Speeches
Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Entrepreneurs Organisation
I warmly welcome you to Government House to recognise the history of Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) Adelaide and celebrate its impact on our economy and community.
EO was launched in 1998 by some of South Australia’s brightest young businesspeople in hospitality, retail and finance.
At the time, the concept of entrepreneurial innovation and startup communities like Lot Fourteen and Stone & Chalk was in its infancy.
This group of liked-minded businesspeople recognised the benefits of sharing experiences and knowledge to promote entrepreneurship and business opportunities in South Australia.
Since then, EO has evolved into a vibrant and influential community, part of a global network that connects more than 18,000 people worldwide, brought together by a shared passion for innovation, growth and leadership.
The organisation has grown in numbers and diversity. Members span a range of industries and sectors, sharing expertise and accessing new opportunities and perspectives from the EO global network.
In the past, women have not participated in entrepreneurship in equal numbers to men for a range of reasons. So, it is heartening to see an increase in female EO members and President Sian Williams leading the way.
These numbers indicate that more South Australian women are flexing their entrepreneurial skills.
This is also echoed in the 2025 Solstice Media 40 Under 40 list which features a significant number of young women entrepreneurs and leaders.
I also commend EO for the focus on supporting student entrepreneurs through the NextGen Program which I understand will be launched soon.
Our young people harbour a vast wealth of talent and ambition but not always the understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur, or the confidence to embark on this career pathway.
Tapping into EO members’ enormous reserves of experience and wisdom will be invaluable to budding entrepreneurs.
I also recognise the EO’s focus on members’ personal development and wellbeing.
The path of an entrepreneur is never linear and rarely easy. It is full of twists and turns, achievements and setbacks.
It demands persistent hard work and steadfast self-belief, and even the most resilient benefit from a community like the EO to fall back on when the going gets tough.
Friends,
When EO was first established in the 1990s, South Australia’s economic conditions were challenging. The concept of entrepreneurship was not well understood and sometimes regarded with suspicion.
Our manufacturing base has since given way to services and a focus on economic growth from technology, research and innovation.
Our entrepreneurial start up ecosystem is flourishing.
And there is wide recognition that entrepreneurs and business leaders underpin our economy by employing thousands of local people and driving innovation.
Throughout this time, the Entrepreneurs Organisation Adelaide has played an important role in supporting business leaders in good times and bad.
I thank all involved in the EO for your contribution to strengthening our state’s reputation as a home of entrepreneurship and innovation.
As a collaborative, collegial community, you are helping to create fertile ground for South Australian entrepreneurs and a brighter future for our state.