Like the subjects of religion and politics, the topic of Australian companies using foreign labour to manage costs and productivity is often a no-go zone. However, this Canberra BusinessPoint Master Class is a forum where the topic can be rationally considered by local business owners. In a time of major skills shortage and pressure on wages, strategic outsourcing has helped many small technology companies flourish, including those on our panel. How is this possible and what does that mean for IT graduates and career changers?
Everyone is aware of the outsourcing powerhouses of India and China, but hot on their heels are places like the Philippines, Chile, Zambia and Kuwait. What does this strong competition mean for the costs of outsourcing? Are costs the only reason to outsource? How do you know where to go? How do you manage the logistics of language, time zone and culture?
This Master Class seeks to debunk some of the mythology surrounding technology outsourcing and help local SME owners in the technology services sector make informed decisions. The target for this event is any high-growth technology services or product company director that would like to fully understand the options available to his or her business and also network in a positive environment with those who are already doing so.
Overview
- The truth about outsourcing: wages, conditions and the impact on the local economy overseas. Case study: Kochi (Cochin), India
- Reallocation of limited resources: how outsourcing changes the nature of Australian technology companies
- Local experience - hear from 3 local B2B operators who use outsourcing to deliver value to Australian companies
When
5:30 pm for 6 to 7:30 pm, Wednesday, 3 October, 2012
Where
Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre
Unit 6, 65 Tennant Street, Fyshwick ACT
Cost
$50, bookings essential at technologyoutsourcing.eventbrite.com
Contact
enquiries@lighthouseinnovation.com.au
About the Presenters
Stewart Rendall
Currently Chairman and Founder of Sterian, an Australian-based IT services and solutions company. Sterian has a development centre in Kochi, India and clients in Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.
Stewart has also recently developed the 'Exporting to the US Public Sector' program on behalf of the ACT Government, is a Business Mentor with Commercialisation Australia, and consults to several other Australian Federal Departments. In addition, he was also appointed as an Honorary Trade and Investment Ambassador for the ACT and sits on the Boards (in both executive and non-executive roles) of several other bodies. These range from small companies to organisations with assets, under control, of more than $200m. He is also a member of Capital Angels.
From 2004 until 2010, he was MD of a Canberra-based developer of world-class InfoSec application software, hardware and related services to governments around the world.
Stewart has more than 30 years experience in managing and leading staff numbering from 2 to 1800 and has lived and worked in Europe, North America and Asia. He has established three companies, successfully completed two business 'turnarounds', raised capital and managed several trade-sale exits.
During his tenure, he and his companies have received several awards, including Australian Business Software Product of the Year, Global Best Buy' award - Secure Computing Magazine, State IT Exporter of the Year, and The Australian Direct Marketing Award.
David Elliot
David is a businessman and entrepreneur with a strong background in information technology and venture stage businesses. His early technology successes have included major event web portals for several sports media projects in England and New Zealand (including the official Rugby World Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup portals).
After working as a product architect for a dotcom in Canada (sold to Adobe Systems), David founded his own software development business in Canberra in 2004. He has successfully grown Agile Digital into a multi-disciplinary team with a reputation for expert large-scale software development across the public and private sectors. His firm has delivered many products over the years, including their work with All Homes P/L to design and develop the technology behind the most recognised local brand in Australia's capital region, allhomes.com.au.
Nerida Gill
Nerida Gill was honoured by Women in Information and Communication in 2009 as WICked Woman of the Year. She is the creator of Admin Bandit, the only web-based accounting package designed specifically to make keeping the books easy for volunteer treasurers in grass roots community organisations. Admin Bandit is in a growth phase after attracting external investment. Nerida is also a guest writer on Australian Business Women's Network herBusiness blog and co-author of the e-book "10 Ways the Cloud is Great for Small Business".
