Owner Insights

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks with Ben Lumbers about the remarkable story of Gliderol - a South Australian manufacturing success founded by his father in the 1970s. The company pioneered roller garage doors and was known for a culture that was anything but ordinary, including long lunches and footy trips on the infamous “Gliderol Bus”. Gliderol grew into a truly global operation. But this is not just a growth story.Ben takes us inside the decision to sell the family business in 2011, and the point at which he realised the future he had imagined wasn’t going to play out as expected. Four years later, Ben spots the business back on the market - this time making losses for the first time in its history. What follows is a tense negotiation, a bold decision to buy it back, and a rapid turnaround driven by reuniting key people, restoring culture, and refocusing on the customer, before eventually selling the business again a few years later.This episode of Owner Insights is a reminder that nobody understands a business quite like the people who built it. When decisions drift too far from the customer and the culture, even strong businesses can lose their way, as this story shows.

Imagine combining the systems and efficiency of Amazon with the design flair of IKEA - and applying it all to kitchens. That’s the business Steven Bosley has built with his two sons at Amorini Australia. In this episode of Owner Insights, Steven modestly describes the company he founded as “purveyors of chipboard,” despite employing more than 65 people and generating around $30 million in turnover. At its core, Amorini is a logistics business, managing hundreds of moving parts behind every kitchen, with systems and processes doing the heavy lifting. Fuelled by more than 100 overseas trips, Steven has built the business around his love of travel and a drive to innovate. Growth, he says, is an outcome - not the objective. The conversation also explores Amorini’s distinctive approach to recruitment, relying entirely on word of mouth and creating opportunities for people who might not otherwise get them, alongside the disciplined systems that support growth without complexity. A thoughtful discussion on building a scalable business without losing the joy that started it all.

This episode of Owner Insights features Danny Di Iorio from Aquamate - a business whose journey has been far from linear. A believer in the ‘seven-year itch’ and regularly shaking things up, Danny had a strong first chapter with Aquamate, helped by a large-scale drought in Australia that boosted demand for their steel water tanks. But when the drought broke and the GFC hit, turnover declined for almost a decade. That downturn led Danny to rethink the business, but a move into the Oil and Gas industry didn’t go well. Many lessons were learnt, and a refocus on being the best in the world at something got the business back on track. The catalyst came from an unlikely source - a Texan goat farmer, prompting Aquamate to develop a flat-pack design that opened the US market. Today, the US accounts for 30% of Aquamate’s $12 million revenue and is expected to overtake the Australian side, all still manufactured in Adelaide. Aquamate is now exploring a Big Science project in South America that could require up to 4,000 tanks - and with global demand rising, Danny is gearing up for the most ambitious chapter in the company’s history.

At 17, Matt MacMahon left school to chase a professional tennis career across Europe. Those years on the tennis circuit gave him the resilience and mental toughness that would later define his approach to business.After returning home due to his father’s terminal illness, Matt took over the family’s small road maintenance company, PMP, and together with his business partner grew it from four staff to a $35 million enterprise before selling to Fulton Hogan.Today, he’s a Non-Executive Director at Fulton Hogan and a Director of Roomia Self Storage, a growing Australian brand with 13 sites and more in development.In this episode, Matt reflects on the lessons that shaped his journey - from taking bold financial risks to continually pushing himself - and why he believes being unafraid to lose is the key to building something great.

Imagine being 30 years old, leaving a secure career in investment banking, and with no job trying to raise $40 million to build a business from the ground up.Fast forward a few years, now with a young family and in the middle of the GFC, feeling like you’re on a treadmill you can’t get off, with your house and everything else on the line.That was the reality for Grant Wilckens in the early days of building what would become the G’day Group. Starting in 2004 with a blank sheet of paper and a handful of caravan parks in WA and Victoria, Grant set out to commercialise a traditional cottage industry, transforming Australian caravan parks into holiday parks and resorts.Today, the group employs 2,600 people and includes 90 holiday parks and resorts under Discovery Parks, 330 licensed parks in the G’day Parks network, and tech platforms like WikiCamps and Bookeasy. In this episode, Grant shares how he rebuilt from those challenging early years, shifted the focus from simply owning assets to delivering exceptional customer experiences, and why digital innovation is shaping the next chapter.

In this episode of Owner Insights, we sit down with Meg Paech – founder of Yellow Door Care – whose quiet determination has built one of Adelaide’s most trusted in-home care providers.Ten years ago, after 25 years as a nurse, Meg saw a gap in the market when her father-in-law needed care. What began as a deeply personal mission has grown into a business employing over 150 casual staff and delivering 3,000 hours of care every week to clients under the NDIS and Aged Care systems.Meg is an incredibly humble entrepreneur – someone who dislikes selling, found early business meetings with bankers intimidating, but always knew she wanted her own business.She shares how she’s grown Yellow Door while staying true to her values – keeping the business family-owned, resisting multiple offers to sell, and maintaining a personal touch in an increasingly complex industry. With all three of her kids working in the business and her twin sister Chris as Operations Manager, Yellow Door is a true family success story.This is a refreshing conversation about doing business your own way – and staying grounded while making a big impact.

