AREC10 Leadership Program Speakers

ERIK WAHL, President, The Wahl Group – San Diego, USA

After eight years working as a partner in a corporate firm and playing with his art, Erik now plays in the business world by working with his art.  His management consulting firm, The Wahl Group, challenges organisations to implement breakthrough thinking techniques to accomplish extraordinary results.  Specialising in The Art of Vision, his unique understanding of sales performance, innovation, productivity and profitability traces back to his experience as an artist and is demonstrated in a dynamic and entertaining way with the creation of amazing paintings on stage. Not only are Erik's artworks found in international collections, but as a sought-after keynote speaker he has presented to top organisations all over the world, as well as having been a guest lecturer at the London School of Business.

• The Art of Sales Excellence
  Sunday General Program

• The Art of Leadership
  Tuesday Leadership Program

• SEE ERIK WAHL IN ACTION
  

EWAN MORTON, Managing Director, Morton & Morton - Sydney, NSW

Ewan's start in real estate came when he left IBM to join Colliers Jardine, managing the projecting marketing of Australian and New Zealand properties to Hong Kong residents. This later led him to London and Singapore where he sold prestige property to a broad international clientele. On his return to Sydney, he joined forces with his father, real estate veteran Mark Morton, to establish Morton & Morton in 1996.  His irrepressible energy and drive, coupled with his father's wisdom and experience, proved a winning combination, and the company has grown from modest beginnings into a successful enterprise. Ewan leads with an open door management style, a mark of his honesty that is valued by staff.  Staff retention is high at Morton & Morton, not only because of Ewan's leadership style, but because his enthusiasm and energy motivate and inspire the people around him.

• Building an Award Winning Agency
  Tuesday Leadership Program

EDWARD DE BONO
Author, educator and creator of the term ‘lateral thinking’ - UK

Edward de Bono created the term 'lateral thinking', and it’s now so much part of our language that it is used in everything from physics lectures to television comedy.  The world authority on creative thinking, Dr de Bono will bring a whole new dimension to the way you think about yourself and your business. This author of 62 books, including Lateral Thinking and Six Thinking Hats, has lectured to government leaders, educators and heads of industry, sharing his message that thinking can and should be taught as a skill if we are to meet the needs of today's fast-changing world. He has made the intangible subject of creativity practical and accessible to everyone, across many cultures, from school children to senior executives.  His methods were instrumental in the revival of interest in the Olympic Games and John Bertrand's success in the America's Cup, as well as being used by many major corporations including the Pentagon, IBM, Microsoft and Siemens (the largest corporation in Europe).  He is an Oxford Rhodes scholar, has held faculty appointments at Oxford, Cambridge, London and Harvard universities, and is a medical doctor, psychologist and PhD.

• Your Success is Determined by How You Think
  Sunday General Program

• Get Creative with Your Business
  Tuesday Leadership Program

• SEE EDWARD DE BONO IN ACTION
  

BELINDA YABSLEY, CEO, Quintessentially Australia/New Zealand –Sydney, NSW

Belinda has a reputation as Australia's most recognised expert on sales and service, with a unique understanding of the role exceptional customer service plays in generating sales. Moving from receptionist to senior executive in the prestige automotive industry, she became the first female and youngest General Manager of a Mercedes-Benz-owned dealership in Australia.  In 2006, at the age of 31, she launched the world-first Mercedes-Benz Airport Express in Sydney, a concept that drove customer satisfaction to new levels. This iconic example of entrepreneurship within a business resulted in sales that exceeded targets by nearly 400% within the first 12 months of operation. Her achievements have been celebrated in a string of accolades, including Sydney Business Woman of the Year in 2005.  Belinda continues to blaze a trail in leveraging exceptional customer service to drive sales results through her new venture Quintessentially, recognised as the world's leading concierge company.

• Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurship
  Tuesday Leadership Program

JOHN McGRATH , CEO, McGrath Estate Agents – Sydney, NSW

One of Australia's most influential figures in real estate, John was honoured by the REI NSW in 2008 with the Woodrow Weight OBE Award, a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contribution to the industry. Starting his business from his living room in 1989, John now leads one of Australia's most successful residential real estate groups, selling $3.25 billion in property in Sydney in financial year 2009. The rapidly expanding franchise network now has 30 offices located throughout Sydney and key regional areas of NSW and south-eastern Queensland. A founding director of realestate.com.au, he has also authored five best-selling business books and is a spokesperson for the industry both in Australia and internationally.

• 5 Things a Business Owner Can Do To Shift Gears
  Tuesday Leadership Program