Sir Bob Geldof is coming back to Australia in 2007

Sir Bob Geldof is returning in August 2007 and is available to speak in either Australia or New Zealand on the 11th,12th, 14th or 15th August. There maybe an opportunity for him to speak in South East Asia during this time as well.

"Sir Bob is one of the most engaging and powerful speakers I have ever seen" says Carson White, National Sales & Marketing Manager at ICMI. "I had the privilege of seeing him speak in July this year. He spoke for over 70 minutes and did not miss a beat!"

For more information, please contact you local ICMI consultant on 1800 334 625.

Liz Ellis leads victory again against New Zealand

The Australian Netball team has beaten the Silver Ferns again to win the Fisher & Paykel series. This is an important win for the team and none is more thrilled than Aussie Netball Captain Liz Ellis.  "We knew we had to control the ball to beat a team like them. They are such a dangerous competitor," she said.  This has been a triumphant victory for Liz coming off her best ever Commonwealth Bank Trophy season and also a knee reconstruction.

For more information on Liz Ellis and to book her as speaker for your next event click here

ICMI purchases BMA Celebrities & Speakers

ICMI is very excited to announce that it has purchased BMA Speakers & Celebrities. BMA was established by Bebe Mawer. Bebe had been involved in the speaking and entertainment industry for approximately 15 years, during which time she established an excellent reputation for her knowledge of the market and her ability to establish wonderful relationships with both her clients and presenters. Bebe and her husband decided to travel the world and we wish them all the best. ICMI are excited about the purchase with the rewards being seen immediately.

ICMI Maui Jim competition winners announced

We are happy to advise the following clients were winners in our Maui Jim sunglasses competition which was run in our August newsletter:

Ursula Hahn – ASA Inc
Fiona Hull – Zimmer Pty Ltd
Michelle Plane – St Laurence

All winners were notified on the 14th August 2006.

NSW Chief Forensic Investigator, Peter Baines opens orphanage in Thailand

Peter Baines, who has led both national and international teams following the Bali Bombings, the Waterfall Train Disaster and the Boxing Day Tsunami, returned to Thailand for the official opening of the Baan Tharn Namchai Orphanage. This is the orphanage that Peter’s charity he established, Hands Across the Water, has built. “I founded Hands Across the Water with my colleague and very dear friend Gill Williams from the UK Police because in October of 2005, some ten months on from the Tsunami, we came across 32 children ranging in age from 2 years to 15 years who were living in large tents. The scary thing was that nobody was doing anything significant towards changing where these kids would live and so we set about changing that.” Peter said.

For more information on Peter Baines and to book her as speaker for your next event click here

Gotcha Call CD: The Double Album

Fox FM Melbourne breakfast show host Matt Tilley has just released his second Gotcha CD, The Double Album containing 29 hilarious prank phone calls. The new album follows the first CD, Cereal Pest, which debuted at No.1 last year, reaching gold status in just a couple of weeks on the ARIA charts and raising over $180,000 for the Mercy Hospital.

For a free download of one of Matt’s prank calls check out digital downloads at www.sanity.com.au.

For more information on Matt Tilley and to book him as speaker for your next event click here

Australian Women’s Award Finalist Awarded as one of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professionals

Yvonne Adele (aka Ms Megabyte) has been recognised as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the most recent October 2006 award cycle.

The Microsoft MVP Award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who foster the free and objective exchange of knowledge by actively sharing their real world expertise with technology users. This news follows Yvonne’s recent progression to the Victorian finals in the Westpac Business Owners Category of the 2006 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.

'To make the final six from so many entries is a thrilling personal and professional achievement. The entry process was quite daunting but was a great way to look back on what I’ve created. And the Microsoft award fills me with pride. I’ve been an advocate of Microsoft products for 18 years and it’s wonderful to have my contribution officially recognised!'

For more information on Ms Megabyte and to book her as speaker for your next event click here

In short:

DivasInc (top Australian Opera act) Star, Antoinette Halloran has been seen as one of the four judges recently on ABC TV’s “Operatunity”. The show has been very popular and is opera’s equivalent to Australian Idol.

ICMI would like to pass on our congratulations to Winter Olympic Gold Medallist, Steve Bradbury and his wife Amanda, who recently got married in Brisbane.

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ICMI bring you two new exciting team building concepts:

A corporate sailing say that has real team development outcomes!

ICMI have teamed up with one of Australia’s most experienced yacht charter companies, Victoria Yacht Charters and one of the most experienced teambuilding organisations Mischief, Motivation, Attitude Pty Ltd (MMA) to create a unique team experience.

Unlike many corporate sailing days, this package includes a professional team building facilitator which ensures companies key outcomes are anintegral part of the day. Participants are encouraged at the beginning of the day help set the outcomes they are looking for.

A de-brief at the end of the day ensures key learning’s are re-enforced to the participants. This experience ensures not only participants have a memorable experience but also receive some great “take home” value.

