• Pirate Life eyes Melbourne move
• South Australian start-up tech reaches Japan
• Limestone Coast tourism operator’s global tour callout
• Flinders University to offer joint PHD-MBA program

Pirate Life eyes Melbourne move

Craft brewery Pirate Life has announced it will launch its first Melbourne venue in mid-2023.

The fourth venue for the South Australian brewers will be located in a former mechanic garage in South Melbourne, near the market precinct.

Pirate Life, which was established in Adelaide in 2014 by Michael Cameron, Jack Cameron and Jared Proudfoot, will work with South Australian architect and design firm Studio Gram to design the space.

Cameron said that they picked Studio Gram because they had worked with them in the past.

“We’re good mates with Studio Gram, having worked together a bunch in the past. This is a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills in South Melbourne while adding another layer to the local hospo landscape,” he said.

Studio Gram’s renovation of a Rose Park Queen Anne villa was named SALIFE’s Absolute Best Home at the Absolute Best Awards on Thursday last week.

South Australian start-up tech reaches Japan

XFrame managing director Carsten Dethlefsen speaking at the Innovation Leader’s Summit. Photo: supplied

South Australian companies pitched their technologies to more than 10,000 Japanese businesses through in-person and online sessions at the Innovation Leader’s Summit (ILS) in Tokyo this month.

The Summit was held in-person in the Tokyo suburb of Toranomon Hills from November 29 to December 2 and continues virtually through the ILS Platform until December 16.

The participating companies include ESPY Ocean, Clarity Aquatic, eBottli, Deep Planet, Opentute/Course Box, Makers Empire, Nexlec and XFrame.

Carsten Dethlefsen, the managing director of Tonsley-based XFrame, was able to present their sustainable, recoverable and reusable timber framing system in person at the summit.

Before the summit, the companies participated in a market briefing session and mock pitches with the Department for Trade and Investment to develop their understanding of Japanese business etiquette, relationship building and trade approach.

Dethlefsen said the summit focused on matching start-up technologies with established companies seeking to expand their operations and he said it was extremely valuable to his business and his plans of expanding into Asia.

“Attending the ILS in person was of significant benefit,” he said.

“We were able to generate further businesses opportunities on-site that would otherwise not have come about online.”

– Chelsea Lancione

Limestone Coast tourism operator’s global tour callout

Penola-based tourism service, Coonawarra Experiences, is looking for other Limestone Coast operators to promote on the South Australian Tourism Commission’s International Roadshow of North America, the United Kingdom and Europe in 2023.

Coonawarra Experiences directors Simon and Kerry Meares want Limestone Coast and Western Victoria tourism operators who have products that are “internationally ready” or can be developed by late 2023/24.

“Our business relies on other businesses. We want to partner up with as many businesses as possible as it is a great opportunity to sell the region,” Simon Meares said.

“We’re keen to hear from operators with their big ideas and unique experiences that are not available at a ticket window, designed with the international visitor in mind.

“We are more than happy to assist with developing them if they are at the concept stage.”

Meares is looking for “interesting experiences including dining, farm-stay glamping” as well as experiences unique to family businesses and agriculture that are unavailable in capital cities.

He said the Limestone Coast is a conduit between Melbourne and Adelaide, but he wants to change the perception that the region is just a stopover by promoting exclusive experiences involving “the natural wonders of our caves, coastlines and produce”.

Tourism operators can contact Meares at: [email protected]

– Chelsea Lancione

Flinders University to offer joint PHD-MBA program

Flinders University has announced it will be offering a concurrent PhD and Master of Business Administration (MBA) program for research candidates from Semester 1, 2023.

The program will be available to students in faculties from across the university, including in life and medical sciences, computer science, engineering, the social sciences and the humanities.

MBA director Carla Dias Wadewitz said the MBA program, which is designed to integrate into doctorate studies, will give students an edge when taking their research expertise into the job market.

“Graduates will finish with an intense knowledge of their scientific field, plus important business, management, technology, Industry 4.0 and 5.0, sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurial skills, so they will be highly sought after for well-paid positions in a wide range of jobs,” Wadewitz said.

The combined degree is inspired by similar courses offered at overseas tertiary institutions in the United States, France, Israel and Singapore.

The program will take approximately four years and will allow students to complete work integrated placements and cross-disciplinary education.

-Charlie Gilchrist