This one-year course is for anybody who ever had a great idea and wanted to do something with it.
The University of Melbourne’s Master of Entrepreneurship, delivered at Wade Institute, will provide you with the skills, powerful network and practical experience to turn ideas into transformative businesses.
CRICOS CODE: 089646D
Apply Now Enquire Get updatesThe degree is a collaboration between the Faculty of Business and Economics and the School of Engineering at the University of Melbourne and Ormond College.
As a Master of Entrepreneurship student, you’re also a member of the highly-regarded Ormond College community.
A thriving entrepreneurial and academic precinct that offers student accommodation, 7 meals a week, onsite gym, counselling services, resident academics and weekly social and sporting activities.
Sample full-time program:
Build a strong entrepreneurial toolkit to help you turn ideas into viable businesses, in any field.
Subject: Foundations of Entrepreneurship in Practice
The subject is geared towards preparing students in ultimately being able to understand the principles behind a successful product creation and launch.
Subject: Business Acumen for Entrepreneurs
Business acumen entails an understanding of how the key drivers of the enterprise relate to each other, work together to produce profitable growth, and relate to the jobs performed by employees.
It includes an understanding of company data, including financial statements; of how actions and decisions impact key company measures and the objectives of the company’s leadership; effective communication to employees, managers, executives, and the public.
Subject: Garage Project
The purpose of this subject is to develop skills of running an entrepreneurial venture in a simulated real-life environment.
The subject will also teach team development skills in team selection, structure, roles and team norm and process development.
Reflexive exercises (such as a design diary) will heighten self-awareness as entrepreneurial decision makers. Students will also acquire skills applying business performance review and critical analysis in a practical setting (using customer insight and pivot activities).
Subject: Design Thinking
How do you solve a difficult problem? What if the problem is impossible to solve entirely because knowledge about it is incomplete, contradictory or changing. How do you arrive at a workable solution? What makes your solution the best and the most innovative?
Design Thinking is a powerful set of idea and techniques that encourages empathy and creativity to address 'wicked' problems.
Students will undertake a critical analysis of a problem setting and use design thinking principles to create, iterate and test an innovative solution.
Subject: Creating a Successful Business Model
This subject introduces the business model as the mechanism used by entrepreneurs to deliver value to their selected target markets, as well as the method by which entrepreneurs capture value. This is a dynamic process that underpins the commercialisation of innovation.
The subject also considers the way that emerging concepts like shared value can be incorporated into a business model including marketing.
Subject: The Entrepreneur Within
The purpose of this subject is to help students develop the personal insights, ethical decision-making skills and interpersonal capabilities that will be critical to being a successful entrepreneur.
Key elements addressed include: the insight into others needed to help build effective teams and how to manage team dynamics, approaches to influencing/motivating others, the mindsets and skills required for delegation and capabilities needed for effective leadership.
Subject: Create Your Own Enterprise
The purpose of this subject is to lay the foundations of launching a viable entrepreneurial venture based on the concepts of lean start-ups and design thinking.
The subject teaches team development throughout both semesters training students in team selection, structure, roles and team norm and process development.
Subject: Managing Pathways to Market
The purpose of the subject is to recognise that managing growth is the biggest challenge for entrepreneurs, to consider and evaluate the alternative pathways to growth and to consider processes for identifying a preferred approach.
The subject identifies methods for assessing customer and market opportunities, the need for revised business models, marketing strategies, the development or acquisition of appropriate skills and resources and the adoption of management control systems that should be used to monitor and analyse growth, with the additional challenge of international growth also considered.
Subject: Entrepreneurial Organisational Foundations
This subject focuses on design, structure, and processes for the enterprise both operationally and strategically.
Aspects will include governance; legal and regulatory mechanisms, requirements for formation of a Private/Public Limited Company, Intellectual Property Protection, Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights.
Entry Requirements:
1. Complete an online form
2. 5 mins video pitch about yourself
3. Undergraduate degree in any discipline (min. 65% grade point avg.)
4. Interview, for shortlisted candidates only
All applicants must satisfy the University’s English language requirements for graduate courses.
Refer to The University of Melbourne website for a detailed entry requirements.
