BENDIGO business leader Margot Spalding has been chosen to join a state government initiative to drive innovation and jobs growth.
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Ms Spalding joins 11 other leaders in retail, media, farming and employment on Premier Daniel Andrews’ Jobs and Investment Panel.
Members of the panel convened for their first meeting in Melbourne yesterday with the premier, Treasurer Tim Pallas and Minister for Employment Jacinta Allan.
The co-founder and director of furniture design label jimmy, formerly Jimmy Possum, has been at the forefront of Australian design and manufacturing for more than 20 years. The multi-million dollar national business expanded into the international market earlier this year, with a focus on boosting online sales.
Ms Spalding’s business acumen and skills have been acknowledged over the years, including in 2006 when named Telstra Business Woman of the Year.
Earlier this year Ms Spalding stepped aside as head of the regional business, with son-in-law Boris Bielert appointed as CEO. Jimmy is one of Australia’s success stories in how family can successfully run a business with steady growth and expansion into new markets. The business has long been a supporter of training programs, having had more than 70 people progress through its furniture making apprenticeship in the past 20 years.
“We are privileged to have been able to employ and help so many people,” Ms Spalding said. “We care that it is a family business, and we care about our employees. We want people to work here and we are rewarded with people having been with us a long time.”
Mr Andrews said the state needed to draw on the experience of its leaders to drive business growth, innovation and development.
“This panel draws on some of our brightest business minds to create high-skill, high-wage jobs as well as provide us with high-level, strategic advice on where to invest to make Victoria stronger and more prosperous,” he said.
The $508 million Premier’s Jobs and Investment Fund was formed to provide strategic advice to the state on creating high-skill, high-wage jobs. The government has pledged $1 billion in its Back to Work Plan to create 100,000 new jobs.
“The government believes in working with industry leaders – using their voice and their vision to drive economic growth and create jobs locally,” Premier Andrews said.
The panel includes Harold Mitchell AC, founder, Mitchell & Partners; Dr Megan Clark AC, director, Rio Tinto Limited; Mark Stone, Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, and Graeme Ford, CEO of Victorian Farmers Federation.
