Member Profiles

We've put some of our members on the spot with some light hearted Q/A to give you a sense of some of the diversity and calibre of our membership. You can see a list of organisations and sectors of our membership on this page.

What our Members Say About Us

Schmooze is not your typical networking group. It's a professional community offering a welcoming atmosphere, great networking opportunities and a personalised approach in inspiring its members and guests. But don't just take our word for it, here's what some of our members had to say:

Schmooze is an innovative and interesting way to network and meet new contacts. I am a busy person with many different roles so this type of event allows me to interact in different ways with quite a diverse range of people. The events are well organised and enjoyable.
-Kim Sattler, Secretary of UnionsACT/ CEO of Workwatch Training Centre

I have now been a member of Schmooze for a number of years and I have met numerous people who not only form part of my professional network but are also now close friends. It’s amazing to see schmooze evolve to what it is today and ever so inspirational hearing Phillip's plans of what’s yet to come.
-Benjamin Jarrett, Retail Sales Executive

Schmooze provides a perfect place to network and meet people “face to face” from a fantastic variety of organisations. Then from these you can leverage onto additional contacts. Schmooze provides a relaxed environment of like minded people willing to help each other. Schmooze provides a great calendar of events throughout the year that covers industry specific seminars, training sessions and mentoring. That is excellent membership value!
-Kate Prior, Managing Director, face2face Recruitment

You can watch other members comments via our YouTube channel

Name: Kim Sattler,  Position: Secretary of UnionsACT/ CEO of Workwatch Training Centre

Organisation: UnionsACT is the peak body for 24 unions in the ACT and represents over 33,000 union members. Kim also manages the registered training arm Workwatch which delivers OH&S training to both private and public sector employers and employees in the ACT.

What do you love most about your work?
I love getting a win for union members such as fairer pay and conditions, better work safety, portable long service leave, paid parental leave and equal pay to name just a few. It is an honour to represent workers and unions on a range of issues that affect their lives.

Your working towards the first ever National Museum of Labour- please tell us about that.
I am the Chair of the Museum which aims to build a new project of national significance in Canberra which celebrates the history of work in Australia. We have a proud and unique history having been the first nation to win the eight hour day, the vote for women and universal superannuation.

The Museum aims to be a place for central exhibition, education and display. Such a Museum would allow Australia’s rich labour and industrial history to be seen and the stories to be told to current and future generations of young people.

Who are some of your role models that inspire your work?
I have been inspired by people like Joan Kirner, Sharan Burrow, Ged Kearney and Senator Kate Lundy.

What attracted you to Schmooze?
Schmooze is an innovative and interesting way to network and meet new contacts. I am a busy person with many different roles so this type of event allows me to interact in different ways with quite a diverse range of people. The events are well organised and enjoyable. (Thanks Kim!)

Your websites for more information:

• www.unionsact.org.au- UnionsACT
• www.workwatch.com.au - Workwatch Training Centre
• www.nml.net.au - The National Museum of Labour

Name: Jimi Bostock,  Position: Lead Producer / CEO

Are there particular influences or role models in your work? After running web development agencies for the past 15 years, I was inspired by emerging international models of pure digital agencies. I mean in the mould of advertising agencies where the ideas are generated and then the production is outsourced to trusted partners with the agency managing the project. This model offers a new flexibility that I felt was lacking in a pure web development model. With on-staff developers, one can tend to get locked in by their skill sets, their particular technology choices – which can border on religious – and their attitudes. At Push, we pick and choose our partners for each project and each component.

The outcome is that we can deliver bigger bang for buck through using lower cost resources for parts of a project that only require those skill levels and this leaves more of the budget for the bigger ticket items. In the end, what it means is that we are freer to concentrate on the things that matter – getting a deep understanding of our client and generating great ideas.

So, yes, the biggest influence was my desire to have the freedom to concentrate in coming up with the great big idea for our clients and then delivering it at the best price.

What gave you the inspiration to start your company? I was starting to think about setting up Push back in mid 2010 when I met up with my now business partner Pawl Cubbin.