Apply Now FAQsApplication Deadlines:
Round 1: Sunday 30 April 2017 (CLOSED)
Round 2: Friday 30 June 2017 (CLOSED)
Round 3: Saturday 30 September 2017
Round 4: Monday 27 November 2017
We don’t want financial capacity to be a barrier for aspiring entrepreneurs, so all Master of Entrepreneurship applicants are eligible to apply for scholarships and financial aid. Talk to us about how to apply.
$10,000 to $20,000 – Ormond Entrepreneurs’ Scholarship x up to 20
Major contributors: Bill Hopper, Janet and Andrew Michelmore, Annie and John Paterson Foundation, Alex and Rob Priestley, and David Williamson.
$25,000 – Corrs Chambers Westgarth Entrepreneurs’ Scholarship
Offered to ensure that entrepreneurs with the greatest potential can bring their ideas to life. Established by Corrs Chambers Westgarth, they are also our expert legal advisors and will teach the legal components to the Master of Entrepreneurship studies.
$25,000 – Impact Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Offered to support an emerging entrepreneur with the potential to positively impact social or environmental challenges. Established by Amanda Coote, co-founder of Forever New, she is also a founding advisory board member of the University of Melbourne’s Impact Entrepreneurship Program, Compass.
$25,000 – Naomi Milgrom Scholarship
Offered to a female entrepreneur to increase the representation of female business owners. Established by retail executive Naomi Milgrom, CEO of Sussan Group.
$25,000 – Neville and Di Bertalli Scholarship x 2
Offered to two emerging entrepreneurs with a demonstrated commitment to the agricultural sector. Established by Neville and Di Bertalli Scholarship to inspire entrepreneurs to change the future of Australia’s agricultural practices and food production.
$25,000 – Australia Post Scholarship
Offered to an emerging entrepreneur interested in creating an e-commerce business or an entrepreneur who intends to locate their business in regional or rural Australia. Established by Australia Post to foster entrepreneurship for female founders, social causes, and regional communities.
$25,000 – MYOB Scholarship
Offered to an emerging entrepreneur to support and nurture their learning in entrepreneurship and innovation.
$20,000 – STEMM Scholarship
Offered to someone with an undergrad or postgraduate degree in any STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) discipline interested in commercialising their STEMM research or ideas.
$15,000 – Credit Suisse Scholarship
Offered to an emerging high-potential entrepreneur to support and nurture their startup journey.
up to $20K – Wade Financial Assistance x up to 10
Faculty of Business & Economics, Graduate Merit Scholarships
50% fee-remission scholarships based on academic merit. All applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship.
Additional benefits:
$10,000 ‘Best Startup Pitch’ Prize
Sponsored by Credit Suisse, this $10,000 prize is offered to graduates of the Master of Entrepreneurship who effectively pitch their start-up ideas to a panel of investors and leading entrepreneurs, at the end of year Pitch Night.
MYOB Essentials Subscription
Available for all current and graduating students to use within their first year of business.
Kasser Taleb
Prior Education: Bachelor of Education
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
Four years ago I started my own Family Day Care business that now employs approximately 140 people. Top of the Class provides the highest standard of family day care for children between the ages of birth and 13 years, and supports women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
I did it with no networks or expert business knowledge; just grit and determination. It’s success that I’m proud of but it has been a challenging journey and I’ve learned there are smarter ways to build a business.
Now, I’m ready to expand my business and integrate a technology capability to manage a mobile workforce, and I want to do it more effectively. I know I need to learn business fundamentals, as well as newer concepts like design thinking, and develop a diverse network of people who can guide me.
I want to be able to go further and build faster – a year dedicated to accelerating my learning and building a new network. The Master of Entrepreneurship is my year to focus on my development and take my business ideas to the next level.
I also want to create a social enterprise that improves the lives of young children and their families experiencing trauma in Victoria due to domestic violence and homelessness. I want to give these children play experiences that allow them to be themselves for a few hours each week. As well as helping their families succeed by providing high-quality early education and time to take classes, secure permanent housing and some ‘respite’ time to just enjoy a much-needed break.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
This scholarship will help me fulfill my own aspirations, but more importantly it will help me create a social enterprise to support our communities, particularly women.
