Friday 22 February will see the Gold Coast Innovation Hub (GC Hub) launch its Innovation, Advisory and Board Services Program targeting 5 Gold Coast based high growth businesses.
This program has been designed to support five lucky Gold Coast based businesses to develop and grow sustainable international businesses. The successful applicants will receive tailored one-on-one mentoring with the GC Hubs executive/chair in residence, Samantha Kennedy and formal Advisory Board meetings with Board members/Advisors selected specifically to support each business.
A former Director of Strategy and Innovation at Optus, Ms Kennedy is a certified Advisory Board Centre Chair and is the recently appointed Head of Australia, New Zealand & Asia Pacific at Gold Cost based telecommunications firm Pivotel.
According to GC Hub CEO, Ms Sharon Hunneybell this program will provide the five businesses strategic advice to organisation’sto help them with internal decision making and their long-term vision.
“The five successful applicants will get to take part in a formalised, highly targeted Advisory Board and mentoring program to accelerate their business growth,” Ms Hunneybell said.
“Advisory Boards are a proven model to support businesses owners and their management teams to access independent Chair’s, industry leading strategic advisors and experts. This access to executive level support improves the chances of success for a business.”
The Program is supported by the Federal Government as part of the Incubator Support Expert in Residence Program.
To qualify to participate in the Program the business must have evidence that they are;
- Gold Coast based, and either have:
- An annual turnover of $220,000, or
- Have raised capital of $500,000 or more, or
- Employ at least 5 people
To be one of the 5 successful companies, the Hub is looking for evidence of;
- Demonstrated personal leadership from founder(s) who have an interest in engaging with advisors to maximise their growth potential
- Strong signs of revenue growth, competitiveness and innovation
- Evidence of potential to expand into global markets
- Local job creation
Event details
Where:GC Hub, 36 Laver Drive Robina
When:4.30 – 5.30pm
Speakers:Louise Broekman, CEO Advisory Board Centre, Sharon Hunneybell (CEO Gold Coast Innovation Hub) and Samantha Kennedy GC Innovation Hub Expert/Chair in Residence. This event will cover the ins and outs of the program, timelines and the application process.
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About The Gold Coast Innovation Hub:
The Gold Coast Innovation Hub launched in 2017 with the support of the Queensland Government, City of Gold Coast and over 20 corporate partners committed to driving a new digital economy on the Gold Coast. At the centre of the hub is a purpose built three storey work and event space designed by innovators, for innovators, where startups and scale-ups can connect, collaborate, grow, raise investment and expand into global markets. Home to around 200 innovators, this is the ideal location for student teams progress and commercialise their projects.
About the Executive/chair in Residence:
Samantha Kennedy – Samantha is the Executive/Chair in residence at the GC Hub. Sam is a certified Advisory Board Centre Chair and is also Head of Australia, New Zealand & Asia Pacific at Gold Cost based Pivotal. She is widely recognised for her extensive experience and a successful track record driving profitable and sustainable growth, in strategy, business and market development, sales, marketing, customer experience Human Resources, law and industrial relations in highly competitive markets across both the public and private sectors in Australia and APAC. With over 26 years of industry experience across Telecommunications, Technology, Human Resources, Law and Public Sector Sam is a strategy, transformation, customer experience and management consultant. Sam works closely with Public and Private sector companies, assisting them to harness and drive transformation, growth and innovation across some of the Country’s most highly competitive, diverse and complex markets.