Pawl and I had been competitors for a long time and when we met it was clear that we had a lot in common (no short jokes folks). From my embryonic thinking, Pawl was able to bring his deep experience in the creative services sector to the table.

Pawl’s enthusiasm for my idea and working with him to shape the final offering was my main inspiration. It pushed me (pardon the pun) across the line from a glint in my eye to an actual business.

Besides that, my deep love for all things digital, a love affair that now goes back nearly two decades, is my inspiration. I have been honoured to have watched the digital space go from the point where no-one knew what I was talking about to a central position in all businesses. I am inspired by the thoughts of what may come as we move further in the digital revolution.

Care you share what you see a couple of things that SME's most commonly fall down on with their digital strategy? I am going to start my answer with my favourite word – authenticity. Sadly, most websites look like they could be for anyone. They don’t seem to represent the business as an individual and unique business.

Same with what is passing for a social media strategy. It’s often just another broadcast venture – the business talking to the people, not with the people. So, that brings me back to authenticity. I think the digital space is all about being authentic.

Every business has a uniqueness. So, I see any digital strategy as being all about capturing what that is, in an authentic way. I increasingly find that they road to a digital strategy is often a journey of self-discovery for our clients. They are getting on with business and often have not had the chance to reflect deeply on what I would call their authentic self.

We have come up with a range of techniques to facilitate that process. I really believe that once we find out who our clients are – authentically – it is then impossible to fall down in the strategy and creative execution. The ideas simply flow from the shared understanding of the authentic uniqueness.

What advice would you give to someone about making the most of their Schmooze membership? Be authentic. Just turn up at as many events as you can and be yourself. I think business is a lot like love. We want people to love us for who we are and it’s no different in business. Yes, authenticity is the name of the game.

Your website or twitter account for more information: website is pushagency.net – twitter is @jimibostock

Name: Benjamin Jarrett, Position: Retail Sales Executive

Are there particular influences or role models in your work? My clients and the people around me are the influences and role models within my work. It amazing to be involved with people who are so energetic and inspired about what they do and where they want to go. It gives me such inspiration to see businesses and ideas grow into something big. Take the story of when Philip came up with the idea of schmooze, or when Louise Curtis started her local Lollypotz business and it is now one of Australia’s fasts growing franchises. People and stories like these are the key influences in my working life.

Is there such a thing as an ideal project or client for you? An ideal project or client for me is working with anyone who is interested or excited about developing and growing their business through messaging or product development. Fortunately working for Westfield these are the kind of people I meet every day. I work with clients of all scales from small and medium business owners right through to large companies and household brands. In my current role I focus on offering clients “Pop-Up” retailing environments. Pop Up Retailing is a brilliant way to capitalize on consumer exposure. Westfield Pop-Ups provide the opportunity for consumer driven business to create buzz around their brand, test a product, launch a new store, connect with customers and more. A truly excellent way of turning a short-term investment into a long-term gain!

Do you see any trends or next big thing happening in your industry sector? One of the most exciting things about my job is not only seeing but being part of the innovation and implementation of many new and exciting trends which hit our market place. The Westfield Group is one of the world’s largest vertically integrated shopping centre groups. We manage all aspects of shopping centre development, from design and construction through to leasing, management and marketing. Personally and professionally this offers great exposure to the what, when and how’s in the ever so quickly evolving global market. Take the recently completed Westfield London and soon to be completed Westfield Sydney for example. Shopping centres are more than just a place to “go shopping” they are destinations and experiences in themselves.

Do you have a Schmooze story you'd like to share? I have now been a member of Schmooze for a number of years and I have meet numerous people whom not only form part of my professional network but are also now close friends. It’s amazing to see schmooze evolve to what it is today and ever so inspirational hearing Phillip's plans of what’s yet to come. (Thanks so much Benjamin- we appreciate your support!)