Given the influential role women play in our family’s and children’s lives, I want to create programs that will empower and educate them, having a ripple effect on the broader community. Australia Post‘s scholarship is a gift that will keep on giving.
Sakshi Thakur
Prior Education: Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Commerce (Monash University)
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
Graduating with a Biomedical and Commerce degree, being exposed to the complexities of medical research in neonatal units and working at an incredible professional services firm in the finance industry, have collectively been the pinnacles of my life.
These experiences might seem contrary, but they’ve shaped my values and intrinsic need to create solutions for the gaps and problems I think exist today, through the opportunities I have the privilege of being exposed to. I am part of a market with only 10 female CEO’s in the ASX 200 at the end of 2016, and an industry with constant discussions around gender balance on boards.
This is the problem I think exists, which I’m still dissecting the root causes of. I do believe that if everyone, female and male, are empowered enough to courageously chased their dreams despite the obstacles they think they may face, we can erode this problem.
So here I am striving to be an entrepreneur to ultimately empower and inspire other women and young professionals to make that dream a reality in the hope to see a day where gender equity and equality aren’t social issues anymore.
For many female millennials, even those who studied a finance related degree in university, managing their finances can be an overwhelming experience. I want develop the right technological platform, workshops, and content, to help the generation to have healthier relationships with money, which translates into achieving their personal and professional goals. I hope my entrepreneurial journey can be a platform for future generations to use as evidence that every hurdle can be jumped.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
Having Credit Suisse support me through my entrepreneurial journey is vital for the problem I’m trying to solve, as they understand the intricate role of technology within the financial industry at a global scale. As an internationally well-renowned financial service company, they do a lot more than just deal with ‘money’.
They’ve been contributing and researching the role of women in finance for numerous years which has been motivating and reassuring that this is a problem worth solving.
Mary Minas
Prior Education: Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours) (Swinburne University)
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
I’ve spent the last 10 years in the lm industry, developing my skills and achieving milestones of which I’m proud – such as releasing a debut feature lm and working with Ridley Scott’s acclaimed production company in London.
However, recently I’ve been more interested in what is occurring on the fringe of lm, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, as well as disciplines completely outside of the screen industry.
And now, I’ve reached a place in my career where I’m ready to be pushed beyond what feels comfortable. I want to use this year of discovery and learning to and the ideas and problems at the intersection of my skills, interests, and market needs.
I suppose there’s a mixture of my own internal forces, personal evolution, and external world forces like significant problems to solve, that have urged me to throw myself into a new and exciting challenge that will help me discover the next phase of my life and career.
The Master of Entrepreneurship is my chance to put myself in a new environment with challenging ideas and diverse people, and find a way to have a deeper impact on the community.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
This scholarship is important to me because the team at Corrs Chambers Westgarth operate at the forefront of industries that are set to shape our futures, such as robotics, virtual reality and renewables.
As a film producer and emerging entrepreneur, the opportunity to work with the talented people at Corrs is a privilege.
Melanie Williams
Prior Education: PhD Medicine, Dentistry & Health Services (The University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Science (The University of Melbourne)
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
I want to build on the specialist knowledge I gained through my PhD in the medical sciences, as well as several years working in both medical research and healthcare, to solve important healthcare and societal problems that will improve the lives of our communities.
My expertise and interests lie in the field of microbiology and how microorganisms affect human health, such as by causing infectious diseases and how the human microbiome (the population of microorganisms that inhabit the human body) contributes to health. Together with my first-hand knowledge of the pathology (diagnostic) system, I’m in the perfect position to tackle problems relating to the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases and leveraging the microbiome to treat disease.
Currently, there are significant advances in sensor technology that will enable infections and microorganism populations to be detected by gases (e.g. breath) and will enable real-time data collection for monitoring health. I see potential for innovation in this area.