This episode features one of the most driven person you’ll ever meet.Trudy MacDonald is a multi-time CEO, award-winning global speaker, former elite ballet performer, and founder of TalentCode HR - an HR consulting firm working across Australia with no offices and a fully remote team. She’s built and sold numerous businesses, and at just 25, moved to the US in search of opportunity, eventually leading a team of 150. Returning to Australia, she spent three years commuting six hours a day (including a 4:30am train ride and yoga before work), all while raising young children.These days, her 5:30am starts are on the water, training up to 12 times a week as part of the NSW Masters Rowing Team, which she recently represented at the Australian Championships. In this episode, Trudy shares powerful insights, including:Why she’s so driven - and lessons for othersHow to lead a remote team that performsWhy you should tear up job descriptionsThe three steps to building a high-performance cultureDon’t miss this fast-paced and inspiring conversation with someone who truly knows what it takes to build a great business - and a great life.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard sits down with Andrew Downs, founder of SAGE Group, to unpack one of Australia’s most compelling business success stories. What began in a back shed with humble aspirations became an international company with 750 employees and $230 million in turnover - and has now been acquired by a US-based Nasdaq-listed company for $150 million, with the potential for even more based on performance.  Recorded before the sale, Andrew shares how two pivotal events - being sued by his local council, nearly ending the business before it began, and the GFC, which put everything on the line - shaped his thinking around risk, growth, and leadership. From mowing lawns as a teen to becoming a relentless growth-focused entrepreneur, his journey is one of resilience, customer-first thinking, and strategic reinvention. Andrew also shares hard-earned lessons on debt, the value of mentors, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Most notably, he reflects on letting go of control to allow SAGE to thrive beyond him and ultimately position it for a major international sale.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks to Matthew McArthur, Executive Director of McArthur – one of Australia’s most respected recruitment and temporary staffing firms. What began in 1969 as a homegrown business founded by Matthew’s father, John, has grown into a national enterprise with six offices, over 200 internal staff, and more than 6,500 people employed each year. This is a story about legacy, resilience, and quietly building a business that lasts. Matthew reflects on the early days of literally building the company from the ground up – assembling partition walls for interview rooms with his siblings – and on the incredible example set by his father, who only stepped down as Chairman at the age of 95. With a focus on sustainability and long-term relationships, McArthur was built to withstand change and challenge, including the global pandemic, with a cautious, steady approach that’s kept it recession resilient. From navigating the challenges of working in a family business to the complexities of creating a truly national culture, Matthew shares valuable insights into leadership, succession, and staying relevant across decades. This episode is a masterclass in building not just a business – but a business that lasts.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks to Stephen Evans, founder of Footsteps Dance Company, a global business teaching dance and drama in schools. From a competitive ballroom dancer with an Economics degree to running a thriving international enterprise, Stephen’s story is one of passion, timing, and entrepreneurial energy. Footsteps began over 30 years ago, rapidly expanding to work with 50 schools in South Australia within its first year. Today, it operates in every Australian state, New Zealand, and the United States, with a successful online program launched during COVID – an extremely innovative approach to going global without a physical presence. Stephen reflects on his challenges, from a failed franchise attempt and financial missteps to the importance of hiring the right people. Guided by his grandfather’s simple mantra, “Spend half and save half,” he built a debt-free business that thrives on seizing opportunities and learning from setbacks.This episode is packed with insights on turning a passion into a global success story.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks with Angus Sobels, a business owner whose journey embodies resilience, risk-taking, and purpose-driven wealth creation. From a childhood marked by his father’s sudden departure and his family’s loss of 100 years of generational wealth in the wine industry, Angus shares how these experiences shaped his philosophy on financial security and life’s priorities.Angus reveals how he balances financial success with personal fulfilment, turning profits from a commercial landscaping business into building two further businesses, including a thriving property investment business, and stepping back from active work by 40. When tragedy struck in 2015, he leaned on the values instilled by his mother and the security his businesses provided. This episode is packed with lessons on embracing uncertainty, taking risks, and backing the right people - proving that life’s true riches go far beyond money.

Welcome to episode 2 of Owner Insights, where James Orchard sits down with a true South Australian icon - Scott Salisbury. Known for his remarkable journey from a young carpenter and semi-professional footballer to creating South Australia’s most awarded custom home builder, Scott’s story is one of resilience, hard work, and staying true to a core principle his father instilled in him at 17: “just do it right the first time.”In this episode, Scott shares the pivotal moment he finally secured his spot with Glenelg Football Club after three years of being rejected - a turning point he describes as “the best thing that’s happened in his career.”  With over 200 games played, including representing South Australia and earning All Australian Selection, his story is a testament to the power of perseverance.As the head of Scott Salisbury Group, overseeing over 200 homes currently under construction, Scott also discusses how he’d fix Australia’s current housing crisis. Tune in for a conversation that blends personal insights and professional wisdom from one of South Australia’s best.

In the first episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard sits down with Jim Whiting, Executive Chairman of BADGE Constructions, to explore the story behind one of Australia’s largest privately owned building companies. Jim shares his unique experience of growing up with seven brothers and founding BADGE with them - taking the helm as Managing Director with a 50% ownership, with his brothers owning the other half.What began as a small team of just three employees in the 1980’s has grown into a powerhouse with over 2,500 people on site at any given time and a turnover of $450 million in 2024. But, as Jim emphasises, “It’s not the turnover but the leftover that matters.” His unwavering focus on profitability has been a cornerstone of BADGE’s success. Whether you’re a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the stories behind successful businesses, Jim’s insights offer a rare glimpse into what it takes to thrive in the competitive world of commercial construction.