Overseas talent will help sell SA to the world, SouthStart conference director says

THE North American director of a major Adelaide conference for entrepreneurs says the state would benefit from an influx of enterprising talent from overseas.

SouthStart event director Craig Swann says SA could benefit from more international entrepreneurs. Picture SIMON CROSS

THE North American director of a major Adelaide conference for entrepreneurs says the state would benefit from an influx of enterprising talent from overseas.

Canadian born Craig Swann, event director of SouthStart, migrated to Australia a year ago after spending a decade in New York.

“It was difficult for me coming here to go through the visa process and I know I’m no special case,” Mr Swann said.

“If you could get 100 more people from my network here it would be a different environment.

“There’s amazing talent here and we (also) need to find more entrepreneurs that have international business experience – people with an understanding of global marketing.

“It’s really key to find that kind of mindset and perspective to add to the technology we have here.”

Mr Swann, founder of cloud-based music studio Looplabs, said fellowship programs could also be used to draw more entrepreneurs to SA.

Adelaide’s lifestyle and affordable living should be marketed as much as its growing business opportunities, he said.

“If you can find a way to put money into hosting people for an extended period of time, they’ll be accomplishing things here and potentially falling in love with SA and thinking, maybe I don’t want to leave.

“The opportunity is there – you just need to attract people and show them that life is amazing here.”

SouthStart, which runs until tomorrow at the Adelaide Town Hall, also includes a street party on Peel St tonight from 5pm.

The party will be hosted by businesses including La Moka, Clever Little Tailor and Bread & Bone.