Sailing And your Business:

What are some of the key areas that an ICMI Team Sailing Experience will cover?

• Adapting to changing environments
• Developing rapid communication
• Importance of a “Chain of command”
• Working effectively in a team to achieve a common goal
• Anticipating future scenarios
• Making decisions under pressure

Sailing has a very strong history of producing yacht skippers who are also successful in business.

Leadership Performance Coaching – Actions speak louder than words!

ICMI, in association with the team at Mischief, Motivation, Attitude Pty Ltd (MMA), are now offering Leadership Coaching to our corporate clients. It is now accepted business practice for Business Leaders to have a Mentor or Coach to help them continually develop their leadership capabilities, map progress against their personal development plans and help cope with those inevitable challenges that arise from time to time.

The focus of MMA’s Leadership Performance Coaching is that people follow what we do, rather than what we say.

Try this out for yourself. Ask someone to form a circle with their thumb and first finger and then touch the circle against their chin. However, when you demonstrate what you mean, touch your own circle against your cheek instead of your chin. In at least 8 out of 10 cases, your subject will touch their cheek and not their chin. People follow our actions, our demonstrated behaviors, rather than just our words.

MMA Director and ICMI keynote speaker Mark McKeon has pulled off something of a coup by securing the services of Ashleigh Smith to join the MMA team. Ashleigh’s services as a leadership coach are in high demand and he has an impressive background in HR Management and consulting as well as being an accredited Business Coach. Whilst he is accredited in a number of very reliable and effective coaching tools, he is a big advocate of the world renown Human Synergistics system and the great results he gets in improving performance as a result.

MMA’s Leadership Performance Coaching can be conducted one on one or in Leadership Teams. It encompasses establishing and/or matching to a set of agreed leadership capabilities. While the Leader/Coach relationship is individual, capabilities such as decision making, delegation, performance management, conflict resolution as well as holistic wellbeing issues are often on the agenda.

MMA is already providing Leadership Performance Coaching nationally to organizations including National Bank, Bridgestone Tyres and Nestle and would relish the opportunity to demonstrate how your leaders could make an even greater contribution to the culture and commercial success of your organization.

For more information please contact your local ICMI consultant on 1800 334 625

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ICMI QLD showcase planned for March 2007

Back by popular demand....... and some pre-planning, ICMI Speakers and Entertainers Queenslandpresent their 2007 Speakers and Entertainers Showcase on St Patrick's Day Eve, Friday 16th March 2007. Please free up this date in your diary from 7.00am to 12.30pm. The line-up will be announced soon and again will be brilliant, based on the feedback from the last one. The showcase will be again hosted by the wonderful Royal on the Park Hotel, Brisbane.

Keep an eye on your emails in the New Year when Gerry and Donna of ICMI Queensland will be releasing details and invitations to their 2007 Showcase.

Tell your friends and colleagues and even better, if someone you know would benefit from the Showcase too, email Gerry and Donna with their contact details so they can also get the invitation. gerry@icmi.com.au and donna@icmi.com.au

ICMI’s Corporate Development Luncheon – Friday 24th November 2006

ICMI’S next luncheon will feature an array of top corporate entertainers including comedian Marty Fields and comedy magic act Matt Hollywood. The lunch will be hosted by one of Australia’s very best corporate M.C.’s Michael Pope.

Details of the luncheon are:

Date:  Friday 24th November 2006
Venue: Palladium, Crown Casino, 8 Whiteman Street, Melbourne
Time: 12pm to 2.30pm
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are $75 plus GST

For more information about attending, please contact Barry Markoff Tel: 03 9529 3711

For more information about Corporate Development Luncheon membership, please click here

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Over the past five years here at ICMI we have seen a growing demand for the use of independent facilitators to run conferences or particular aspects of a conference program i.e. hypothetical, debate or panel discussion.

We decided to speak to Graeme Alford who has successfully facilitated conferences for some of Australia's top companies for his advice:

ICMI: Why should conference organisers consider using an independent facilitator?
Graeme: There are a number of reasons -

• When an internal facilitator is used, both the facilitator and the delegates often feel compelled to keep the discussion within the boundaries of what they perceive management want to hear. In simple terms, they feel that to explore the boundaries of the topic may result in management adopting a less than favourable view of them.
• Often the internal facilitator will be the manager or a senior executive and by them being the facilitator they are prevented from being in the discussion, as they are focused on keeping the forum moving.
• Also, if it is a senior executive, they sometimes fall in love with their own voice and opinion, thus dominating the discussion

ICMI: What should you look for in an independent facilitator?
Graeme: A good independent facilitator will -

• have the skills to draw out the discussion from the delegates and get the group to literally step outside their workplace paradigms i.e. think outside the 9 dots.
• will bring a wealth of experience from other industries which can add both validation of the discussion, by cross reference to other industries and provide practical examples of why it either will or won’t work
• have the ability to spread the discussion amongst the group and draw the normally reticent attendees into the discussion is an acquired skill. For a group discussion to work, it must be properly co-ordinated and done in a way that keeps the conference moving. Delegates must feel they want to be involved and that means not letting one or two delegates dominate the discussion. The Attendee interaction at a conference can often be the most critical sessions in giving the audience the take home value they crave, to justify the time spent at the conference. Therefore, it must be run expediently and professionally.
• understand when to let the discussion go a bit longer and when to cut it back. This is often critical in keeping to the conference time lines.

