Overview
With many well-known companies either originating or continuing to be structured as Co-operatives, First Potentia Co-operative is continuing this great tradition. In Australia, the top 100 co-ops, credit unions and credit mutual firms have a member base in excess of 13 million people and a combined annual turnover of AUS$14.7 billion (Co-operatives Australia 2011). Potentia is positioned to develop and support the building and construction industry with the development of service and supply companies as well as the expansion of skills training to underpin the industry’s future growth and sustainability.
The First Potentia Co-operative believes that the building and construction industry in Australia has many opportunities for growth but this will only be achieved through enhanced skills and the strategic application of targeted resources.
The Board of the Co-operative is obligated to further the business of the Co-operative, for the benefit of members and CCU holders in an ethical way, advancing the Potentia Co-operative in Australia and elsewhere, supporting the building and construction industry in general and the individual participants by any means at our disposal.
Our strategy is to develop trades and skills through the acquisition and development of building sector applicable businesses and projects which will support the employees and customers of such ventures. We will make investment decisions based on good commercial principles, while keeping these other objectives in mind. At the core, the Co-operative intends to extend the commercial performance of its acquired companies and projects through a program of excellence, achieved through skills training and individual advancement.
We believe that this will secure the best result for the industry, investors and members alike.
The Board is confident that investment in the Co-operatives will be efficiently used for the expansion of the Co-operative, and at all times the asset base of the Co-operative will exceed the capital commitment to Investors.
Unlike private or public limited companies, the registration and supervision is not under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). Co-operatives are registered after a long and vigorous process by the relevant State Department of Justice. Once registered, the Co-operative is supervised by the Consumer Affairs Department, to whom the Co-operative’s auditors must report. It is important that as an investor you understand the difference.
About the Co-operative
Key Parties
Co-operative Management
The First Potentia Co-operative is managed by a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are also members holding shares. The Board is established with significant professional, commercial and building industry experience.
The Directors may directly or indirectly invest from time to time in the Co-operative on the same basis as other Investors in the Co-operative.
The Co-operative may use services provided by companies related to the Directors or Members “at arm’s length” terms.
Investment Committee
An Investment committee is in charge of reviewing each investment opportunity and making investment recommendations to the full Board. The Investment Committee comprises of representatives from the Board and will, from time to time, include external third party experts to provide a higher level of insight into particular investment opportunities.
The Co-operative structure
Co-operatives by their very nature are owned by the members and managed by a Board of Directors who report to the members. No member can hold more than 20% of the issued equity, which ensures that no one person or party has control. All key decisions are made by the members at general meetings. However, in practice, the Board is authorised to manage the day to day operation of the Co-operative and in particular to raise capital and make investment decisions. It is registered as a high level open Co-operative which entitles it to raise unlimited capital and to invest in any assets or project that is lawful.
Board of Directors
- Nigel Harrison Nigel has over 30 years’ experience as senior management executive/consultant with international experience in both public and private companies across Europe, the Americas and Australia. He has a proven track record in the following areas; project funding, operational management, strategic development, business restructuring, change management, execution of capital investment projects, corporate compliance and financial management. Having returned to Australia in 2010 and operating through an independent Management Consultancy, Harrison & Associates P/L, Nigel has provided strategic and operational advice to a broad range of companies in Australia and overseas focusing on the improvement to profitability, corporate governance, restructuring of finance, operating systems and personnel seeking to give the business owners/directors the focus and vision to achieve their business and personal objectives. The services provided include sourcing of project finance solutions for a wide range of national and international projects. The clients range across many sectors from the building and construction industry to leisure, finance and technology.
- Graham Andersen Graham has been a senior manager of several business over the years including, shipping and forwarding, building and construction, property investment and developing with over 45 years of experience as a principal. During that time Graham gained a detailed knowledge of several industries including project funding, project management, international banking and the money system as it applies to world finance. Has a vast connection of global contacts with experience in several industries at the highest level. With a proven record of selecting profitable project and the ability to achieve completion of the projects within the time set, budgets allocated and achieved the profitable forecasted. Has a proven strength for understanding the details of the project, how best to structure the financial modelling to enable the project to be successful, including the costs and returns analysis. Has a proven capacity and discipline to achieve the desired outcome of projects through the management systems. Has a detailed knowledge of council and state government planning system and methodically and the interfacing of town planner, engineers and other consultants necessary to achieve all the planning consents in order to gain development approval.
- Peter Voss With 20 years’ experience as a Principal Contractor, Project Manager, Site Manager and Sub-contractor throughout the building industry, Peter has a proven track record of ability to work within tight deadlines while meeting internal and external client needs. Working throughout the construction industry in the commercial, domestic and industrial sectors, focusing on career objective in order to work collaboratively with clients, key stakeholders, and reliable contractors, and to build strong working relationships, both within and external to the building industry and to lead a professional team. To deliver quality projects effectively and efficiently has always been a passion of mine.