Article by Lauren Higham courtesy of the West Australian.
Sunrise host champions innovation & self-confidence to take calculated risks.
Sunrise host and business expert David “Kochie” Koch says WA “punches above its weight” when it comes to innovation.
WA’s resources sector will be centre stage this week as the country’s top leaders across mining, resources, defence and politics take part in the Resources Technology Showcase conference on Tuesday. Kochie will be kicking off the conference by moderating a heavyweight panel comprising Premier Mark McGowan, Hancock Prospecting chief executive of group operations Gerhard Veldsman, BHP Nickel West asset president Jessica Farrell, and Rio Tinto chief executive of iron ore Simon Trott.
The leaders will be discussing the future of the resources workforce.
“I’m looking forward to delving into how they’re re-engineering their businesses for this global environment,” Koch said.
“Not just workforce, but how you match workforce with technology. When you re-engineer a business — how do you keep culture? How you adopt change and make change exciting and an opportunity, rather than a threat?”
Koch will have his business and finance hat on as host, touching on successful corporate cultures coming from organisations that think outside the square and embrace change.
He said his panel would cover workforce issues, solutions that each of the individual companies are developing, and support needed from the Government.
“I see it as a forum and a panel that’s all about trying to think outside the square, to help the industry get through these issues and remain globally competitive as they are now.”
A passionate promoter of innovation, Koch said that here in Australia, we “punch above our weight”.
He himself was an investor alongside two entrepreneurs who came up with a personal management platform called Pocketbook.
“It was a great innovation and its key market was under-35s, and it did a great job,” Koch said.
Starting out as an auditor — which he refers to as “a bit boring” — he reflects on how lucky he was having a hero and mentor in his father. “He always had a great saying,” Koch said. “Have enough confidence in yourself to give anything a go, and have enough confidence in yourself to go and do something else if it doesn’t work out.
“In other words don’t be scared of change and challenging yourself, but also don’t be held hostage in a job that you don’t like because you fear the consequences of change and doing something else. So, grab your opportunity, but if it doesn’t work out — go and grab another.”
Kochie has always been a family man. Combining that with his love of innovation, he and his family started their own business, Pinstripe Media, around the same time he was hired to work on Sunrise.
“I leave Sunrise and go to my family business, and that’s all about speaking to people who are innovators and that’s why I love what I do,” he said.
“I also am the biggest shareholder in a business and investment streaming platform called Ausbiz, which is the only business channel that’s Australian and focuses on Australian markets and business views.”
When he isn’t working the morning shift or running Pinstripe Media, Koch enjoys travelling to Perth to visit his grandchildren. Asked his favourite things about our city, there was no hesitation.
“The lifestyle,” he said.
“What I’m really looking forward to is dropping my grandkids at school.”
He also mentioned his favourite hangouts include the cafe at Matilda Bay, City Beach and our iconic Cottesloe, adding that “a sneaky trip” to Margaret River never goes astray.
One thing he didn’t mention though was the western derby.
As chair of Port Adelaide Football Club, this weekend’s Port v Crows Showdown 53 is well within his sights, saying he’s “already starting to get nervous” with South Australian bragging rights on the line.
Tuesday’s conference is only one aspect of the Resources Technology Showcase, which includes a major exhibit at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from Sunday to Tuesday. WA’s biggest resources companies have stands showing off the latest technology and it’s free for children. Also, WesTrac has put on a free trucks exhibit at the same time in the CBD so children can get up close with big machinery.
