Articles > November 06
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November 06
Purchase Back Issue for $6 plus postage and packaging Click on the links below to read the the following articles: Her InspirationDining with a Dragon Her InsightNurturing Hope Her InformHave you Started your Nest Egg?Some important facts you need to know about your financial future. Her InspirationDining with a Dragon Annette Presley Annette Presley has been often in our living rooms, initially fronting the adverts for Slingshot, her company of 5 years, and now as one of the dynamic entrepreneurs that make up the Dragons Den TV programme featuring on TVOne every Thursday night. Annah Stretton talks personally with Annette Presley. So what makes a woman, estimated to be worth in excess of 40 million (Presley told me to keep guessing when estimating her net worth) want to subject themselves to this type of reality TV? For Presley, it was simply about encouraging and perhaps even financially supporting talented New Zealander entrepreneurs who had been successful in their quest to pitch to the Dragons (not always the most pleasant of experiences). Presley’s business success certainly makes her a suitable candidate for the programme given her background. In 1992 she founded Call Australia, which grew to a turnover of 100 million, employing over 200 staff. She eventually sold this corporation and returned to New Zealand to set up I4 free, which was subsequently renamed Slingshot in 2001. Slingshot is now the 3rd largest ISP (Internet Service Provider) in New Zealand. I decided it was time to meet Presley face-to-face, as often with profile women in New Zealand, their paths may cross, but they seldom get the chance to really talk. I’d spoken with Presley on a panel in the past, and I knew she enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay, so what better way to write off my afternoon than lunch at Soul Bar (Presley’s choice) with the intent to interview her for this article, focusing on her experience in the Dragons Den. I arrived at 1pm sharp to find Presley already there. In fact we collided in the loos, but thankfully, given our reasonably recognisable faces, we were able to identify each other and start the lunch process from there. We secured a balcony table, crowded but pleasant, and went about the process of getting to know each other. Presley is incredibly easy to converse with, reticent with me at first with my journalist’s hat on. But after assuring her I wasn’t really interested in the sensational stuff that other magazines may seek, we simply proceeded to chat! So what do you need to know about Presley? Well, there was certainly plenty of stuff I didn’t! Apart from the mandatory 2 kids (Ashley and Brendon), 2 cats and 20 goldfish, she loves Italian and Japanese food, dines out approx 3 times a week, owns 2 Mercedes cars, a SL500 and a Jeep, and is often out the country (at least 15 times a year). In fact she almost beat the Guinness Book of Records record for countries travelled by a 12 year old child in one year. She was one country off. To relax she sails, skis, plays cards and watches videos and, yep, she’s social; but then who wouldn’t be with her lifestyle! She buys Shiseido and YSL beauty products (important information when you’re trying to convince beauty advertisers of the worthiness of your magazine). Her favourite fashion designers? Wait for it – no, they didn’t include this Morrinsville girl, but then perhaps she’s influenced by all her travel. I mean, there can’t be too much Versace, Collette Dinnigan and Roberto Cavalli sold in New Zealand retail outlets! So, Women’s Weekly stuff out of the way, on to the business side. I suspected her workload would be variable given her company size and her commitments. Presley’s been in business for 20 years, 14 of those in telecommunications. Her working day (I probably can relate to this) ranges from 4 to 20 hours; email taking up a big part of this day. Apparently, since the Dragons Den programme started to air, she’s been receiving up to 700 emails a day - that makes for a lot of opportunists in a business sense. But then; why not, she can only say no. I must say, I was extremely impressed with the speed at which she replied to my email. Granted the reply was unflowered, but then who can blame the girl with her workload! Presley’s company employs nearly 200 people, with a fair number of women. Her focused management team means her key involvement is with direction, strategy and key decisions; leaving time for her charity portfolio, which is starting become quite extensive. It is commendable that Presley is keen to support charities of a more obscure nature, being mindful of all the support and publicity the more well-known charities receive. Her focus has been with Sensible Sentencing, Preventing Violence in the Home, Dress for Success, South Auckland’s Children’s Hospital and Support Kids 1st . As with many of our female role models, her charitable commitments are forever growing. So why take on Dragons Den? It definitely wasn’t a decision made lightly. Firstly, Presley hardly ever watches TV. (They had to send the British series to her to review in Sydney.) Then, coupled with a very public separation from her longtime life and business partner, Malcolm Hicks, the concept of a very public reality show initially made her nervous. But the end result, after listening to up to 70-odd pitches in a session, was a huge respect for the number of passionate business entrepreneurs that New Zealand has produced. (Apparently New Zealand Dragons Den has seen the most businesses bought of any of the Dragon series.) This also created a huge admiration for, and new-found friendships with, her fellow dragons. Presley was already a longtime friend of Barry Coleman before the programme. Apparently, although Presley didn’t reveal too much, the Dragons all bought about the same number of businesses. These purchases were, of course, followed up with a due diligence process before final monies and contracts changed hands! Now Dragons Den is over, Presley’s profile is more public than it’s ever been - so what next! Well, the entrepreneurial assessment and investment game has definitely got her juices flowing and, given her love of fashion, she’s not adverse to investing in a sizable New Zealand fashion company. For Presley, life is about