Members Profile

Name: Dr Geoff Haw FACE
Business name: Sagacity Services (Sagacity basically means knowledge and understanding gained over extended experience)
Address: PO Box 4007, Narre Warren South
PC: 3805
Phone: 03 5998 4932
Mobile: 0418 580 081
Fax: 03 5998 4932
Email: geoff@sagacityservices.com.au
Web Address: www.sagacityservices.com.au and www.celebratetoremember.com

Q. Tell us something about you – your philosophy, your lifestyle, your ethics, your hobbies etc
A. Now running my own business, I’ve been a teacher, Principal and Senior manager, and worked overseas. I value education: it opened up new opportunities. I have a passion for inclusive, strong leadership by example, where team members are encouraged to develop and grow, professionally and personally. I value integrity and openness, believing that we have been placed on this planet to improve the lives of others. Music, travel, cricket, Rotary and the Kangaroos are great loves. The joys of having a large block, chooks, vegetable and flower gardens and a fantastic big workshop to pursue constructive hobbies know no bounds!

Q. What is it that your business does?
A. Built on the extensive experience I’ve gained in a wonderfully rich career in education, policy development and senior management in Australia and overseas, I offer expertise and top quality services in:
• HR Recruitment e.g. developing CVs/Resumes for job application, and coaching in interview techniques
• Professional writing, editing and publishing – books, academic papers, publications, media releases, etc.
• Specialist in writing people’s life stories, as a personal memento of their lives and a wonderful gift for families.
• Accredited/registered Wedding Celebrant, funerals, etc. www.celebratetoremember.com
• Professional Master of Ceremonies (MC) services
• Facilitator of professional development and training seminars – schools, corporate
• Keynote Speaker on a range of contemporary social issues.
• Consultancy experience with UNESCO – educational policy in the Asia Pacific Region.
• Providing Youth Leadership Development Programs to student leaders in schools

Q. Do you work from home?   How many do you employ?
A. There are just two of us full-time – myself, and Penny Barrington. We do much preparatory work from our comprehensively equipped home offices, but we are often out in the field.

Q. How long have you been in business? 
A. The business was first registered in August 2000, but has taken on a much higher profile since 2004, when I cut back my work with UNESCO.

Q. What makes your business unique?
A. If the response means special (unique actually means the only one), it would probably be the excellent relationships with clients. We believe in engaging people, working with them, meeting their needs and adapting our programs to their contexts. We also enjoy fantastic feedback from clients expressing high levels of satisfaction with our services, and a remarkably high success rate in preparing applications for people, gaining interviews. My very wide experience has developed a broad range of valuable skills and knowledge for small business e.g. writing media releases.

MARKETING
Q. What is the most important Marketing/Networking tool/strategy your business has had success with?
A. Up until a couple of years ago, I enjoyed good success with Google Adwords, but it has become increasingly difficult to ‘outwit’ it of recent times, so I rarely use it now. In terms of CVs and Applications, I have a small advert in the newspaper that goes fortnightly to schools – a circulation of 75,000. It has returned incredibly on my small investment. Over the past few months, I have put a lot of research and re-design of my website and online shop. Of course, word of mouth and referrals grow in importance constantly. I am about to embark on an online strategic approach to add another weapon.

Q. What is the most helpful piece of advice you could give to other businesses?
A. Stick at it. It’s easy to be discouraged if your business is slow to take off. That is the way of the world, and you must persist and constantly review your strategist in the light of your goals. Try to avoid making decisions based on emotions – seek out the reality and the facts, and let them guide you. And of course – chat with others, especially members of the MCEI.

Q. What is it you are looking for as a member of MCEI?
A. Networking, exchanging ideas for mutual support, increased awareness of relevant events and emerging trends in marketing and promotion; increased opportunities for interaction with people of like minds and/or similar business contexts.

Q. What is it you can offer to MCEI members?
A. Many years of experience in leadership, marketing, communication, dealing with the media, and managing major events and change have give me a broad overview and insight into many highly relevant areas of enterprise in today’s business world. I’m always happy to chat, exchange ideas, mentor and support others. A special skill is writing media releases.

Q. How do you envisage demonstrating your support and loyalty to the association of MCEI?
A. I will give MCEI all the support that I can – which may not be a huge amount as I am still working full-time. However, I will be contributing to the organisation of MCEI events this year.

Milestones

We have increased the diversity of books we are publishing, including new children’s book. With Penny, my partner, we have successfully conducted several Youth Leadership Development Program sessions with a range of schools, especially in the Catholic system. This is a special course that focuses on essential qualities and principles of leadership, together with training young people in public speaking skills. We mainly work with student leaders from Year 6 and Years 7-9, and programs have been a huge plus for schools. Responses have been incredibly satisfying.

Our corporate training in public speaking and communication has also become well established, and our qualification as Wedding/Funeral Celebrants provides memorable events for clients. See www.celebratetoremember.com