Wade Institute is home to The University of Melbourne’s Master of Entrepreneurship. When you’re teaching people to create, make and innovate, the space they occupy should invite them to create new things from the moment they walk in. The Wade Institute centre will do just that.
Rather than walk into a building full of classrooms and offices, students will enter a space with a kit of parts, from walls and screens to different desk parts and lights. This main studio workshop is a white canvas with colourful parts ready to become whatever students and staff need it to be – from open plan classroom to office, customer lab or forum to pitch their business idea.
Designed by architects Lovell Chen, industrial designer Joe Lacono and leading Australian structural engineer Phil Gardiner from Irwinconsult, the structural system uses a metal lattice to support the building rather than heavy concrete piers. This lattice structure will enable the building to have green walls and to virtually disappear into its beautiful garden setting.
Through the Institute’s design, construction and relationship to the environment, this building will stimulate and inspire the creativity of a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Read about the emerging entrepreneurs who bring the centre to life, here.
General Manager
As part of the Wade Institute Executive Georgia implements strategic development, builds relationships across the startup ecosystem and attracts a pipeline of entrepreneurial talent to undertake the Master of Entrepreneurship.
Georgia spent the better part of her twenties living all over the world. From six months in Argentina learning to speak Spanish to eight months in Laos running a tourism business.
During the same time she nurtured a love for philosophy which would later prepare her for the world of entrepreneurship – both disciples are rooted in complex ideas and abstract concepts that require keen critical thinking and analytical skills.
Having worked at the Centre for Ethical Leadership before she joined Wade, Georgia knew the clichéd concept of ‘big-bad-businesses’ was flawed “I saw how seriously senior leaders from some of Australia’s biggest companies took the ethical challenges they came across.
They had to balance their responsibility to shareholders, staff, and their customers, and they tried to do their best. I saw the real human faces behind these businesses and understood how important it was to have a strong sense of purpose”.
Now working with aspiring entrepreneurs, Georgia works hard to help them develop the same strong sense of why they want to create a startup and what impact their businesses will have on its staff, customers, and communities.
Contact Georgia - Gmcdonald@wadeinstitute.org.au
Master of Ormond College and Wade Institute
Rufus Black is an ethicist, theologian and strategic advisor. Before becoming Master of Ormond he worked at McKinsey & Co for nine years, where he was a partner and played leadership roles in the firm’s Organisation and Public Sector Practices in Australia and Asia. He continues to provide strategic advice to leading Australian corporations and government departments.
As a partner at McKinsey Rufus worked closely with CEOs and business leaders on their leadership, organisational and strategic challenges as they navigated the disruptive forces in the global economy.
Rufus continues his commercial involvement as a Director of the Law Firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Rufus also plays other governance roles as Deputy Chancellor of Victoria University and as a Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
Rufus teaches as faculty in the Master of Entrepreneurship and holds a B.A. and a LL.B.(Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a M.Phil. and D.Phil. from the University of Oxford where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
Contact Rufus - Master@ormond.unimelb.edu.au
Director of Advancement
Di has a deep commitment to education and a strong Advancement background.
She is passionate about community engagement and the power of philanthropy in supporting learning environments that inspire students to fulfil their educational, social and personal potential.
Di has been intrinsically involved in the development and planning for the Wade Institute. Di’s close family members are entrepreneurs and she has a great understanding of what it takes to create a new enterprise.
Di holds a M.Ed. Leadership, B.Ed., Grad. Dip Communications (Public Relations).
Contact Di - Dbambra@ormond.unimelb.edu.au
Entrepreneur and Benefactor
Peter grew up in Geelong and comes from a very entrepreneurial family.
He Founded Travelbag travel agencies in 1979 after completing a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne while at Ormond College. Travelbag grew to have 700 staff and 240,000 customers before he sold it in 2003.
Peter is passionate about the future of Australian businesses and the power of new enterprises to have a transformative impact on the global economy.
He has a continued involvement in tourism industry bodies and many businesses. Peter is a mentor to many young people starting on their business and career pathway.
Contact Peter - Enquiries@wadeinstitute.org.au
Communications Associate
Madeline is an experienced Graphic Designer and social media specialist.
Madeline promotes Wade Institute and keeps our community updated with what our students and guest entrepreneurs are doing by using her keen photography and creative communication skills.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in photo media, and studied Graphic Design at Shillington College.
Contact Madeline - mellerm@ormond.unimelb.edu.au
Engagement Associate
With an undergraduate degree in urban planning and design, and work experience in branding and education, Vesta’s passion lies in learning and solving processes and improving people’s lives.
Living in different countries and having a mixed identity has meant that she perceives one situation in several perspectives. She makes it a point to figure out a pattern or lesson from everything, even if it’s just for fun.
In her spare time Vesta is passionate about music and learning about ancient cultures.
Contact Vesta - Vgheibi@ormond.unimelb.edu.au
Marketing Manager
Pamela uses stories and insights to help our online community along their entrepreneurial journey.
She's an experienced marketer who uses digital and content marketing practices to build authentic brands with which customers actually want to engage.
Most recently, she worked at National Australia Bank, developing relationship marketing strategies for business customers.
Contact Pamela - Preddicoronell@ormond.unimelb.edu.au
Behind the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship is the very successful, but low-profile, entrepreneur and Ormond alumnus, Peter Wade.
Originally from Geelong, Peter knows first-hand the changes that are sweeping though the Australian economy. He has watched the decline of manufacturing and heavy industry in and around his hometown and how Geelong has reinvented itself several times to meet the challenges it has faced.
Peter observes, “We need to create jobs and opportunities to replace those being lost. Traditional manufacturing is disappearing. Even service jobs, whether they are in call centres or law and accounting firms, are going offshore. Technology is disrupting existing business from media firms to retailers. Even those who work for others will need to be more entrepreneurial and innovative to help create Australia’s future.”
“We are a smart nation but still too few of our great ideas are generating the future of our economy.”
Peter goes on to say, “I have been involved in supporting education for a while now and it has given me enormous faith in the extraordinary talent of young Australians.” He is keen to see budding entrepreneurs equipped with the skills they need to take that talent and use it to create value, opportunities and jobs for Australia’s future.
Read about the emerging entrepreneurs bringing Peter’s vision to life, here.
Wade Institute is an equal opportunity employer.
No current vacancies.
For general enquiries, contact us enquiries@wadeinstitute.org.au
