PARALLEL SESSION
Speakers: Bill Andrews, John Andrews and David Church
Facilitator: Ken Matthews
Date and time: Thursday 22 May 2025, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
SESSION OVERVIEW
In the highly competitive and dynamic business landscape, family businesses face unique challenges and opportunities that often call for strategic alliances with other organisations. Such partnerships can drive growth and open new avenues, but establishing and managing these alliances is complex, involving intricate relationships among the partners, their families, and their businesses.
A prime example of the power of collaboration is the Royan Group of Companies. From Bede Royan’s modest beginnings in wartime Parramatta to an organisation with 28 branches and over 650 employees across Australia and New Zealand, family foundations have remained central to Royans’ identity and success.
Royans has been the leading service provider of commercial vehicle repairs for over 80 years, expanding by opening new branches and partnering with established operations to create a strong network of family-driven enterprises, comprising of the Royan, Andrews and Church families. Their most recent alliance, collaboration with private equity, have positioned Royans to deliver premium solutions and services to a broader market.
Join father and son Bill and John Andrews, together with Royans CEO, David Church, as they explore how strategic partnerships have empowered them to meet evolving customer needs, enhance competitiveness, and foster innovation and resilience. They will share valuable insights into the processes of building effective business partnerships, along with the core values and strategies that have sustained their growth and continue to shape their business journey.
Bill
Andrews
Director, Royan Group of Companies
John
Andrews
Regional Manager, Royan Group of Companies
David
Church
Director, Royan Group of Companies
With over 40 years at Royans Transport Accident Repairs, David has been involved in all facets of the business. He has held a wide range of roles, starting as a panel beater on the floor in Bayswater, then progressing to assistant foreman, assistant workshop manager, workshop manager, and branch manager, before becoming Managing Director in 2001. In his current role as Group CEO, David draws on his extensive experience and deep understanding of the business to strengthen and grow the capabilities of the Royans Group.
David’s proudest achievements include redeveloping and redesigning the Bayswater branch in 2008 during his tenure as Managing Director, expanding the Royans Group into New Zealand, and acquiring new branches across the region—establishing Royans as Australia and New Zealand's leading transport accident repair specialists.
Ken Matthews
Director, Allanfyne Advisory
Ken is an
impactful and entrepreneurial business mentor and advisor who works with
Business Owners & CEOs to implement transformational change and maximise
their financial and strategic direction. Ken’s knowledge and deep understanding of the
challenges and sacrifices of family business, stems from his own firsthand
experience and career, specifically when making the life changing decision to
create, as founding partner, what would ultimately be a prominent second tier
accounting firm from humble beginnings in the family home garage.
Ken has committed
over 25 years in chairing numerous Business Advisory Committees for family and SME
businesses advising on corporate governance, risk management, strategic
planning, financial management, succession planning and M&A.
Ken holds
fellowship with the Institute of Chartered Accountants & the Australian
Institute of Company Directors. His previous board and committee experience
include Navy Health Ltd, Mercy Palliative Care Hospice, Work Solutions Group
Ltd (Telstra & Australian Government small business of the year),
Entrepreneurs Organisation Melbourne and WREDO (Western Region Economic
Development Organisation).
Ken is a
certified chair with the Advisory Board Centre and in 2024 was awarded a
lifetime achievement award for his contribution to business and the community
from the Victorian University.
Outside of his
professional persona, Ken is passionate about his family, golf and the AFL
Western Bulldogs.
Ken is thrilled
to have been associated with FBA since 2012, in his capacity as Non-Executive
Director and Specialist Accredited Advisor and looks forward to sharing his
insights at the 2025 FBA Conference.
Explore all the sessions on offer at this year’s Family Business Conference: Asia-Pacific. Each session has been thoughtfully crafted to provide you with real-world tools and takeaways for navigating change in the world of family business. Featuring a range of expert keynote presentations, family business stories, interactive workshops and parallel sessions, every session is designed to equip you with strategies to navigate current challenges, embrace future opportunities, and achieve sustained success for your family business.