Owner Insights

Libby Prell grew up in rural NSW and first became aware of the gap between the “haves and have-nots” while at boarding school - a realisation that has shaped much of her life since.After moving to Central Australia in the 1980s, she met her now husband Tony Smith. Together they built NT Link, a transportable modular building company based in Alice Springs and Darwin, with a fleet of more than 800 buildings. But the journey has been anything but straightforward. Their story has been shaped by setbacks that would have ended many businesses:Discovering unexpected liabilities in Tony’s first business purchase at just 24Losing everything after an over capitalised expansion in the late 1990sCyclone George destroying one of their major accommodation camps in 2007Yet Libby and Tony kept going - driven by a deep belief in their business and the people around them.In Episode 15, Libby reflects on the lessons those experiences taught them: The importance of resilienceThe central role people and relationships play in a businessWhat it takes to step back from leadershipIt’s a powerful conversation about setbacks, persistence, and how those who face the toughest challenges are often the most driven to help others.Visit NT LinkConnect with Libby PrellConnect with James Orchard Explore other Owner Insights episodesFollow Owner Insights for future conversations with business owners building great businesses.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks with Ben Lumbers about the remarkable story of Gliderol - a South Australian manufacturing success founded by his father in the 1970s. The company pioneered roller garage doors and was known for a culture that was anything but ordinary, including long lunches and footy trips on the infamous “Gliderol Bus”. Gliderol grew into a truly global operation. But this is not just a growth story.Ben takes us inside the decision to sell the family business in 2011, and the point at which he realised the future he had imagined wasn’t going to play out as expected. Four years later, Ben spots the business back on the market - this time making losses for the first time in its history. What follows is a tense negotiation, a bold decision to buy it back, and a rapid turnaround driven by reuniting key people, restoring culture, and refocusing on the customer, before eventually selling the business again a few years later.This episode of Owner Insights is a reminder that nobody understands a business quite like the people who built it. When decisions drift too far from the customer and the culture, even strong businesses can lose their way, as this story shows.

This episode of Owner Insights features Danny Di Iorio from Aquamate - a business whose journey has been far from linear. A believer in the ‘seven-year itch’ and regularly shaking things up, Danny had a strong first chapter with Aquamate, helped by a large-scale drought in Australia that boosted demand for their steel water tanks. But when the drought broke and the GFC hit, turnover declined for almost a decade. That downturn led Danny to rethink the business, but a move into the Oil and Gas industry didn’t go well. Many lessons were learnt, and a refocus on being the best in the world at something got the business back on track. The catalyst came from an unlikely source - a Texan goat farmer, prompting Aquamate to develop a flat-pack design that opened the US market. Today, the US accounts for 30% of Aquamate’s $12 million revenue and is expected to overtake the Australian side, all still manufactured in Adelaide. Aquamate is now exploring a Big Science project in South America that could require up to 4,000 tanks - and with global demand rising, Danny is gearing up for the most ambitious chapter in the company’s history.

Imagine being 30 years old, leaving a secure career in investment banking, and with no job trying to raise $40 million to build a business from the ground up.Fast forward a few years, now with a young family and in the middle of the GFC, feeling like you’re on a treadmill you can’t get off, with your house and everything else on the line.That was the reality for Grant Wilckens in the early days of building what would become the G’day Group. Starting in 2004 with a blank sheet of paper and a handful of caravan parks in WA and Victoria, Grant set out to commercialise a traditional cottage industry, transforming Australian caravan parks into holiday parks and resorts.Today, the group employs 2,600 people and includes 90 holiday parks and resorts under Discovery Parks, 330 licensed parks in the G’day Parks network, and tech platforms like WikiCamps and Bookeasy. In this episode, Grant shares how he rebuilt from those challenging early years, shifted the focus from simply owning assets to delivering exceptional customer experiences, and why digital innovation is shaping the next chapter.

This episode features one of the most driven person you’ll ever meet.Trudy MacDonald is a multi-time CEO, award-winning global speaker, former elite ballet performer, and founder of TalentCode HR - an HR consulting firm working across Australia with no offices and a fully remote team. She’s built and sold numerous businesses, and at just 25, moved to the US in search of opportunity, eventually leading a team of 150. Returning to Australia, she spent three years commuting six hours a day (including a 4:30am train ride and yoga before work), all while raising young children.These days, her 5:30am starts are on the water, training up to 12 times a week as part of the NSW Masters Rowing Team, which she recently represented at the Australian Championships. In this episode, Trudy shares powerful insights, including:Why she’s so driven - and lessons for othersHow to lead a remote team that performsWhy you should tear up job descriptionsThe three steps to building a high-performance cultureDon’t miss this fast-paced and inspiring conversation with someone who truly knows what it takes to build a great business - and a great life.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks to Matthew McArthur, Executive Director of McArthur – one of Australia’s most respected recruitment and temporary staffing firms. What began in 1969 as a homegrown business founded by Matthew’s father, John, has grown into a national enterprise with six offices, over 200 internal staff, and more than 6,500 people employed each year. This is a story about legacy, resilience, and quietly building a business that lasts. Matthew reflects on the early days of literally building the company from the ground up – assembling partition walls for interview rooms with his siblings – and on the incredible example set by his father, who only stepped down as Chairman at the age of 95. With a focus on sustainability and long-term relationships, McArthur was built to withstand change and challenge, including the global pandemic, with a cautious, steady approach that’s kept it recession resilient. From navigating the challenges of working in a family business to the complexities of creating a truly national culture, Matthew shares valuable insights into leadership, succession, and staying relevant across decades. This episode is a masterclass in building not just a business – but a business that lasts.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks with Angus Sobels, a business owner whose journey embodies resilience, risk-taking, and purpose-driven wealth creation. From a childhood marked by his father’s sudden departure and his family’s loss of 100 years of generational wealth in the wine industry, Angus shares how these experiences shaped his philosophy on financial security and life’s priorities.Angus reveals how he balances financial success with personal fulfilment, turning profits from a commercial landscaping business into building two further businesses, including a thriving property investment business, and stepping back from active work by 40. When tragedy struck in 2015, he leaned on the values instilled by his mother and the security his businesses provided. This episode is packed with lessons on embracing uncertainty, taking risks, and backing the right people - proving that life’s true riches go far beyond money.

In the first episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard sits down with Jim Whiting, Executive Chairman of BADGE Constructions, to explore the story behind one of Australia’s largest privately owned building companies. Jim shares his unique experience of growing up with seven brothers and founding BADGE with them - taking the helm as Managing Director with a 50% ownership, with his brothers owning the other half.What began as a small team of just three employees in the 1980’s has grown into a powerhouse with over 2,500 people on site at any given time and a turnover of $450 million in 2024. But, as Jim emphasises, “It’s not the turnover but the leftover that matters.” His unwavering focus on profitability has been a cornerstone of BADGE’s success. Whether you’re a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the stories behind successful businesses, Jim’s insights offer a rare glimpse into what it takes to thrive in the competitive world of commercial construction.