Young entrepreneur secures lunch date with Richard Branson

Entrepreneur Mick Spencer has secured a spot alongside Sir Richard Branson at The University of Queensland’s Business School lunch event.

Up to 1,500 people will attend NEXT? The Future of Business Q&A, including Government representatives, students from Brisbane’s key high schools and UQ Business School alumni.

Five of the most thought-provoking questions relating to the future of business have been chosen for panel discussion, out of many entries from the business community.

The panellists joining Mr Spencer are Chris Cameron, Co-owner of Rockcote Enterprises Pty Ltd, futurist Tim Longhurst and Professor Andrew Griffiths, Dean of UQ Business School.

Mr Spencer, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from Canberra, was chosen from a competition run for professionals, business owners and students on LinkedIn, the first Australian initiative of its type.

He is the founder, sole director and owner of OnTheGo, which sells custom-branded sports gear to businesses and teams around Australia.

His business is rapidly expanding into Asia and the United States and he has been named as an Anthill Magazine Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur several times.

“I started my business in my parents’ shed three years ago with $150 in my back pocket,’ he said.
“Since then it has grown by 300% and we have just secured a significant number of national clients.

“Our growth means that I am now able to work on establishing the charitable foundation I had always planned to associate with this business.

“ I received an email about the UQ Business School event – NEXT? The Future of Business Q&A and I knew straight away that I had to be a part of this event.

“I always knew I’d meet Sir Richard Branson, it’s been a longstanding gut feeling but I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be on stage with him in front of 1,500 people at a professional event answering questions about the future of business.”

Tickets are available from www.nextquestion.com.au

Media: Donna Kramer, 0422 589 902 or dk@publicitydepot.com.au. UQ Business Scool, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Tanya Hagedorn 07 3346 3052 or t.hagedorn@business.uq.edu.au.

About UQ Business School

The University of Queensland Business School is independently ranked as one of the top business schools in Australia and amongst the leading institutions worldwide. Based in Brisbane, it brings together over 130 subject experts with over 7,500 students and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs and executive education across the range of business disciplines.

UQ Business School is renowned internationally for the quality of its research and also provides contract research and consultancy services to organisations throughout the world. The teaching – research – consultancy loop is central to its success, ensuring that the School maintains its position at the forefront of academic knowledge while staying closely attuned to modern business requirements. For further information see www.business.uq.edu.au