Collective Organisation’s Women of Influence speakers series

The Collective Organisation will hold a Women of Influence event in Adelaide this week.

The Collective Organisation founder Laura Carrocchi.

The Collective Organisation will hold a Women of Influence speakers series event in Adelaide on Tuesday, discussing leadership, professional successes and challenges.

Founder Laura Carrocci began the speaker series to appeal to women in emerging business roles and as a way of networking without attending boardroom lunches.

Speakers, including South Australian Commissioner for Equal Opportunity Nikki Vincent, the inaugural director of the Science Creativity Education Studio Kristin Alford and Angove Family Winemakers executive director Victoria Angove, will discuss leadership skills, identity, knowing your pitch and how to articulate what you do. Details: thecollectiveorganisation.com.

ROBOT JOBS THREAT

Futurists, innovators, workplace professionals, scientists and technology disrupters will gather at the Creative Innovation conference in Melbourne from Monday to Wednesday to discuss whether artificial intelligence will replace jobs.

US-based robotic revolution and AI expert Martin Ford will be a keynote speaker at Ci2016, along with Japanese professor Hiroshi Ishiguro.

Australian experts speaking include NASA astrobiologist Abigail Allwood, ANZ and Coca-Cola Amatil chair David Gonski, and BHP Billiton’s Carolyn Hewson.

Details: creativeinnovation-global.com.au

US ELECTION FEARS

A national survey of business confidence has found 23 per cent of small to medium enterprises are concerned the result of next week’s US election will affect global market volatility.

The Voice of Australian Business Survey 2016, undertaken by accounting and advisory firm Bentleys, found 43 per cent of local SMEs say general global market volatility will have a negative impact on their business, and 28 per cent fear a slowdown in the Chinese economy will be detrimental.

Bentleys audit division director Kevin Cranfield says that despite the ongoing publicity, 77 per cent say the outcome of the US election will not affect their business, and 81 per cent say Brexit will not have repercussions.

“SME owners are far more concerned with international events that could have an immediate impact on our economic outlook and stability, and therefore a direct impact on their businesses, as opposed to events — such as the US election or Brexit — that will need to play out further until we can clearly see their impacts,” Cranfield says.

HIRED OPENS SHOP

US-based jobs-matching platform Hired has officially launched in Australia with a regional office in Melbourne.

The platform, which has seen 17,500 candidates and 550 companies register since its soft Australian launch several months ago, focuses on job matching in the technology, software engineering and product management areas.

Chief executive Mehul Patel says candidates take 24 days on average to find a job on the platform, compared to more than 70 in the traditional jobs marketplace.

“In the traditional jobs market any candidate applies for any job and it’s difficult to get through the noise,” Patel says.

“We pick the best candidates, we pick the top 5 to 8 per cent of candidates, and we match them to the business.”

He says rather than advertising a job on a network, the site uses algorithms to match people to job criteria, skills, experience and education, before the talent is offered an online interview.

The platform is operating only in NSW and Victoria so far.