The Anatomy of the Australian Entrepreneur
Understanding micro, small and medium business entrepreneurs in Australia
By Maria Fay Rola-Rubzen, 2011
Many people contributed to various aspects of this research and I would like to acknowledge and thank them for their contributions.
Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (DKCRC) researchers, especially Dr Fe Gabunada and Professor Murray McGregor, provided comments and suggestions in the design of the study and in the development of the questionnaire used in the survey. Matthew Nogrady, Rebecca Devitt and David Brudenall from Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) also provided feedback and suggestions in the questionnaire design. I gratefully acknowledge their useful comments and suggestions.
Delgermaa Altangerel, Paulo Correia and Carl Morgan provided research assistance, including researching and compiling business databases, data gathering and data entry. I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication.
Savant Surveys and Strategies assisted in administering the online survey. I would like to thank Jeanette McQueen and Shane Langford for their efficient and professional assistance.
Many organisations, networks and individuals, including the Regional Development Boards, Chambers of Commerce, the DKCRC, Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA), Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), Small Business Networks, Small Business Development Corporations (SBDCs), Enterprise Connect, Shire CEOs and Economic Development Officers, DKCRC researchers, Jenny Cleary, Angelique Fransen, Joy Taylor and Mike Crowe, assisted in distributing and disseminating the survey invitation. I would like to acknowledge their support and generosity in passing on the survey invitation to their networks, which has expanded the reach of the survey.
The report was reviewed by Mark Ashley and Dr Craig James (Ninti One Ltd). I would like to thank them both for their useful comments and insights. I would also like to thank Ruth Davies and Catherine Maughan for editing the report and for the design and layout of the report.
I would like to thank Indigenous Business Australia, Curtin University and the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre for the funding and contributions to this research. Special thanks go to Professor Tony Travaglione for his support in the completion of this report.
Most importantly, I am very grateful to the MSME owners, operators and managers who shared their time and knowledge to this research so that we may better understand the making of an Australian entrepreneur.