Beyond this I see a lot of opportunity to commercialise my science knowledge into a business that also addresses the lack of pathways for women to excel in STEM. By studying the Masters and being part of The University of Melbourne science, research, and innovation community, I can translate my skills into a commercial business that creates profit for purpose.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
Having the support of MYOB is really allowing me to fully commit to learning as much as I can this year and focus on developing my start-up and the opportunities in front of me this year.
I’m also excited to work with MYOB because they have such an interesting entrepreneurial story themselves. They show how a simple business idea can be built into a large successful company that offers value to its customers and its community – like their great initiatives addressing gender equality. I want to learn from their teams and how they built high-performance teams.
Daarshinie Nadarajan
Prior education: Master of International Business (The University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Economics (Monash University)
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
Over 17% of Australians are excluded from accessing mainstream banking services. The current design of financial products makes them unaffordable and inappropriate. This is particularly limiting for women so I want to remove the structural barriers that stop women from participating in the market economy.
I want to use technology to solve this problem and give women more control over their financial health. I know that I can do that best by working in a community of other passionate, curious, and experienced people who can guide me to identify, validate, and build my idea. The Master of Entrepreneurship can help me do that faster than I could on my own.
After a couple years of corporate work experience, I’m ready to throw myself into a venture where I can really stretch my skills and capacity; and learn by doing on my own, rather than doing for someone else.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
I think it is such a privilege that another strong and accomplished woman like Naomi Milgrom recognised the need for financial accessibility as a means to reduce gender inequality in Australia. I also feel that if I’ve already found one person who believes in my passion, it’s probably not such a bad idea.
Also, choosing to come back to do another degree rather than getting a full-time job after Business School was not an easy decision. This scholarship gave me the financial ability to work on my passion now full time and was a crucial factor in my decision to join Wade.
Laura Youngson
Prior Education: Master of Science – Physics (Durham University)
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
After several years running social enterprises and micro-businesses alongside an international management career in Government and private sector, I’m now ready to take a more intensive approach to developing my own enterprise.
Having worked all over the world (Brazil, Mozambique, Azerbaijan, UAE) with NGO’s, not-for-profit’s, government agencies and social enterprises, I’m incredibly driven to address some of the most challenging problems of our generation such as climate change, unemployment, and skills shortages.
I’ve brought many of my social and environmental ideas to life before, but now I want to focus my skills and knowledge to develop an innovative and profitable business fit for the 21st century, built on strong sense of purpose, values and business acumen.
Previously, I was the General Manager of a hospitality business in remote Mozambique and gained a vital understanding of cash flow, planning and logistics in a difficult environment. I also set up and ran an NGO in Ghana focusing on the provision of quality science education. I see a lot of opportunity for my science skills and passion to have a positive impact on communities and problems that need our attention. The structure and guidance of a program, such as the Master of Entrepreneurship is helping me bring my ideas to life on a steady and scalable commercial foundation.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
Amanda Coote‘s scholarship enables me to dive fully into the program and immerse myself in the network of ideas, people and impact. I can work to develop myself and become the best business leader I can be. It’s invaluable to have the support of an entrepreneur who has been through the business cycle before and can provide real world advice along the journey.
Milosh Milosh
Prior Education: Master of Science in Physics and Engineering & Master of Science in Informatics and Education with a specialisation in Online Education (e-learning)
WHY STUDY ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
I’ve always enjoyed the merge between science and creativity. Entrepreneurship is another way of doing science, which is exciting because it means continuous learning and creating.
In the past two decades we’ve seen incredible breakthroughs in science, engineering, medicine, and technology with the rise of phenomena such as Facebook, Google, and Uber. With higher output in STEM education from other countries, in Australia we’re witnessing a steep decline in STEM education. There’s been a 33% decline in maths and science enrolments across Australian schools in the past two decades. The youth are missing out on educational opportunities which will impact the Australia’s future. It’s important that we prepare future generations to be curious, critical thinkers and life-long learners. I’m on a mission to create the best education system here in Australia.
As a scientist, educator, and entrepreneur, my roles have allowed me to learn from a strong community of academics. My students have received full scholarships from the most prestigious universities around the world and enjoy successful careers. They’ve won more medals in each of the STEM disciplines than all Australian schools in total! I’ve decided to bring this to Australia by creating a strong educational system as a private enterprise. This has the potential to spread the brand to surrounding Asian markets.