ICMI: How do you get the best out of an independent facilitator?
Graeme: The earlier you involve the facilitator in the planning of the conference the better the result. When I am engaged to facilitate at a conference I like to be involved in the early planning stages of the conference because I can work with the planning group.

The first thing I try to understand is, what are the conference outcomes the committee desire i.e. I ask them to tell me what they want the delegates to come away from the conference feeling; and also the take home value from the conference for the delegate. Once I understand exactly what they are wanting to achieve, I then work with planners to ensure those aims are met. This means getting the balance right from start to finish.
Because of the number of conferences I have spoken at you know what will and won’t work. You also bring to the planning stage a wealth of knowledge about what planners can do to give their conference that special feeling that ensures it is a stunning success.

The other critical aspect is to understand what the previous couple of conferences have achieved and what was the delegates' evaluation of those conferences. This way you can plan a conference that will exceed the delegates' expectations.

Recent Feedback on Graeme Alford as a facilitator:

"I found Graeme extremely flexible considering the fact the client was changing things right on the day. Graeme tailor made his sessions to tie in specifically with the client’s objectives, with very little notice. The delegates responded very well to Graeme’s sessions, in most cases rating him at the highest level on the feedback forms. I would definitely have no hesitation in using Graeme again, as he delivers!"

Jo-Anne Morgan MORGAN & MORGAN Conference & Incentive Management Pty Ltd

For more information on Graeme Alford click here

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Rachael Robertson has recently returned to Australia after 12 months in the Antarctic, where she successfully led the 58th Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Davis Station. She is only the second female to ever lead a team at the Station.

This leadership role is truly a very unique experience. Faced with 9 months of total isolation, with 18 people Rachael hardly knew, ensured this was no ordinary leadership role. Antarctica in winter is totally inaccessible which means once the last ship leaves at the end of February, no one can leave the base under any circumstance (not even if you are dying) until the ship returns in November.

In 2004 Rachael was seconded to the Australian Antarctic Division from her job as a senior manager (Chief Ranger) at Parks Victoria.  In this role Rachael is responsible for a team of over 30 staff but more importantly the safety of millions of visitors who come to the Port Phillip Bay region each year.

As Station Leader Rachael was responsible for all aspects of life on Station, from the safety and welfare of over 80 expeditioners to the delivery of the Australian Government’s $10m science program. In any circumstance, this would be a very tough roll, however for a female in a very male dominated environment, this certainly added to Rachael’s challenge!

Before her departure, Rachael underwent three months training in Hobart before setting sail for the three week voyage through the Southern Ocean to Davis Station.

What they say about Rachael:

“I have never received so much positive feedback from a guest speaker as I have this time. People continue to tell me how impressed they were with Rachael's story. She provided a fantastic insight into difficulties around management in a remote site. Her messages and insights can be applied within our business. She shared a range of unusual and interesting stories which made her message even stronger.”
Crown Ltd

For more information on Rachael Robertson or to book her for your next event please click here:

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Matt Hollywood is widely acknowledged as one of Australia’s incredible Magic talents. His brilliant sense of humour has set a new standard for entertainment and guarantees unforgettable performances. Whether you’ve seen him live or simply heard about the show, one thing's for sure - his dazzling stage presence will hold you mystified.

Matt has gained an enviable reputation in the corporate world as a corporate entertainer - creating personalised magic shows to suit clients’ individual requirements. He has won multiple major National and International awards within the entertainment industry including the gold award for 'Australian Magic Champion'.

Matt has supported some of Australia’s biggest names including Eddie Maguire, Rove and Bert Newton just to name a few. Matt has made numerous television appearances including Fox’s Footy Channel, Today Tonight, Good Morning Australia, and has also starred as a contestant on Channel 10's reality TV series - The Hothouse.

Whether it's his famous grand illusion spectacular, customised business show, dynamic results driven trade show or his hilarious stand-up comedy magic after-dinner show, the results are the same… a delectable serving of side-splitting comedy magic you'll want to sample again and again!

What they say about Matt Hollywood:

“What a wonderful show you put on.  My colleagues and peers still talk about it today.  The show was hilarious... and the audience loved it.”
Optus

For more information on Matt Hollywood or to book him for your next event please click here

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