Kevin Inkster, Innovation Leadership and BOLA

In an oversupplied mass market, how do we find our niche??

How can we simultaneously be the innovator of product and the leader of people??

How do we inspire people to stay with us on the long journey of product development??

These were some of the questions put to Kevin Inkster, Executive Chairman of Arbortech Industries in Malaga.?

Kevin led a conversation for Band of Leaders Australia (BOLA) members and guests entitled Innovation Leadership, at the group’s monthly meeting on Friday 20 September at Casa Nostra in Osborne Park.

BOLA is a peer membership group for business owners and chief executives.? We seek to take our members beyond achievement to success—the essence of leadership.? Inviting Guest Conversations is a key activity in our group meeting.

In an in-depth conversation Kevin said that the Arbortech tools are comparatively expensive as they conduct their R&D and product development in Australia, Europe and the USA, concentrating on quality of manufacture and long tool life.? Their aim is not to compete on price. “We are established as the innovator in woodworking tools worldwide,” he said.?

There have been many imitations, but none has matched the Arbortech quality standards.? “And we have an obsessive focus on new ways of doing things,” he said, “everyone’s an innovator—and we have a great team of engineers turning ideas into reality.”

Kevin said that simultaneously being the innovator of product and the leader of people had been enabled by his personal and business partnership with Kristine.? “I’m a scatter brain, my wife is very organised—it’s a great partnership; she is also very good with people and the HR function,” he said.

“We focus on the now, not on promising a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—Kristine’s and my values of welfare for everyone, enjoying the work; the joy of innovation, doing what we want to do and believing in it.? “We look for the same values in our employees, “ he said.

Inspiring people to stay on the long journey of product development came through making the workplace enjoyable, giving people control over their work area and asking them for their ideas and personally providing a monthly staff lunch.? These factors lead to greater commitment—some of our employees have been with us for 30 years,” Kevin said.?

“We have also appointed a great CEO, Sven Blicks, who runs a tight ship and is also very open with staff—holding monthly meetings about the results and the progress of the company.”

As a co-founder, Kevin is credited as the inventor of the company’s various technologies—leading the R&D efforts and being instrumental in negotiating international technology licenses.

He and Kristine started the business nearly 40 years ago when they were living with their young family in Nannup.? He was a wood carving enthusiast and soon found that he had a knack for creating tools to enhance mastery.? Other enthusiasts became interested and the search began for technical input—alliances have been developed with Stanley Black & Decker and DeWalt.

In 1996, Kevin was honored with the Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award for his contributions to Australian science. In 2008, his Petrol Allsaw Technology earned him the Western Australian Inventor of the Year award—the runners up that year included Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht of Fusion Books, who went on to create Canva.

Wesfarmers is a long-time supporter, maintaining an 11% shareholding.? The Inksters’ son Ben, a mechanical engineer, is technical director.

Arbortech has offices in Europe and North America and customers in 100 countries—80% of their sales are offshore.?

?BOLA members will next meet on Friday 18 October, again at Casa Nostra in Osborne Park.? Our Guest Conversation is scheduled to be with Don Pyke, CEO of the West Coast Eagles.

Typically, our agenda includes such a Guest Conversation as Kevin’s, processing of strategic opportunities raised within the group and leadership development tools and activities.

Prospective members and referrers are invited on request as Paul Manning is continuing to build his BOLA Growth group.

In the meantime, each BOLA Prime member will have a monthly coaching session with their BOLA Chair, Jeff.?

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Next week:? Our Personal Triple Bottom Line

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About the Author

Jeff Bell?is Principal of executive consultancy ResultsWise in Perth, WA.?To boost your leadership, ask Jeff about Band of Leaders Australia (BOLA) [email protected] and his consulting, coaching and strategy facilitation, or his Advanced Leadership Course [email protected] Mobile 0439 988 662.