Last week, the Family Business Insights NSW/ACT Conference was held in Sydney. The energy in the room was so warm as familiar faces reconnected and new attendees were embraced with genuine enthusiasm, quickly realising they’d joined a network built on trust, connection and shared experience.
Pamela Jabbour, FBA’s recently appointed NSW/ACT State Director, and CEO and Founder of Total Image Group, started the conference with some words of welcome and reflected on her experience of being introduced to FBA. “As someone new to the Board, I feel so proud to be standing here today representing a group of people who truly are the backbone of our economy. Family businesses are the quiet achievers, the community champions, the most trusted employers in our country. Behind every family business is not just a brand or a bottom line, but a legacy, a set of values, and a shared purpose that runs deep.”
FBA CEO, Catherine Sayer, addressed the room, providing a business update and reinforced the impact of the family business sector, which represents 70% of all Australian businesses.
Our first keynote for the day was Glenn Cooper AM, former Chairman and fifth-generation member of Australia’s iconic Coopers Brewery. Glenn shared the rich 163-year journey of Coopers Brewery, discussing their unique and complex family governance structure and shared some iconic advertising campaigns focused on their family business advantage. Discussing his family's governance structure, Glenn drew laughs from the room with an opening line, “My great-great grandfather started the brewery and had 19 children, and that stuffed it from the start.” He presented an extensive Cooper family tree and, although complex, a clear governance structure that the family works to. Glenn emphasised the importance of planning ahead: a clear governance structure ensures continuity and clarity across the family business.
Glenn also spoke about the advantages of a family business and the power of the Cooper name: “Having a name attached to your product is hugely beneficial.” He shared insightful and humorous stories to illustrate this point. In addition, he recounted the David and Goliath story of successfully fending off the Lion Nathan takeover, which drew applause from the attendees.
Glenn finished off with some personal views on doing business, including “Never forget your company culture and its values.” and “The image of your company is your own advantage, and it is completely under your control.”
Session Two featured a conversation between Brad Chan, CEO of Banna Property Group, and Andrew Ang, General Manager of Hakka Foods, facilitated by Robert Powell. The discussion explored the history of their family businesses, with a strong focus on governance and family stewardship.
Brad Chan shared the story of his grandparent's migration from Papua New Guinea to Australia in the early 1970s. Now part of the third generation, Brad highlighted the importance of governance in managing a large, complex family enterprise. “I realised pretty early that if I didn't look at the family side of things, then no one was going to, and so we started to look at forming a family council.” Brad initially joined the business to help manage family assets, but soon recognised the need to oversee the broader family business. He described a unique approach to investing in the family and reducing reliance on legal intervention by every two years, the family funds a holiday for over 50 members. “This is maybe an insurance policy or risk management piece where we're trying to avoid going to the lawyers and we're trying to put in place some structures that will enable us to, I guess, better succeed when we have to have those difficult conversations.”
Andrew, a second-generation in his family business, shared his father’s entrepreneurial initiatives, which laid the foundation for Hakka Foods. He explained how his father began making his own deliveries and was nicknamed “the Hakka Man,” which later became the company name in 1981. Andrew candidly recalled joining the business in 2004, “Dad took me on the shoulder and said, ‘Hey, look, do you want to join the family business?’… So we'd sit down at the dinner table all the time, talk about the business, how it is going, and try this new product.” He also emphasised their focus on governance, “We’re really working hard on the governance piece and we understand it’s really important from a business perspective as well as a family perspective. We’re transitioning to the next phase and we’ve actually got an external CEO.” Andrew spoke passionately about education and his brother and his need to learn more in order to become good directors, "I recommend to attend the [FBA] governance and directorship course."
Robert Powell added an important insight about terminology, suggesting that the word 'governance' might be replaced with 'stewardship'. The conversation also explored the concept of oversight. “Oversight keeps coming up, and it’s primarily the role of directors on a board,” Brad explained. “A company is a separate legal entity, but it doesn’t have the capacity to make its own decisions. It can buy property, it can enter into contracts, it can be sued, but it can’t make decisions. It needs a board of directors to govern it, and the board holds that responsibility.”
Session Three brought together Josh Kerfoot from Kerfoot Electrical, Celina Pereira from Sunshine Meats, and Bruce Cousins from Pilecom, facilitated by Angus Kennard, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing next-generation leaders. The panel explored themes of succession, identity, and balancing legacy with innovation.
Josh Kerfoot shared insights from his journey as the third-generation leader of Kerfoot Electrical, a commercial electrical contracting business based in Seven Hills, founded in 1972 by his grandparents. Josh described his early days working on-site, somewhat removed from the family leadership. He wanted to earn the respect of the team on his own terms and avoid the stigma often associated with being the boss’s son. He quickly realised that pushing too hard and moving too fast was counterproductive, and that listening and patience were essential. This approach enabled him to gain the trust of long-standing staff while gradually assuming broader leadership responsibilities.
