the stunning Orient Dining Room at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney to hear Gail Burke, Head of Information Services and Executive Director of Macquarie Bank describe

Gail is inspirational and the perfect role model. She re-affirmed the tenet to get to the top and stay at the top requires persistence, hard work, long hours – and common sense. She looked beautiful, calm and relaxed as she candidly passed on her tips for success, an example we will share on the web - "pick the firm, rather than the job".

SEPTEMBER - Melbourne

Mary-Lou Raybould, Senior Project Manager – F&S Management Services, facilitated a very lively event, aimed at discovering "How can women in I.T. become natural networkers with power and influence?" We wanted to know how we could leverage our particular skills and overcome our cultural restraints to greater benefit.

We may not have come up with the answers but there was great deal of debate and lots of personal stories and hints proffered around the table. We were all keen to kill the myth that women who reach the top do not help other women it seemed that no-one believed they networked differently amongst men than women.

JULY

Trevor Mouat
Business Information Support Manager - City of Melbourne
TOPIC: "Girls will be boys and boys will be girls"

Trevor has worked in people recruitment and as an I.T. executive for over twenty years. His "awakening" to gender issues led to his completion a few years ago of a post-graduate degree in Psychology. Please join us to hear his advice on gender issues and the well-discussed "glass ceiling".

Trevor Mouat concentrated on an event in his life, at a work team-building exercise, which opened his eyes to the attitude of men to women. Although there were no solutions or advice on how to break the glass ceiling, his speech was a catalyst to much discussion. He also raised an interesting concept of the male glass elevator, where a man must accept promotions beyond his comfort-zone.

MAY

Jo Portlock
National Resource Manager for Unisys Australia Ltd
TOPIC: "Resourcing - the before and after of success"

Jo Portlock commenced her career as a humble Computer Operator in 1973 and did so with the additional responsiblities as a sole parent. With her strength of character combined with a fabulous sense of humour, Jo will share with us her secrets of success, enabling her to achieve many goals in life and reach the prestigious role of National Resource manager for Unisys Australia Ltd.

Jo Portlock’s speech took us very entertainingly through a history of her career. Many events were easily identified by the rest of the women at the lunch and her speech was quite inter-active.

MARCH

Gary Jackson
MD of Cisco Systems
TOPIC: "How to Get Ahead Through Self Promotion"

Gary Jackson's speech was reviewed in the computer age on 11th March 1997.

Back to Home