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Professor offers tips for business people
A University of the Sunshine Coast academic who specialises in entrepreneurship – from new venture risk analysis to workaholism – will offer his business insights at a free forum from 4-6.30pm on Tuesday 13 July.
USC’s Dean of Business Professor Evan Douglas will be one of the panellists at “Practical Strategies for Growth, post-Global Financial Crisis” to be held by accounting company BDO at the Innovation Centre on campus at Sippy Downs.
BDO is the latest specialist service provider to set up visiting offices at USC’s Innovation Centre, in the Sunshine Coast’s growing knowledge-based industry hub, and the event aims to boost Coast business.
An expert panel will discuss business challenges in the wake of the GFC, such as the effectiveness and evolution of company strategic plans, the timeliness of forecasting techniques and the usefulness of alternative approaches.
Professor Douglas has taught economics and entrepreneurship in more than a dozen business schools in Australia, the US, Canada, England, China, India and Thailand.
He is currently researching the drivers of entrepreneurial start-ups – what factors underlie a person’s decision to start their own business, and how the type of business (for example lifestyle vs growth-oriented) is influenced by the person’s abilities and attitudes.
“In my presentation I will focus on the impact of the GFC on the mortality risk associated with new venture start-ups, and how this might impact differentially on entrepreneurs,” he said.
Other panellists will include:
- BDO partner Karina Collins, a member of the firm’s Performance Improvement Consulting team and an expert in business strategy;
- Dr Karen Woolley, CEO of internationally recognised medical writing company ProScribe Medical Communications;
- David Cattell, CEO of natural wastewater treatment company Biolytix.
Community members wanting to attend can register by calling (07) 3237 5987.
— Julie Gatehouse