John Ballard - AGSM Advisory Council Member

AUTHOR: Editor   DATE: 03.11.04   ISSUE 3, 2004
Southcorp chief executive John Ballard shared his experience of turning around the fortunes of the leading winemaker during a recent AGSM luncheon for students, and says he was impressed with the students’ response.

Ballard says he has always had an interest in management education - this interest persuaded him to accept an invitation to join AGSM’s Advisory Council recently.

“I thought my experience in running a business in a difficult period, and what’s been involved in turning it around, would be relevant, and its always interesting to hear what issues the students have as top of mind when approaching these subjects”
Photo: John Ballard

“They were very pragmatic in their questions, which were much more about the business and strategy than about theories of management, style, or any of those softer issues,” said Ballard.

“I was surprised and pleased by the practical nature of their questions and while I had always expected them to be well researched, I was impressed by their pragmatic approach.”

Ballard said his aim was to provide an informal, and confidential, format where the students could ask questions about the day to day running of a major organisation.

“I thought my experience in running a business in a difficult period, and what’s been involved in turning it around, would be relevant, and its always interesting to hear what issues the students have as top of mind when approaching these subjects,” he said.

Ballard, an MBA graduate himself in the US, says he has always had an interest in management education, and it was this interest which persuaded him to accept an invitation to join the AGSM’s Advisory Council recently.

Southcorp, he said, employed several AGSM alumni and the school was a key recruiting ground for the company.

“I’ve had involvement from time to time with the AGSM, so when I was approached about the Advisory Council it was something I was delighted to do,” he said.

After hosting one luncheon at the AGSM, Ballard says he would be happy to do so again, but next time, he would like to do it at Southcorp’s premises.

“It might work even better if it was at our premises, and I’d be more than happy to do that” he said.

“That way it would be easier to show things, demonstrate brands, and if appropriate get other people in who can bring detail to a particular point, and illustrate issues to the students.”