Celina Pereira shared her experience leading Sunshine Meats, based in Milperra, South West Sydney. The company produces chef-quality products, including smoked meats and other award-winning small goods, which are distributed nationwide. Employing around 20 staff, the business maintains a strong family culture and a grounding in traditional family values. Founded by her father, Jose Pereira, who entered the butchery trade with little prior experience, Celina recalled her early exposure to the business: “I spent my childhood in the back of a butcher shop, incorrectly labelling products and packing orders.” She described the balancing act of leading a family business while honouring her father’s vision, “My dad doesn’t want me to struggle... he wants me to have a prosperous life. He started the business because he didn’t have access to education. For him, it was about survival and creating opportunities, and that’s a big part of his identity.” Celina emphasised the importance of patience, learning to navigate the father–daughter dynamic, and blending tradition with innovation. She also emphasised the importance of Forum Groups and external advisors in offering support and perspective to next-generation leaders.
Bruce Cousins shared his experience leading Pilecom, originally founded by his father in South Africa. The company has been operating in Australia for 12 years and has expanded to three offices - Perth, Sydney, and the Central Coast. Bruce explained how the family structured the business to balance autonomy with alignment, “We each wanted the autonomy to express ourselves freely, so we have a group of companies. Each family member manages their own entity, but we share a common goal and see it as one brand, Pilecom. We talk through every contract or major decision together.” He described the company’s growth in renewable energy and emphasised the family approach to succession and involvement, “If you want to join, you’re welcome to, but there’s no pressure. Everyone has the freedom to take part in the business in a way that works for them.”
The final keynote for the day was Laura Goldberg from Hurricane’s Grill. Her session began with her taking us back to her time in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a small luggage store called Walman’s Luggage, which her parents purchased in the early 1970s. “Some of my earliest memories are going into the store with my dad on a Saturday morning and later working through the school holidays.”
Laura later decided to move to Australia in 2002 and join her now-husband, Craig, who had opened a restaurant with his then-business partner. The restaurant was inspired by a passion for flame-grilled meats and the family’s now-famous basting sauce. Laura officially joined the business in 2012 as Marketing Director. "Consistency keeps customers loyal. Innovation keeps them coming back,” she said, describing how the company continually adapts menu items, implements systems, and embraces AI technology to enhance customer experience and support staff.
She shared her experiences navigating major crises, from COVID’s impact on the hospitality sector to the Circular Quay fire, as well as ventures that didn’t go as planned. Through these challenges, she highlighted two key lessons: “True leadership shines in adversity, the courage to rebuild defines resilience.” and “Business isn’t about avoiding failures, it’s about having the courage to rebuild, again and again.”
Her stories showed that setbacks can become powerful opportunities for growth and reinvention. Due to the fire, she launched Women in Cafés and Restaurants, transforming a challenge into a platform for change,“I wanted to create a space to highlight incredible women in hospitality, provide leadership pathways, and offer resources to ensure women are seen, supported, and celebrated. What started as a small project has grown into something truly special.”
Family Business Excellence Awards Winners – New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory
GPSM was awarded the Founder's Family Business Award for New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory
The Family Business Excellence Awards are presented to an outstanding family business demonstrating excellence and achievement in the core business principles of Governance, Entrepreneurship and Stewardship, and exhibits how family ownership and involvement has helped the business to achieve a competitive advantage.
GPSM has been operating since 2002 and has built a strong reputation in their industry by consistently delivering quality and innovation with professionalism and integrity. At the heart of their approach is CommuniCater, a proprietary platform that is widely regarded by clients as a benchmark for transparency and control in supply chain management.
GPSM's commitment to their clients is undeniable. They have excellent customer service, with relationships spanning decades, and are supported by their technology-driven approach and personalised service. GPSM is forward-thinking, building the business not just for themselves but for future generations.
Tarsha Harriott, accepted the award, saying "GPSM began 22 years ago with a simple but powerful belief that freight forwarding and logistics is not just about moving goods, but about building trust and relationships that last. My mum, along with her business partner, Bill, founded this business on hard work, integrity, and genuine care for our customers and our people."
"To our incredible team... this award belongs to you. You're the reason that GPSM continues to grow, innovate and stay true to who we are."
"To Family Business Association.... You remind us that success isn't only measured by profit, but by the legacy we build, the people we grow, and the communities that we serve. And finally, to Mum and Bill ... thank you for your vision, your courage, and your unwavering belief in what GPSM could become. This award is a reflection of your journey and it is a privilege to carry that legacy forward. Thank you."
Thank you to all our speakers, facilitators, and attendees for making the day such a success, and to our partners for their generous support:
Thank you to our Partners:
National Gold Partners: EWM Group, KPMG, Gallagher
National Banking Partner: ANZ
National Technology Partner: Pronto Software
National Workplace Compliance Partner: Citation Group
Printing Sponsor: Quick Mail
Table Sponsor: Family Boards
Event Supporter: Taylors Wines
Photo Credit: Sophie B.
