ABOUT

The Owner Manager Program was created by The Icehouse in New Zealand in the early 2001. It was adapted for the Australian market by Rob Douglas, then the Director of Executive Education at the University of Queensland Business School in partnership with The Icehouse. 

In late 2016 the Institute of Business Owners (IBO) was formed, with foundation partners UQ Business School and the Icehouse, to deliver the Australian Owner Manager Program and to create new business growth, leadership and acceleration programs for Australian business owners.

At its core IBO aims to deliver practical, effective education to Australian business owners and as such rebranded in September 2017 as the Australian Owner Manager.

"Fundamentally we set out to create something for business owners that was, first and foremost, not a waste of time. There are hundreds of courses out there for business owners – the vast majority of which are theoretical at best. The Owner Manager Program (OMP) was designed to be the absolute opposite – it's entirely practical, it's focused, it's immersive and it's about helping you and your business grow."

- Rob Douglas, Executive Director, Australian Owner Manager

Nearly a thousand business owners have already completed the program and the overwhelming response is extremely positive. There are several keys to its success. The most important, perhaps, is the selection and 'design' of each group. Great care is taken to ensure each program includes like-minded business owners from different industries. Different people are brought together who share common challenges and, through shared experience and observation, shed light on a path forward.

Building on this solid foundation Australian Owner Manager is expanding its portfolio of programs in 2018 to include the Owner Manager Leadership Program (OML), Australia's first entirely practical leadership course created specifically for senior managers of privately owned companies and the Owner Manager Exchange (OMX) a next level program designed exclusively for graduates of the Owner Manager Program.