Your website for more information: www.westfieldpopup.com.au and www.westfield.com

Name:Kate Prior, Position: Managing Director, face2face Recruitment

Is there one thing you love about your work? I love that every day speeds by and you wonder where the time has gone, it is like you are constantly running on adrenalin. I also enjoy having a variety of tasks in my role as the business owner, manager and working roles. One moment I am interviewing a client, the next I could be completing a business plan or working on a marketing strategy. The most rewarding part is when people come to you who are having a bad time with life and you can help them out. To see the changes in their persona is wonderful.

Are there role models or ideas that motivate you as a business woman? Locally I admire Louise Curtis, founder of Hamperesque and now LollyPotz. Louise started her business from home after having her first child and now with two children she has the fastest growing franchise in Australia. Impressive. Louise saw an opportunity, weighed up the risk, believed in herself and went for it. When I see Louise today she is the same grounded person I met 5 years ago. Another role model is my great friend, Anne Neiwand. She is an amazing entrepreneur. Currently she has set up 4 businesses and is the Managing Director of them all. Under this pressure Anne remains the most positive person I know, which would attribute to her success.

Is there a book or website you'd like to share that you find a great motivator or resource in your business life? For motivation I always go to my favourite person on the subject: Tony Robbins. Every few years I attend one of his courses/seminars and that keeps me on track. Additionally, I read a lot of books and varying subjects. I very rarely read novels.  I am going the Ultimate Success Summit in September; some of the speakers are Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Mark Bouris and Brett McFall.  Later in the year I am off to Business Mastery with Tony Robbins. A book I would recommend if you are interested in starting a business on the internet would be, “How to Make Money While You Sleep”, Brett McFall.

Do you have any free advice for a new Schmooze member or someone thinking of joining? I think Canberra has a large proportion of business being won on recommendations and relationships. Due to our size it is easy to get out and visit prospective clients and business partners. We rely heavily on our networks to do business. The better your network the greater your success. Schmooze provides a perfect place to network and meet people “face to face” from a fantastic variety of organisations. Then from these you can leverage onto additional contacts. 

Schmooze provides a relaxed environment of like minded people willing to help each other. Schmooze provides a great calendar of events throughout the year which cover industry specific seminars, training sessions and mentoring. That is excellent membership value!

Name: Fergus McGhie, Position: Sales and Marketing Manager for Mount Majura Vineyard

Was there one moment that told you that wine was 'where it was at' for you as a career? I guess it was the first vintage I worked in the Hunter Valley as a cellar hand that confirmed for me that I wanted a career in the wine business. It was the hardest work I had ever done, 12 hour shifts from 5pm-5am. Trying to sleep during the day while staying in a caravan in the Hunter in February was not comfortable but I loved walking around the tanks and barrels with buckets, moving hoses and pumps and watching the beautiful transformation of juice to wine.

Ok, except for Mount Majura wines, what would be your top three all time great wines you've experienced? Can't answer that one although it's one of those questions that I often ponder. So far my only certain conclusion is that if stranded on a desert island with only one wine it would be Dom Perrignon, it is so restrained and elegant, fine and pure. There's no way I would ever get tired of it. Otherwise I think the top three wines are probably ones I haven't yet tried. That's the beauty of wine, it's so varied and diverse that you could never become bored or just stick to one or two favourites.

Is there a wine maker or someone in the industry that is an inspiration to you? I'm inspired by winemakers who are daring and unconventional, those who have faith in their abilities and back their judgement, like Joe Grilli in McLaren Vale who's Moda Amarone Cabernet Merlot is a brilliant expression of the Amarone style with an Australian flavour or Kathleen Quealy in Mornington Peninsula who placed her faith in Pinot Gris/Grigio long before it become fashionable. As far as wine writers go I love to read Tim White in the Financial Review, he's also a bit unconventional but his passion for wine leaps from the page.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start their appreciation of wine? Don't get stuck in a rut and keep trying new things, the more you try the more you learn and ask questions, it's the most fun form of study you will ever undertake. Those who don't appreciate and enjoy good wine are missing out on soul enriching experiences that make life more pleasurable.