John Pollaers: Bionic ears and software instead of toasters

John Pollaers believes strongly in the concept of constant reinvention and reshaping of occupational skills.

John Pollaers has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

John Pollaers believes strongly in the concept of constant reinvention and reshaping of occupational skills, and not only has that as a core mantra but has lived that philosophy over many decades and many career changes.

How else could you explain his journey from a weapons engineer in the Australian navy to the boss of Australian brewer Foster’s and to then running socks and jocks company Pacific Brands? Now he has again reinvented himself, as a start-up entrepreneur creating and leading an aged-care assisted-living company called Leef.

If there is one common theme running through his career it is around manufacturing and education, and so it is fitting that Mr Pollaers, the son of a Dutch immigrant to Australia, has received his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the manufacturing sector, to education and to business.

“I am incredibly proud to be recognised effectively by your country,” he said. “I have really been ­appreciative to be involved in these types of national reform projects and my view is that you get few opportunities to really leave a lasting difference and this is to me has been a very important part of me making my contribution to Australia.’’

That contribution to national reform includes his role as chairman of the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council, a CEO-led private sector initiative pursuing Australian success in advanced manufacturing.

Its task is to drive innovation success and resilience in the Australian economy at a time when old-fashion manufacturing — such as workers in overalls bashing together slabs of metal to create widgets — is dying out.

In its place, Mr Pollaers argues, is the need to chase highly skilled and technologically advanced manufacturing where workers are making software and bionic ears instead of toasters and socks.

“Particularly in areas of technology that are leading societal ­development, so that being the ­internet of things, medical devices, in the oil and gas sector and examples where we are excelling as ­advanced manufacturers,’’ Mr Pollaers said. “And it really puts upfront and centre the need to invest in our people and their skills and that means not just in terms of the way they qualify but their continuous learning through their careers to be able to adapt to industry changes and to be available as ­industry opportunities emerge.’’