Friday 11 December 2009
7.00 for 7.30pm 'til late
Thornbury Rooms
The Stamford Plaza Hotel
111 Little Collins St, Melbourne
The Awards Dinner is the cumlination of not only the two days of competition but also the months and weeks of work teams have undertaken in order to compete in the Challenge. The Overall Winning Team is announced at this special event and all other prizes and awards are also presented. Attendance at the Awards Dinner is complimentary for competitors and their academic advisor. Additional guests are welcomed on pre registration and payment.
We hope that all of our teams, aacdemic advisors, judges and mentors will be able to join us for this very special event.
Special Guest Speaker: Mr Tom O'Toole, Beechworth Bakery
Founder of the highly successful Beechworth Bakery and now with 6 outlets spread throughout regional Victoria, Tom O’Toole, affectionately known as ‘John Cleese on steroids’ is recognized as one of Australia's most popular inspirational and motivational speakers for corporate and business functions, especially in regional Australia.
Tom O’Toole’s Beechworth Bakery is credited with being one of the highest earning single bakery retailers in Australia and winner of National & State Marketing & Business Awards. His business model is being emulated around the world.
His success originated from a small bakery in Beechworth in regional Victoria, servicing a population of 3,000 people. Under Tom’s guidance, the Beechworth Bakery grew from two employees to 70 full and part time employees, and has resulted in the Bakery expanding to 6 stores serving 1 million plus customers per year, producing an annual turnover in excess of 12 million dollars.
O’Toole has not relied on formal education for his success and is a self-confessed kindergarten drop-out.
Some of Tom’s philosophies are ‘if it’s to be, it’s up to me’ and ‘nothing changes if nothing changes’. Tom is regarded as ‘unique’ for his contributions to industry and the community, not just in Victoria, but throughout Australia and in some of our neighboring countries. He has a passion for ‘spreading the word’ of making change and taking an enthusiastic approach to life and its challenges.
“There are motivational coaches, there are management consultants, there are get up and go gurus everywhere but there's only one Tom O'Toole. He gets on with the job with a method and motivation, and modus operandi which can be applied way beyond his own business to almost every situation in building team spirit, making things positive and getting the job done.” Hon. Tim Fischer (Former Deputy Prime Minister, Australia)
Making Dough (16 min video) explores how Tom's 'down to earth' but very clever approach to business, has had a remarkable effect on his operation and the whole town of Beechworth. Entertaing and inspiring, the Tom O'Toole story has application to any size, and kind of business.