EXPRESSIONS AUSTRALIA founder Emma McNeilly took home the 2018 Business Excellence Award at The AusMumpreneur Awards in Melbourne recently.

Ms McNeilly started as a one-woman operation, working with a handful of schools and now, Expressions has grown into a national brand and trusted name in the fundraising industry. 

“Expressions is Australia’s most loved tea towel fundraising company,” Ms McNeilly said. “We began in 1999 as a one-woman operation and have grown into a thriving business of working women who are proud to help raise funds for community organisations across Australia.”

To date Expressions has worked on more than 18,500 community fundraising projects, helping raise millions of dollars for schools and community groups in every corner of Australia. The products bring an easy, creative and sugar-free solution to vital school and community fundraising.

“We have close to three million tea towels, aprons and bags in kitchens and keepsake boxes in every corner of Australia and around the world,” Ms McNeilly said. “Over 1300 schools and childcare centres trust us each year with their precious artwork, ranging from large city schools to tiny remote communities.

“To accomplish this, I employ a team of five people to manage different aspects of the business, we have embraced the effective use of digital and online technologies which allows us to work together nationally between Sydney, Margaret River in WA, Tasmania and Burleigh Heads in South East Queensland.

“Expressions provides a win for everyone involved at every stage of the process. Funds raised, proud children, delighted clients and a healthy business. The tea towels are celebratory and inclusive, and the business has a genuine feel good factor.

“The sentimentality of children being surrounded by their friends and favourite teachers creates a warm and fuzzy for all, they have become a tradition for so many of our clients,” she said.

“We really focus on customer service, and I understand from first-hand experience how precious volunteers’ hours are. Fundraising plays a vital role for grass roots communities, so we strive to ensure our projects are easy to run, everything is supplied, and in turn everybody loves them.

“We have thousands of glowing testimonials. A testament to our service is a near perfect Net Promoter score. Half of our annual workload is repeat bookings and hundreds of coordinators and organisations have worked with us over many years.

“Our practical products make a lasting memento and the designs encompass a real sense of community, so they sell well for our clients.”

AusMumpreneur Network co-founder. Peace Mitchell said, “We are delighted that Emma has won this award, she has created an outstanding business and is an inspirational role model and ambassador for mums in business everywhere.” 

Emma McNeilly has worked in fundraising for over 20 years and has served as a volunteer on many committees for 15 years. She has a rich understanding of the very important and far reaching world of vital community fundraising from both sides of the fence.

Ms McNeilly is now taking that wealth of experience and has formed a niche communications agency - Progeny Communications - which brings brands together with Australia's most powerful consumer: mums.

“Mothers are making the purchasing decisions for most of Australia's households and we are connecting with them, where they are – right at the heart of grassroots communities,” Ms McNeilly said.

www.expressions.com.au

Emma McNeilly’s tips for SMEs

 
-    Put the customer at the forefront of all your business decisions, put yourself in their shoes and plan from there.
-    Document all your procedures so it’s easy to train, then hire people that are better at something than you are and let them do their job.
-    It’s okay to ask for help – the key to balance (for me) was learning to let go and embracing the art of delegation.
-    In the business or at home, outsource if you can, hire a cleaner, engage a bookkeeper, whatever works. There’s lots of talented people out there, so when and if you can, share the load.

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A FIFTH Community Consultative Committee (CCC) has been established by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for Inland Rail, appointing prominent former Scenic Rim Mayor, John Brent lead its work.

 Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said long-serving former Scenic Rim Mayor Mr Brent has been appointed as the chair and 16 committee members have been selected from the local community through an independently-run process. 

“We welcome the appointment of Mr Brent for the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton CCC,” Mr McCormack said. “It is great to see ARTC's ongoing commitment to genuine community engagement for the once-in-a-generation Inland Rail project.

“Together with the ARTC, we are committed to delivering Inland Rail and are working with communities and land-owners along the route to ensure local knowledge informs the planning of the project,” Mr McCormack said.