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
I see this scholarship as a recognition that I’m on the right path and I’m not alone. It’s a clear sign that there are other people who strongly value and support education and want to see Australia’s future secured.
I’m grateful to the individuals and organisations who’ve created and supported this program. Entering the Wade Institute and the Ormond College community is like Alice entering wonderland – it’s inspiring and a bit crazy, in the best sense of the word.
Chairman, Carnival Australia
Founder, Carsales.com
Greg is the current Managing Director and CEO (and original founder) of Australia’s #1 automotive Internet site: carsales.com Ltd. carsales.com Ltd. is a top 100 ASX listed business with a market capitalisation of over $2.8bn with investments in Mexico, Brazil; Korea and South East Asia. It operates market leading websites in cars; bikes; boats; trucks and equipment to name a few.
Greg has been in the Auto industry for over 30 years and prior to joining carsales.com Ltd in an executive role, was Joint Managing Director of Pentana Solutions – a supplier of software and services to car dealerships. Greg’s background is software development and describes himself as having the perfect job combining his passion for cars and technology.
Greg was named the EY Australian Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 and has spoken on a number of panels at the World Entrepreneur of the Year event in Monte Carlo.
CEO, Startup Victoria
Georgia Beattie is the CEO of Startup Victoria and entrepreneur as a pioneer of the single-serve wine industry.
She has always had a passion for business and innovation with entrepreneurship being a major focus in her studies. Following her Degree in Entrepreneurship and Diploma in International Trade from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Georgia studied at Babson College in Boston, USA. Babson is ranked #1 in Entrepreneurship Internationally. While at University Georgia was awarded an Honouree Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society 2008 for receiving marks within the top 2% as well as having her work published in Marketing Core Concepts & Applications, 2nd Edition (John Wiley 2007).
Georgia founded Single Serve Packaging in 2010 after attending a festival and asking for a glass of wine only to be told it was too hard to serve at large functions. Single Serve specialises in prefilling wine in a shatterproof PET plastic wine glass for places where glass is dangerous or just inconvenient. Single Serve has two brands Lupé; the fun young wine brand and Beattie Wines. Lupé was recognised by BRW as ‘Top 10 Start-up 2012’. The company also contract packages for Treasury Wine Estate under the Rosemount and Secret Stone brands which you will find in Australian’s major stadiums such as the MCG. Single Serve now have offices in Melbourne, Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei and looking to expand into the US shortly.
Georgia has a strong philanthropic interest with involvements on the boards of a leading women’s health medical research institute The Prince Henry Institute as well as The RMIT New Enterprise Investment Scheme which funds start ups coming out of RMIT.
Founder, Who Gives A Crap
Simon Griffiths is a Melbourne social entrepreneur and co-founder of Who Gives A Crap toilet paper and Shebeen bar. Who Gives a Crap toilet paper donate 50% of their profits to WaterAid to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world and 100% of Shebeen’s profits go to organisations tackling poverty in the developing world.
Co-founder, Envato
Cyan Ta’eed is the founder and director of Envato, a leading marketplace and community for creative assets and creative people – having paid out more than $400 million of earnings to its global community of creatives.
Based in Melbourne, Cyan and her partner Collis bootstrapped the business form the ground up. Cyan worked on everything from company direction and product development to design, marketing, and social media, to hiring and management.
In 2015, she was recognized as Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year and Envato was recognized as one of the top 20 BRW Best Places to Work.
She's also the founder of New Day Box and an advocate for diversity in tech.
Follow Cyan on Twitter (cyantaeed) and Instagram (cyan.taeed).
Co-founder, Emma & Tom's
A successful chartered accountant with a fellowship of finance, Tom worked his way up through a diverse range of corporate advisory, investment banking and CFO roles in Australia and internationally. With a successful career road clearly mapped out, Tom made a decision in 2003 that would change not just his life, but the life of millions of Australian’s. When in 2003 Tom, along with his and childhood friend Emma Welsh, came together to combine their skills and passion for healthy living to tap into what they saw as an under-nourished wellbeing industry. From here their company, Emma & Tom’s, has moved from strength to strength, producing preservative free whole-fruit juices, smoothies and snack bars in over 5,000 retail outlets across Australia. Neither Tom or Emma have stopped there, and as part of their vision to see Emma & Tom’s as a leader in battling the nation’s obesity epidemic, the business also invest in a range of community health and support initiatives, such as The Unite Project, with plans to further increase this community involvement as the company expands and grows.
