Tom Laing

Current

Principal at Tom Laing and Associates

Past

Program Manager - Education and Training at Carers SA
Owner at Betta 4 U Ltd
Lecturer at The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Mentor at Business Mentors New Zealand
Mentor at MentorsbyNet
Manager at East Coast Business Development Board
Industrial Development Officer at Whyalla Industrial Development Executive
Manager at Ogilvy and Mather

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5 more...

Education

Flinders University
Nuriootpa High School

Recommended

19 people have recommended Tom

Connections

145 connections

Industry

Management Consulting

Tom Laing’s Summary

After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at Flinders University in South Australia, Tom started as a Research Officer in community services in local government. A major project was a community needs study. This was followed by period with Ogilvy and Mather Advertising in their Futures Division - a social research unit examining the broad-social, technological, economic and political -trends impacting on consumers and clients' advertising strategies.

Tom is enamoured with small business and has followed a familiar pattern in entrepreneurship to many before him. His father was self-employed. He was raised in a community where "Work Hard and You Shall Achieve it" was the mantra of his community. Not surprisingly he formed his own consultancy Business Research and Development and consulted to government departments, local development agencies and private enterprise.

Small business i.e. micro enterprise and its development became his focus in the employment, industrial and regional economic development contexts he worked in following Ogilvy and Mather.

When he moved to NZ in 1995, he established his own consultancy business, Tom Laing and Associates, and continued to assist small enterprises with marketing and growth strategies. He became the Manager of the East Coast Business Development Board and after that maintained a lengthy involvement in the delivery of the BIZ programme before becoming a lecturer in small business management at the Open Polytechnic in 2002. He moved back to Adelaide in 2008.

Involvement with his community is important to Mr. Laing. He is currently a member of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand. He has been involved in his church, credit unions, unions, Rotary, voluntary mentoring and a number of professional organisations

Tom Laing’s Specialties:

His extensive experience in facilitating regional economic development which involved researching, planning, coordinating, training and education provides a unique basis for mentoring, coaching and advising to small business from start-ups to mature enterprises.

Tom strongly believes that entrepreneurialism that demonstrates social enterprise skills supported by networks is the backbone of our economy is and the foundation for effective action and ultimately, success in business.

Tom Laing’s Experience

Principal

Tom Laing and Associates

(Management Consulting industry)

September 2008 — Present (1 year 3 months)

Small business support specialist - mentoring, coaching, advising and consulting
Program Manager - Education and Training

Carers SA

(Individual & Family Services industry)

March 2009 — July 2009 (5 months)

Developing and delivering state-wide community support services for family carers that are underpinned by community development and education and training principles and contribute to the strategic objectives of Carers SA.
Owner

Betta 4 U Ltd

(Management Consulting industry)

2005 — September 2008 (3 years )

Specialising in micro and small business support. Special interests in capabilities and innovation.
Lecturer

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

(Higher Education industry)

May 2002 — September 2008 (6 years 5 months)

Lecturer specialising in Small Business Management. A member of a small team in the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development teaching and developing open, certificate and Diploma courses in various aspects of business.
Mentor

Business Mentors New Zealand

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

January 2005 — July 2008 (3 years 7 months)

Volunteer Mentor to business people in the areas of Strategic Business Planning, Marketing and Finance
Mentor

MentorsbyNet

(Management Consulting industry)

January 2006 — June 2008 (2 years 6 months)

Volunteer Mentor for Small Business people world wide.
Manager

East Coast Business Development Board

(Government Agency; 1-10 employees; Government Relations industry)

October 1996 — October 1998 (2 years 1 month)

Position involved administration and marketing of Business Development Grants to micro and small businesses in the East Coast of New Zealand.
Industrial Development Officer

Whyalla Industrial Development Executive

(Higher Education industry)

1989 — 1991 (2 years )
Manager

Ogilvy and Mather

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)

September 1983 — November 1986 (3 years 3 months)

I was manager for The Futures Division in Adelaide. We researched and studied the macro changes occuring in the world (Social, Technological, Economic, Enviromental, Political). A great deal of our work was based on the Austraian Values Study. We liaised with the Account Managers to bring that knowledge to their clients and their communication strategies. As a result, developing more effective advertising and results for campaigns.

Tom Laing’s Education

Flinders University

Bachelor of Arts , Urban Sociology , 1971 — 1979

Activities and Societies:

Student Government
Nuriootpa High School

1963 — 1970

Rotary Exchange student from Sth Australia to James M Coughlin High Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania and West Wyoming High, Kingston Pennsylvania in 1968

Activities and Societies:

Prefect
House Leader - Angas
President Interact Club
Editor - Torque News

Additional Information

Tom Laing’s Interests:

Community enterprise, anthroposophy, credit unions, entrepreneurship, enterprise skills development

Tom Laing’s Groups:

Business Mentors New Zealand, MentorsbyNet.org.uk, Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand, Institute of Accredited Business Consultants, Past President Rotary Club of Whyalla, parent at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School, member of ASTE, supporter of Local Development Practitioners Association