Point Made

“been there and done that”

Pointmade. works with family business owners, corporates and senior executives to identify, solve and improve their communication issues.

Pointmade. can assist with

Development of communications programs

based on core needs and opportunities tailored to each organisation’s issues, size and management structure.

Designing and delivering

one-on-one and small group workshops focusing on presentation content and delivery, and more structured training that improve written communication and face-to-face effectiveness.

Formal identification process

of strengths and weaknesses in management teams and individuals, and organisational communications and behaviours, that leads to a practical implementation plan and assistance for improvement.

Impactful key notes

David Smorgon’s key-notes span a large range of subject matter with a style of delivery that informs, inspires and motivates. He is an extremely experienced and engaging public speaker that consistently receives rave reviews from audiences and as a result is sought after for a broad range of events.

“Personal experience and business acumen allows us to reach the heart of the issue”

Meet our team

David

Smorgon

OAM

David on Linkedin

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David Smorgon has come a long way from a gruelling three-year apprenticeship in the abattoirs and working early days as a lawyer. David is well known and respected in Australian business for growing a $1 billion family business and steering the battling AFL club, Western Bulldogs, to survival.

David joined the family business Smorgon Consolidated Industries at the age of 23. He advanced to be a senior executive at the large family business that spanned meat, paper, glass, plastics and steel industries.

When Smorgon Consolidated Industries was sold in 1995 in a staged divestment, it ended a 70-year family history and marked what would be a new chapter in David’s career.

The following year, David and his three sons established Generation Investments focusing on business opportunities, equity and property investments.

David was also offered the Presidency at Western Bulldogs in 1996, where he rapidly cemented his reputation as a force in the business and sporting worlds. David stepped down as President in December 2012, ending a successful 16-year reign

Testament to his wealth of experience in family business, David was named the inaugural chairman of Family Business Australia in 1997, a position he held for six years. David’s understanding of family business issues has enabled him to assist families to overcome their problems.

He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 for his service to the Western Bulldogs and general community contributions through education, social welfare and health.

David Smorgon epitomises corporate success as well as exceptional community leadership, embodying the values of family and work ethic, all of this, which he is now instilling in organisations and individuals via his work with Pointmade.

Well known and respected in Australian business

Dr Julian

Caples

Julian on Linkedin

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Julian Caples is an accomplished business leader with more than 20 years experience implementing and advising on change to management programs, risk management, safety, and environment strategies, corporate public affairs and communications initiatives.

He has worked across a range of public and private industry sectors, including fast moving consumer goods, resources, mining and minerals processing and manufacturing.

His specific experience includes non-executive board roles in Australia and the USA and head-of-function roles in BHP and National Foods covering corporate public affairs, risk management, stakeholder management and sustainability.

He currently consults in Communication, Reputation Management, Risk Management and Business Sustainability to a range of clients that include: major mining and oil & gas companies, power generators and distributors, engineering and contracting companies, food and beverage manufacturers, investment managers and financial services providers, government business enterprises, regulators, statutory authorities and a number of State Government departments.

He brings to Pointmade a personal understanding of the communication, leadership and management skills required to successfully deal with modern business challenges and is renowned for the provision of leading edge, professional, informed and impartial advice and assistance.

Practical insights combined with intellectual rigour

Strategic Alliances

Press Release – 26th May 2014

What our clients say

David and Julian quickly identified our key challenges and developed a strategic and easy to implement implementation framework for us to be able to address these effectively.

It has been the most transformational work I have experienced in my career and I would recommend Pointmade to any organisation wanting to improve their leadership skills, productivity or service delivery.

HAZELWOOD

“I just wanted to briefly thank you, once again, for your considerable contribution to the Forum – your advice in preparation, your counsel throughout proceedings and, of course, your outstanding insights at the Forum, and as our key note speaker. There is certainly a different “buzz” today as I walk throughout the campus. We have also witnessed initial conversations from leaders, post the Forum, commencing a more practical approach to engaging staff and colleagues”

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY

“Julian took the time to understand our people and our business, and this enabled him to truly partner with us in developing and executing an effective change management strategy”

DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

“David’s address to the Australia Day Breakfast in Queens Hall was regarded by everyone present as the most impressive in recent memory”

AUSTRALIAN UNITY

“The strategy and overview that you helped us prepare has become quite an important document for us. Not only has it helped shape our engagement going forward but it has provided a useful tool in helping a number of external parties, including global financiers, understand the intent and extent of our commitment to people and communities”

SENIOR OIL AND GAS COMPANY EXECUTIVE

“Your address received so many positive comments; people particularly commented on the warmth of your delivery. Your words have provided them with personal inspiration to function well in their daily lives. We also received many, very positive comments from those in the business community. They commented on the value of hearing about your early life, the challenges, the lessons learnt from your time in the family business and the commercial wisdom that you have developed in your working life. Your address provided people with a fascinating insight into areas that most would never have the opportunity to experience”

ROTARY CLUB OF CROYDON

“At a recent ANZ national roadshow for financial advisers, David achieved an average 90 percent rating from all attendees across Australia. In my experience I have not seen responses this high. He was described multiple times as authentic, thought provoking, a great storyteller and someone who speaks with passion and integrity. One attendee summed it up best – ‘passionate people (whatever the passion) are just great to be around”

ANZ

“Whilst I was obviously aware of David Smorgon’s skills as a businessman and entrepreneur, I had not previously heard him speak. David’s innovative approach saw him capture interest long before the night with a unique advertised title and theme. He managed to engage and captivate a 350 plus audience from beginning to end with his knowledge, humour and most importantly words of inspiration”

WESTPAC

“We have had the enormous pleasure of working with Mr Smorgon who has facilitated difficult and demanding sessions for our members, offering them powerful strategic direction and a strong sense of purpose. Our members are family offices and high net worth individuals including many of the most successful entrepreneurs and intergenerational families in Australia.

We have worked with professional facilitators in this area from all around the world for many years and we have found David Smorgon to be the best we have ever worked with. His deep understanding of this area and world-class facilitation skills have made a great impression amongst our members and helped them to address previously intractable and complex issues relating to family dynamics and their own financial affairs.

Mr Smorgon has a profound ability to communicate directly and meaningfully with great charm and a powerful message.”

RICHARD MILROY – PWN

“David was an absolute pleasure to deal with during our recent AMP incentive in Sydney. He managed to bring his personal experiences to the fore in a relevant and personal manner which appealed to our attendees”

AMP

“Described

multiple times as

authentic , thought-

provoking a great

storyteller”