Zest Possibilities, Project Gen Z and The League of Extraordinary Women
Liz Atkinson Volpe is one of Australia’s leading female social entrepreneurs. From moving to Australia as a backpacker in 2001, Liz has gone on to launch Zest Possibilities which houses a group of million dollar companies on an international stage. Combining her business acumen with social ventures, Liz and her team have raised $138 Million for Australian & International charities, and acquired thousands of customers for blue-chip companies.
Within a year of opening the doors in Melbourne in 2006, Liz had expanded to Sydney and by 2010 was an international operation with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Wellington. Today Zest Possibilities is a market leader in outsourced promotions, sales and marketing campaigns. Liz is an energetic and enthusiastic public speaker. Her story and focus on Leadership has led to invitations to speak to a range of audiences including G20 Young Entrepreneurs summit, Microsoft, RMIT and The Unconvention.
In 2012 Liz Co-Founded the League of Extraordinary Women which is now Australia’s Fastest & Largest growing movement of Female Entrepreneur’s. Holding events all across the country the League inspires and motivates women to follow their passion and dreams. The League launched Australia’s first all-female Entrepreneur conference in 2013 named ‘Run the World’ which now stands as the largest of its kind. The League of Extraordinary Women has also been named as No 3 in the ‘Top 10 Organisations Encouraging Female professionals in Australia’ by Business Review Australia.
In early 2014 Liz was named as Number 13 on the Top 50 Australian Female Entrepreneurs under 40 list and with her strong passion to mentor and coach and now runs workshops to show business owners how to grow.
In 2015 Liz and her husband Jesse launched a new social enterprize called ‘Project Gen Z’. With a vision to educate 1 million disadvantaged youths across the world by 2030, 30 global entrepreneurs will be travelling to Cambodia this year with an incredible group of Aussie Entrepreneurs to run a series of workshops to 400 orphans. The project is aimed at inspiring disadvantaged orphans and children to dream! By running a series of workshops Liz and the team hope to educate, inspire and motivate these children to follow their dreams and maybe even move into Entrepreneurship.
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Phil is the firm’s information technology workgroup leader in Melbourne, having practised in information technology law for over twenty years. He has dual qualifications in law and computer science from the University of Melbourne. Phil has represented both government and corporate clients in their most significant IT and telecommunications transactions and represents clients such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Adobe in Australia. He also acts for a number of start ups and assists them in their international expansion. Phil is Australia’s representative on the International Technology Law Association, a past President of the Victorian Society for Computers and the Law and a lecturer in technology law at a number of tertiary institutions.
Head of Notable Media
As a CEO, senior executive, publisher and journalist, Amanda has been at the forefront of Australian business publishing for more than 25 years; in particular leading change through the constant stream of disruptive technologies that the media has faced in the 21st century.
Amanda has been the force behind the growth of media brands including BRW, the Fast 100, SmartInvestor, SmartCompany, Crikey, Startup Smart and Property Observer. She has also been a pioneer in Australia’s first multiplatform publications.
Her research into entrepreneurship and small business was recognized by RMIT where she is Adjunct Professor of Business, a position she has held for 14 years.
Amanda is currently head of Notable Media, a communications business for corporates and executives focused on developing communications and social media strategy and using content, digital platforms and social media to build communities, conversations and get business results. At its heart is the award winning Notable Women program, which upskills female executives with modern communication skills resulting in better performance, sales and promotions.
For the past two years, Amanda was head of social and digital media at ANZ where she was leading the bank’s content and social media strategy, delivering high quality content across the bank’s customer channels and taking the bank from silent to professional and strategically social. She was also associate editor of BlueNotes, ANZ’s ground breaking thought leadership publication launched in April this year.