Minister for Finance and the Public Service Mathias Cormann said ARTC was committed to delivering a fit-for-purpose solution which delivers positive social, environmental and economic outcomes for landowners and community.

“The Australian Government has committed $9.3 billion to deliver Inland Rail. We are determined to realise the economic opportunities of this important project,” Senator Cormann said.

The first meeting of the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton CCC is expected to be held in November.

More information about the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton project is available at https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/K2ARB

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RECOGNISING the increase in tunnelling projects all over the world, global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has welcomed CK Tsang as a key member of its infrastructure business in Australia.

Mr Tsang has joined the company as technical director for infrastructure, and brings 20 years of experience in the industry. 

As a project manager and director of tunnelling, metro and highway projects, he has worked on many world-renowned tunnelling projects. These include using the world’s biggest subsea tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link project in Hong Kong, and the world’s longest immersed tunnel (6km) linking two man-made islands for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project in China.

A leading specialist in civil and geotechnical engineering for drill and blast tunnelling, TBM tunnels and immersed tube tunnels, Mr Tsang’s focus at Aurecon will be on the development and delivery of innovative, timely and cost-effective tunnel solutions for clients in Australia.

“CK brings some very specific skills and experience to our organisation, and to our clients,” Aurecon tunnel design director Harry Asche said. “He will play a key role in delivering technical excellence, as well as help solve project challenges using innovative design, so that tunnels can connect communities and commercial operations all over the world.”   

Mr Tsang said he was joining Aurecon with a high appreciation of the critical role that tunnels play in the ongoing delivery and maintenance of infrastructure for the modern world.

www.aurecongroup.com

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FORMER Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), Natalie James, was named Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA)’s Small Business Champion at the recent Vodafone National Small Business Summit.

Ms James was presented the award by Peter Strong, CEO of COSBOA and Mark McKenzie, ACAPMA CEO and chair of COSBOA, for her outstanding support to the small business community.

Mr Strong said over the past five years, Ms James had remained committed to removing red tape in workplace regulation, proving instrumental in regulating new penalty rates for small businesses and their employees. She also facilitated the launch of a dedicated helpline for small businesses to access workplace relations advice. 

“Usually, we look for people that champion a specific agenda or policy, not only in the small business industry, but across the board; however, this year’s pick was a very obvious one,” Mr McKenzie said. “This year we are giving it to a regulator.

“When you are an advocate, you look for a cooperative approach with regulators, ones that have enough punch to scare your membership in terms of managing the industry, but who also show a willingness to work with you. That’s why we chose Natalie James,” Mr McKenzie said.

COSBOA acknowledged Ms James’ “tireless work” during her time as Fair Work Ombudsman, changing the approach of the organisation to have a better understanding of small business owners and the way they operate.

Natalie James said it was a pleasant surprise to be acknowledged by COSBOA.

“I was genuinely surprised when Peter called to offer me this award, because I didn’t think of myself as a small business champion,” Ms James said. “Ultimately, what we all want and what is good for society is sustainable businesses, which means compliant businesses.

“It’s not fair for compliant businesses to be competing against those who aren’t doing the right thing, particularly those who are deliberately not doing the right thing as a business model and profiting from exploiting vulnerable workers.

“So it was incidental that I was also supporting businesses, especially small businesses, who are so very reliant on sources of advice from industry associations and government.”

Mr Strong said, “Ms James was always willing to listen; she used her position to influence change and was supportive and available to work with COSBOA and small businesses.

“The creation of the Small Business Helpline has been instrumental in providing advice on workplace relations.

“For four years, Natalie presented at the National Small Business Summit, speaking openly to small business leaders and representatives.We wish Natalie the very best in her next move and are proud to name her as a champion of small business for 2018,” Mr Strong said.

www.cosboa.org.au 

www.cosboa.nsbs.com.au

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