Simon Hackett

Simon at Base64 3Simon Hackett is an Australian business leader who combines entrepreneurial energy with technical expertise. After building Internode into Australia's largest privately-owned broadband company, Simon sold Internode to iiNet Ltd, Australia’s second-largest provider of DSL broadband services. After serving as a non-executive director on the iiNet board for 18 months, Simon resigned that role in November 2013 to become a non-executive director of NBN Co, the government-owned company building the National Broadband Network. Simon has also invested in a number of innovative Australian start-up technology companies.

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Simon Hackett (left) with VAF founder Philip VafiadisIconic Adelaide loudspeaker manufacturer VAF Research is aiming for strong growth this year with a high profile presence at WOMADelaide, innovative new products and the backing of Simon Hackett.

The Kent Town-based company will provide WOMADelaide attendees with welcome respite from the heat and bustle of the four-day festival in the large comfortable VAF Listening Lounge, which will stream live music from WOMADelaide’s Foundation Stage and the Moreton Bay Stage on high-fidelity VAF loudspeakers.

The lounge will offer free high-speed WiFi access and free phone-charging facilities plus a Combi Coffee van to recharge your batteries. VAF umbrellas and VAF ‘bumboxes’ will give the brand high visibility throughout Botanic Park. WOMADelaide runs from Friday, March 11 to Monday, March 14.

VAF Research founder Philip Vafiadis, who is chairman of business innovation specialist Innovyz and also co-founded Zen Energy Systems, said 2016 was shaping up as a great year for the company. “We have big plans for this year, starting with WOMADelaide,” he said.

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Simon Hackett (left) and Philip Vafiadis beside VAF's innovative SoundWallIconic loudspeaker manufacturer VAF Research is aiming for strong growth this year with innovative new products, a beefed-up channel and the backing of technology entrepreneur Simon Hackett.

The Adelaide company sells directly from its Kent Town head office as well as distributing products nationally through selected resellers. This distribution network will be expanded this year, with the goal of substantially increasing the volume of indirect sales.

VAF attracted the interest of Simon Hackett – the Internode founder, NBN director and technology investor – after he bought a pair of VAF speakers in November 2012 to install at his office at Base64, the $3 million renovation of an historic 1865 Adelaide mansion and surrounding buildings that is now a state-of-the-art business centre.

During the past 18 months, Simon and VAF founder Philip Vafiadis have collaborated to define a shared vision for the company’s future and where the market is heading. This has involved streamlining a number of back-end systems, a refresh of VAF’s brand and website and the development of a new national distribution strategy.

Philip Vafiadis, whose other business interests include chairing business innovation specialist Innovyz and who also co-founded Zen Energy Systems, said 2016 was shaping up as a great year for VAF Research. “We have big plans for this year,” he said.

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Simon Hackett

The charitable foundation run on behalf of the family of technology entrepreneur Simon Hackett has agreed to become the Presenting Sponsor of the WOMADelaide world music festival for 2016.

WOMADelaide (http://www.womadelaide.com.au) is a culturally rich event held in March each year that transforms Adelaide’s peaceful Botanic Park into a lively and vibrant community of music, movement, food, flavours, people and performances.

WOMADelaide has already announced its first acts for 2016 including a collaborative debut between Angélique Kidjo and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra; South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Canadian scientist David Suzuki and Aussie ska & jazz band The Cat Empire.

Hackett is a long time supporter of WOMADelaide, having initiated his former company Internode’s major sponsorship of the event from 2012 to 2015. At the 2015 event his family, through the Hackett Foundation, sponsored the amazing Architects of Air installation, ‘Exxopolis’.

More News...

  1. Adelaide mansion time-shifts into the 21st century (27 April 2015)
  2. New version puts wind under AvPlan’s wings (20 April 2015)
  3. Hackett powers ahead with Redflow at Base64 (03 March 2015)
  4. AvPlan EFB soars with Australian aerospace award (24 February 2015)
  5. NBNco director Simon Hackett joins RedFlow board (21 November 2014)
  6. Hackett ticks the boxes for Charles Todd Medal (07 November 2014)
  7. AvPlan launches Android version (13 October 2014)
  8. Australian tech startup BlueChilli announces $5M investment round (02 September 2014)
  9. Simon shares iPhone 5s photo tips (13 June 2014)
  10. Simon Hackett invests $2.2 million in RedFlow (21 May 2014)
  11. AvPlan takes off in the USA (12 April 2014)
  12. AvPlan takes off in New Zealand (24 January 2014)
  13. Simon Hackett spreads his wings with AvPlan (08 November 2013)