Amanda is also a successful media entrepreneur, founding SmartCompany in 2006. She went onto launch five other media publications during the next six years building their brands out through social media. The business had 70 staff and $6 million revenue when she sold her stake in 2012 and returned to Fairfax as publisher of BRW and SmartInvestor to lead the migration from print to multiplatform.
“Digital media is changing the way people consume information, opening new channels for communication and engagement with stakeholders in brand new, better ways.”
Twitter.com/amanda_gome
Linkedin.com/in/amanda.gome
Former Premier of Victoria
Co-Founder, Lord of the Fries
Amanda Walker is Co Founder and Owner of Lord of the Fries, makers of Australia’s favourite fries with a side of vegetarian burgers and hot dogs. Amanda brings a wealth of hospitality and retail experience to her role as the Director of Staff and Operations, ensuring the smooth day to-day running of the stores and its systems while overseeing the Lord of the Fries staff and training programs.
Hailing from Toronto, Canada (and moonlighting as ‘The Lord’ herself), Amanda’s journey to co-founding Lord of the Fries with her husband has seen her travel the world. Starting out as a teacher in Canada, Mandy met Mark Koronczyk (Co-Founder) in Taiwan teaching English as a Second Language. With a shared passion for their favourite food, french fries, and creating food made with love, not animals, Lord of the Fries was born.
Lord of the Fries boasts a 100% vegetarian menu with kosher, gluten free, vegan and halal options. Prior to owning her own business, Amanda had little executive level experience but used her passion for the brand and its mission, a determination to succeed and a desire to bring good food to the people as her guide. Now, 10 years on, Amanda, has supported the growth of the business to nine stores strong across Melbourne and Sydney and enjoys the challenge of evolving and improving the business so that the staff, suppliers, franchisees and customers can all enjoy the benefits of doing great work and creating great food.
Partner, Blackbird Ventures
CEO, LaunchVic
Managing Growth and Pathways to Market
Colin is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business & Economics at the University of Melbourne. He is also a Director of companies ranging in size from $6 million to $100+ million in transport, financial services, retail technology and education and an advisor to start-ups in nanotechnology, wearable technology, aged care and education technology. He has previously held senior management roles at the AFL; Goldman Sachs JBWere and Telstra’s Mobiles division.
Colin served as a member of the Executive Committee that raised almost $200 million to construct the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre at the Austin Hospital and is a member of the AFL Research Board.
As well as teaching Managing Growth and Pathways to Market, Colin also teaches the first semester subject Creating Successful Business Models.
Garage Project
Jodie is will teach Garage Project (semester 1 subject).
She is the owner of Melbourne co-working space depo8, a community of creatives, startups and entrepreneurs. Over the past four years depo8 has been host to hundreds of people through events such as Startup Grind and The Entrepreneur Club, plus the many businesses that have shared a bit of their magic.
During this time, Jodie’s two-sided marketplace, Occasional Butler, was acquired by rival Airtasker.
Jodie is a mentor at The Wade Institute and also runs Innovation Bay Melbourne, a networking group for Entreprenuers and Angels Investors.
Prior to this Jodie spent nine years as the General Manager for leading Australian fashion designer Leona Edmiston, where she oversaw strong business growth. She was also an Account Manager for Ericsson Australia and NCR Corporation, in both Sydney and London.
Jodie has a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) from the University of Western Sydney and a Post Graduate Diploma of Finance from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
Create Your Own Enterprise
Greg is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Management and Marketing at the Melbourne Business School/Faculty of Business and Economics. Prior to joining academia he was head of innovation and R&D at Hall & Partners, a strategic brand consultancy in New York. Greg also launched a successful entrepreneurial venture with is partners, an innovative ad agency called the Carbon Group. Over his decade long career in strategy and marketing, Greg has consulted a variety of blue chip global companies and brands, including: adidas, BMW, Delta, Ferrero, General Mills, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Kaplan, Marriott, MasterCard, McGraw-Hill, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, National Football League, Olympus, Pepsi, Reebok, RTL Group, Texas Instruments, and Timberland, among others.
