If you haven't already booked your ticket for our half day L!VE conference then get a move on people. We have world class speakers sharing insights and inspiration you can use to improve your business and keep you ahead of the curve on Friday 17 November.
The theme for this year's conference is Bold Strategies to Future Proof Your Business. The venue is the fabulous Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast - so why not combine a Friday morning of learning and networking with a weekend away? The event will kick off at 9.45am and wrap up at 2pm so that everyone who is attending the Bodyshop Awards can rest up and dress up.
Our keynote speaker is David Shepherd who we are flying out especially for this event. He will be examining whether there is a magic formula for success in our industry.
Shepard who was an MSO bodyshop owner and later in charge of Solera (Audatex) in the UK and South Africa, is now a high level industry consultant. He will look at some organisations that successfully made big changes or executed bold strategies, along with some who were not so successful to get behind the myth and hype. He's unpack how blind ambition, drive, purpose, culture, values, both good and bad luck impacted some of these organisations' plans, and reflect on bold strategies we should consider to ensure the future of our collision industry.
David Pickett Head of Technical & Warranty at Volvo Cars will also be taking to the stage.
Volvo's car sales have been on a steep growth curve. To service customers and ensure incoming EV models are expertly repaired the Swedish company has revived its approved network. Volvo is global leader in vehicle safety, Pickett will reveal the latest innovations.
Also flying over from the UK are Dean Lander and Karen Jakes from Thatcham Research Centre.
The UK is exposed to new vehicle technologies way before they reach Australia and Thatcham Research Centre has to develop the repair methods. Dean Lander and Karen Jakes talk about why new vehicle technology is nothing to stress about and what strategies we need to employ to keep abreast of and embrace change.
EV repairs are one of the hottest industry topics just now - but what's the lens from an insurer perspective? Brett Wallace from Suncorp, George Manos from IAG and Dean Lander from Thatcham Research will form a panel moderated by Rob Bartlett (previously at Suncorp) from Supply Side. He'll finding out what challenges EVs present to the insurer in terms upskilling their assessor teams, increased repair costs and higher total loss outcomes.
After lunch we'll be having an update on the Australian Collision Industry Alliance. This not for profit is still in its infancy but is gaining momentum and has a great deal of support from the industry.
Setting this alliance up was a bold strategy - Bartlett will explain the concept, discuss progress and set out the ACIA's vision for the future.
We will finish up with a panel of collision repair shop owners who have employed bold strategies in their business.
Business Coach Ben Fewtrell will chat to three collision repair shop owners about bold strategies they have employed. Aaron Scagliotta created the first purpose -built EV repair shop in Australia, Iain Kippen was one of the first to adopt a four-day week and Pagiamtzis was the first Fix Auto franchisee in Australia.