Bendigo Business Stories

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer , in an inspiring conversation with Vanessa Hicks, Manager of Capability Development and Business Transformation for Downer Group . In the last episode of Season 4, episode 32, we delve into the transformative power of social procurement and its impact on building a more inclusive and resilien...

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer , as he embarks on an inspiring journey with Michael Robertson, Director at JL King & Co. & Simply Tasty , a beacon of social responsibility and innovation in Greater Bendigo. Discover how this iconic brand, crowned Business of the Year in 2024 , has evolved from humble beginnings to a...

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer, as he embarks on an enlightening journey into the world of social enterprises with Jennie Walker, a leading voice in the field. Discover the incredible work being done at Pepper Green Farm, a social enterprise that supports people with disabilities by providing meaningful employment opportuni...

In this episode of Bendigo Business Stories, join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer, as he delves into the world of apprenticeships and traineeships with Jade Horton, Manager Apprenticeships and Traineeships at CVGT Employment. Discover the transformative potential of these pathways in fostering a skilled and inclusive workforce in...

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer , as he embarks on a mission to empower local businesses and support workforce development in Greater Bendigo. In this episode, Ben sits down with Kelli Hewton, Director of the Loddon Mallee Hub for the Head Start program with the Department of Education , to explore the transformative potenti...

Join our host, Ben Dillon from Downer , as he embarks on an enlightening journey to support workforce development in Greater Bendigo. In this episode, Ben sits down with Lisa Adams, a dynamic small business owner, to chat about her experience of managing diverse teams across multiple locations. Lisa shares her inspiring journey of business growth, starting with Fox and Giraffe and expanding into t...

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager at Bendigo Hospital project for Downer , as he embarks on an enlightening conversation with Damian Wells, Managing Director of Coliban Water . In this episode, they delve into the transformative potential of social procurement and its impact on local communities and businesses. Discover how Coliban Water is leveraging its purchasing power to achieve br...

Join our host, Ben Dillon, as he embarks on an enlightening journey to empower local businesses and support workforce development in Greater Bendigo. In this episode, Ben sits down with Martin Collins, Team Leader of North and West Victoria Industry Engagement with the Victorian Skills Authority , to delve into the transformative power of social procurement and its impact on communities. Martin sh...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School , for an inspiring conversation with Jeff Smith, Managing Director at  Lansell Homes , to explore the importance of empowering staff and fostering a positive workplace culture.  In this insightful episode, Jeff shares his philosophy on creating a work environment where employees not only enjoy their work but also tak...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School , as she sits down with Janelle Bricknell, an experienced Human Resources Manager from Lactalis , to discuss the art of handling difficult workplace conversations. In this insightful episode, Janelle shares her extensive experience and practical tips for managers who find themselves needing to engage in challenging dialogues with t...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School , as she delves into the critical topic of building a resilient workforce with Glenn Dashwood , formerly Head of Operations at the Portable Long Service Leave Authority and current Director of Dashwood Road. In this episode, they explore effective people strategies to attract and retain top talent in the Loddon Campaspe region. Gle...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School , as she sits down with Katie and Michelle Johnson, co-founders of ESE Consulting , for a thought-provoking discussion on value-driven recruitment strategies. Founded 20 years ago, ESE Consulting was built on the principles of high-quality service and clear communication throughout the recruitment process. Starting from an incubato...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School , as she engages in an insightful conversation with Pam Macdonald, the founder of Broadspring Consulting . Pam founded Broadspring Consulting to provide HR coaching, training, and consulting services. With years of experience, she shares valuable tips on attracting and retaining staff, whether you run a small business or a large co...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School, as she engages in an honest and authentic conversation with Rory Somerville, Managing Director at Ray White Bendigo .  In this episode, Rory shares his experience on attracting and retaining staff members, emphasising the crucial role of employee wellbeing in driving business success. He provides insights from...

Join our host, Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School , as she engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Katherine Hietbrink, the Director of Human Resources at Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC).  In this enlightening episode, Katherine shares her wisdom on change management, delving into the reasons why organisations need to evolve, why cha...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with our host Dr. Geraldine Kennett from La Trobe Business School and Chloe Pyke, a dynamic People and Culture Manager at AFS & Associates . In this episode, Chloe delves deep into the extraordinary efforts AFS undertakes to cultivate an optimal work environment for their team members. She reveals that AFS conducts an annual culture survey, considerin...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with our host Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine as she dives into the fascinating veterinarian world with Dr Susan Bibby, the visionary part-owner of myvet Strathfieldsaye . In this episode sponsored by McKern Steel, Susan shares her remarkable journey from specialising in avian veterinary and working in the commercial poultry industry to making a dynamic ca...

Join us for an inspiring conversation as our host, Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine, sits down with Amy Morrissey, a remarkable young professional who has made significant career progress in the traditionally male-dominated banking industry. In this episode, sponsored by McKern Steel, Amy shares her journey from studying accounting at Latrobe University to becoming a Senior Business Relationshi...

Join us as our host, Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine, sits down for an incredible conversation with The Hon. Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria. In this episode sponsored by McKern Steel, we explore the driving force behind her decision to enter politics: her deep love for Bendigo and her determination to give a voice to the regional community. From her early aspirations of beco...

Join us as our host, Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine, dives into the fascinating journey of Amy Doak, a lifelong lover of books, reading, and writing. Amy's story is truly inspiring from her early career in media, including advertising, radio, television, and magazines, to her evolution into a freelance writer and now a published author. After graduating with a computing and marketing degree,...

Get ready to be inspired as Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine dives deep into the world of business ownership with our special guest, Hayley Tibbett from Indulge Chocolates. In this week's episode sponsored by McKern Steel, Hayley shares her incredible journey of building a successful business over the last 15 years. Hayley is the owner and founder of Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates which she es...

In our latest episode, our host, Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine, delves into the inspiring journey of entrepreneurship with Luz Restrepo founder of Made by Many Minds . Originally from Colombia, Luz's story is one of resilience and innovation. After studying medicine, she discovered her passion for business and communication. Luz arrived in Australia at age 45 and her experience led her to fo...

Alissa Van Soest, General Manager of the Discovery Science & Technology Centre Bendigo , is a passionate advocate for women in STEM. In this episode, Alissa shares with host Kimberley Furness, her insights on the importance of STEM education, not just as a set of subjects, but as a foundation for critical thinking, creativity, and resilience—skills crucial for jobs of the future. Despite the g...

Julie Sheahan has gone from humble beginnings as a physiotherapist to her current role as a thriving business owner at 3D Physiotherapy Health Group in Bendigo. Julie shares with our host Kimberley Furness, the invaluable lessons learned along the way going through multiple partnerships before deciding to build something on her own. Julie's dedication to personal growth shines through as she discu...

As we joyfully celebrate the spirit of Christmas on our final episode, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those tirelessly working during the festive season, especially our heroes in emergency services and the dedicated individuals in the hospitality industry.  In this special holiday edition, we had the privilege of diving into a passionate conversation with Finn Vedelsby – Managing...