Mentor
Ishani is passionate about designing sustainable business models. She has mentored many businesses and entrepreneurs who are balancing commercial goals with socially or environmentally conscious missions. With a special focus on designing their unique idea of what success looks like, strategic innovation, managing growth, and leading teams through transformation.
Most recently, Ishani worked with The Difference Incubator to run 3 states with 36 start-ups participating in the program. She worked with a total of 100+ companies who were at the ideation phase and/or going through change and therefore needed strategic advisory and/or operational advisory.
Ishani studied as a Chemical Engineer at The University of Melbourne, holds an MBA degree from the London Business School and Columbia Business School, and sits on the Board of several businesses.
Design Thinking
Frank is a Professor in the Department of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne. He the director of the Microsoft Research Centre for Social Natural User Interfaces (Social-NUI) and he leads the Interaction Design Laboratory. Frank’s expertise is in Human-Computer Interactions (HCI) and Social Computing (especially Social NUIs). His research aims to generate knowledge about the use and design of information and communication technologies (ICT) for human wellbeing and social benefit.. Frank serves on the University's Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee and is a member of the executive committee on the Melbourne Networked Society Institute. Frank was awarded the CHISIG Medal for outstanding service to and promotion of Human-Computer Interaction in Australia.
Leading Mentor
Marcus founded EIC Growth Pty Ltd to assist CEO’s and leaders implement and measure creativity, innovation and enterprising behaviours. He specialises in the growth for profit and not for profit organisations that operate in the turbulence of national and international market places. He has co-authored five handbooks, which are used by many of the 1500 organisations he has worked with as a pragmatic reference for their sustained growth.
Marcus has managed, led and owned organisations in the fields of textiles, scientific instrumentation, education, information technology, consumer software development and tourism. As Entrepreneur in Residence at RMIT University, he works with staff, students and alumni to refine and develop their ideas and business opportunities. He was awarded Australia’s Best Entrepreneurial Educator and also awarded for sustained excellence in collaboration between business and universities in Australia.
As a fellow at the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship, Ormond College, University of Melbourne, Marcus leads our mentor program for students to help them make a lasting and significant impact by delivering sustainable social and economic dividends. Marcus has made, and continues to make, an extraordinary impact on the attitudes, self‐esteem, behaviour, life chances, values and outcomes of thousands of professionals and students in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Entrepreneur Within
Rufus’ commercial career began working in a tech start-up in Europe for McKinsey&Company. He later worked on internal start-up projects in the oil, mining and telco industries. Since leaving McKinsey he has been involved with social enterprise start-ups as the founding Chair of the Board of Teach for Australia, a Director of the New York based Teach for all and as a founding Director of Schools Connect.
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.
With an academic career in ethics prior to his commercial career Rufus brings both together as a lead faculty member in the Centre for Ethical Leadership and teaches in its flagship program for small groups of senior Australian leaders. Rufus is also Master of Ormond College
Business Acumen for Entrepreneurs
Albie Brooks is a senior teaching fellow in the Department of Accounting at the University of Melbourne; a position he has held since January 2008. He has wide-ranging teaching experiences at the undergraduate and graduate levels in both domestic and international settings. He has both authored and presented materials for the accounting profession, as well as co-authored two University-level text books. Albie’s research and scholarship interests include contemporary management accounting issues, the development of innovative educational materials, accounting education and corporate governance issues. He is currently involved in the development of simulation-based learning tools to enhance engagement and the learning experience for students.
Create Your Own Enterprise
Kwang is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at Melbourne Business School and Co-Director of the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia.
His research explores the strategies used by companies to manage knowledge, both as intellectual property and as possessed by inventors and scientists. And at Melbourne Business School he teaches the core MBA course on Business Strategy, the MBS Innovation Bootcamp and Business Tools for M.Sc students.
Kwang has also held roles where he taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in managing technology and innovation, worked as a management consultant at Booz Allen & Hamilton, and served on the steering committee of the NUS Overseas Colleges; where he received a university-level award for teaching excellence in 2003/04 and a faculty-level outstanding educator award in 2004.
He has also obtained a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore and a Ph.D. in Management from the MIT Sloan School.