opportunities and, as I myself know, these present themselves at the most unlikely of times. But in the meantime, it’s strategising for Slingshot and more holidays at Yellowstone. Presley owns a house there - with a neighbouring home owned by Bill Gates - but then why not! She talks of attending a party that night with Bill Roulston, Boh Runga and Karen Soich. The lady plays hard but never forgets her South Auckland roots. She’s met a new man, long may it last, and stresses that it is okay to be a workaholic as long as you love what you do! My sentiments exactly. Lunch over, we parted ways, vowing to meet again in the next month or so and perhaps even add others to our fledging lunch group. By Annah Stretton Her InsightNurturing Hope Dr Cindy Farquhar As we read about more and more couples choosing to be ‘childfree’, or starting families later in life to focus on their respective careers, there are a growing number of couples who face a childless future. This is not because they choose to, but because of fertility problems or early pregnancy complications. One in six couples is affected by infertility in New Zealand, and this is expected to increase dramatically in the next ten years. Dr Cindy Farquhar, Postgraduate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland, says “We all know somebody who has suffered pregnancy complications or had difficulties in conceiving a child, and we have all been in the awkward position of not really knowing what we can do to help.” Now, however, a new charity gives people the opportunity to make a positive contribution to help couples suffering from infertility. Cindy is the driving force behind the Nurture Foundation for Reproductive Research, which was launched in August. Frustrated at the lack of government funding into the areas of infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy complications, Cindy sought to establish a public fundraising charity that would enable vital research into reproductive disorders to be undertaken. The research centre at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the University of Auckland has been investigating reproductive disorders for over 15 years. A charitable trust was set up in 1992 to help the research centre achieve its goals. Until recently, most of the funding for the research centre was obtained through various government grants. Unfortunately, with other health issues taking priority on the government’s funding agenda, reproductive health now does not feature at all in the 13 population health objectives outlined in New Zealand’s Health Strategy. The Nurture Foundation has been launched as a means of raising the public profile of the research trust. It aims to raise funds for reproductive research that will help New Zealanders create families. Cindy, together with a number of leading New Zealand doctors, researchers and supporters, is working to generate greater awareness of the fertility issues that face many parents, particularly those trying to have children for the first time. In addition to lecturing at the University, Cindy practices as an O & G at Fertility Plus in Auckland and has witnessed on numerous occasions the long, emotional journey that couples travel when they embark on fertility treatment. “The growing trend towards having children later in life means many women will struggle to conceive or carry a child to term. Already one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, and 20% of first-time mothers are at risk of serious pregnancy complications,” says Cindy. “The Nurture Foundation is committed to creating awareness about these issues and raising funds to support reproductive research. We are extremely lucky to be working with world-class scientists and researchers who undertake leading edge research into reproductive disorders such as subfertility, miscarriage, pregnancy complications, ovarian cancer and menstrual disorders. Many medical advances have been made in reproductive medicine in recent years, and our Research Centre has often been at the forefront of these advances.” Cindy was recently appointed a Member of New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to women’s health. She is the co-ordinating editor of the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group, is Chairman of the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee and is also Deputy Chairman of the NZ Guidelines Group. Nurture is asking businesses, individuals and families to donate to the charity. By making a donation you’ll help give hundreds of New Zealanders a chance to do something most of us take for granted - to nurture a child of their own. For further information on the Nurture Foundation or to make a donation, visit: www.nurture.org.nz By Simone Walker Her InformHave you started your nest egg?
If you are a woman, there are some important facts you need to know about your financial future. If you are a bloke, there is no excuse for ignoring these facts because chances are there will be somebody you care about (a mother, partner or daughter) who could benefit from your knowledge.
So what makes women different from men when it comes to money? There are differences in lifespan, lifestyles, income and attitudes which can have a negative effect on a woman’s financial position.
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Procrastination in saving for retirement is something that affects both men and women; however, women can be more severely affected. As a generalisation, men die first and leave their spouses to manage on meagre savings. While increasing numbers of women are joining the workforce, women are less likely to participate in superannuation schemes or to take out disability and income protection insurance.
Two income families are becoming more common, but second incomes are often used to finance increased spending, larger mortgages and bigger credit card balances rather than being applied to long-term saving or risk protection. In any relationship it is important for both parties to be involved in long-term financial planning and to take responsibility for retirement savings and risk protection. Women need to take steps to avoid ending their lives in poverty and should not rely on some Prince Charming or the Government to take care of them.
By Liz Koh
Liz Koh is a Financial Adviser at Moneymax. Visit: www.moneymax.co.nz |
