Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the Public Schools Club 21/3/2017   Attendee list attached.

1. Welcome by Chairman
2. Chairman’s Report – See attached Moved G Eaton, sec R Kelly,  Carried
3. Treasurer’s Report – See attached Moved R Clarke sec A Skinner.  Carried
4. All Committee positions declared vacant
5. Nigel Hall took the chair for the election of officers: Number of nominees equalled the number of positions:       all elected unopposed. Nigel Hall asked if there were any objections – none made.
6. Poll declared: The EIDA 2017-18 Committee members elected: John Brydon, Henrietta Child, David Green,           Ronald Grill, Donald Kay, Richard Kelly, Michael Liebelt, Clive Pay, Andrew Skinner, Tony Stevens
7. General Business:  Members Present were invited to take part in a discussion about opportunities and threats for the industry and association.  The notes below summaries the conversation.  No resolutions were made

7.1   Capability Database Project outlined:

– To provide data/information on all Adelaide electronics businesses and organisation – incl. non-members

– Searchable by capability, capacity, location etc. – to benefit all member and non-member entities

Discussion and Suggestions:

– Use LinkedIn to identify non-members for inclusion in database

– Promotion of Database via LinkedIn

– Use engineering/business students to collect data – a good way for them to make contacts

– Promote access to the information to all industries and potential beneficiaries, including governments

– This will be important information for startups and for new projects undertaken by existing companies

7.2   Industry Survey Project outlined:

– To collect reliable Adelaide electronics industry data on Revenue, Employment, Exports and R&D

– Last formal survey was 2002 and the only survey since was the small (70 firms) 2011 sample survey

– Data to be used for industry development and promotion to industry, community and governments

Discussion and Suggestions:

– ABS categories too wide and inappropriate to be useful

– Link ‘electronics’ to enabled areas that interest Government

– Use ‘Road Map’ or ‘Supply Chain Survey’ terminology and to better align with Govt terminology

7.3   Training Courses for EIDA members

– Provide access to University of Adelaide courses, on-campus or online, either award or non-award basis

Subjects: Law/Contract, Risk Management, Finance, Strategy/Growth, Marketing, Project Management

Discussion and Suggestions:

– Previous ISO9001 courses to be reviewed – Long term relationships noted as a consequential benefit

7.4   Open Discussion:

– Work experience component of degrees. Should we facilitate/organise?

– Noted that students do have trouble getting work experience positions

– Suggested EIDA mentoring program for students

– EIDA to access information on government grants etc. Networking events can help.

– Younger staff not interested in current EIDA events. Need to structure so as to be attractive to them.

– Must keep in mind that current/older members are potential employers.

– Members could bring a younger person to future events

– EIDA member support of projects for the next generation of employees and entrepreneurs e.g RoboRoos

– Need ‘cool’ technology to attract the younger set.

– They are users of Linked in etc.

– Evening Soiree events rather than breakfast

-Suggested sponsorship of conference – especially the barista can be very cost effective

Meeting closed at 9.30 a.m.

Minutes approved:

Signed:…………………  Chairman                Date: ………………………