Our History

The Australian Centre for Family Business was founded in 1994 by Professor Ken Moores with assistance and input from a coterie of like-minded leaders from Australia’s family business community to enhance the prospects for profitable continuity of family businesses for the benefit of family members, shareholders and non-family staff.

Consistent with Bond University’s mission of being Australian in character and international in perspective, the ACFB has been proud to have as our Foundation Patron noted American family business authority Dr Leon Danco. Danco has been widely credited with recognising privately held business as a phenomenally major force in all societies and with developing a theory about the life cycle of family businesses and how they behave.

The Centre's development can be represented by three phases each having distinct orientations built around our core research mission.

1994 - 1997 Research + Network
1997 - 2003 Research + Education
2004 - Present Research + Education + Engagement

Milestones

Date	Milestone	Details
1992	Horwath funds first major study into Family Business	Bond University researchers (Professor Ken Moores lead researcher) awarded research grant from Horwath & Horwath to undertake the first major study into Family Owned Business in Australia.
July 1994	The launch of the Australian Centre for Family Business - Bond University	The Centre commenced operation on July 1 under the directorship of Professor Ken Moores (Director), Dr Joseph Mula (Associate Director) and Dr Leon Danco (Founding Patron). Dr Danco is recognized by "Business Week" and "Nation's Business" as America's foremost authority on family-owned businesses.
1995	Newsletter published (as part of the development of a national Network)	The Family Business Reporter, a quarterly newsletter profiling the Centre’s activities was published. Information on legislative and economic changes affecting family business, and highlights from research findings were provided.
June 1995	National Forum hosted	A major highlight for the centre was its hosting of a highly successful National Family Business Forum at Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney.
1995	Networks established Australian Family Business Network (AFBN) created 1997	Family Business Networks Chapters were established in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Tasmania and Adelaide..
Sept 1996	Inaugural Australian Family Business Network Conference	The first Australian Family Business Network Conference was hosted by the ACFB at Bond University.
1996	Oldest Family Business search	The ACFB – Bond University conducted a nation wide search for the Oldest Family Business in Australia.
1998/99	AFBN merged with FBC Victoria to establish a national network
1999	Appointed to FBA National Board	Professor Moores appointed Foundation Director of FBA Ltd.
2000	Awarded Federation Grant	Awarded grant of $87,000 by Queensland Government. Grant enabled the publication of the Centre’s first book Stars under the Southern Cross: The untold stories of Queensland’s family businesses as a tribute to family firms in their role in helping to build the nation over the past 100 years.
2001	National Research Award	Awarded Michel Best Research Paper at 3rd National FBA Conference.
	Renowned Visitors Conduct Workshop	Centre Patron, Dr Léon Danco and his wife Katy, world renowned family business advisors, conduct workshop at Bond University in November.
2002	Australian Family Case at World Congress	Presented Dennis Family Corporation Case at 13th FBN World Congress (Helsinki).
	Keynote Address	Presented at Family Business Australia 4th National Conference, Coffs Harbour, NSW in October.
	Second Book Published	Learning Family Business: Paradoxes and Pathways (Professor Moores and Professor Mary Barrett) published in December.
2003	International Invitation	Invited to Present research and Centre Model at University of Cork, Ireland.
	Second Book Launch	Launch of Learning Family Business: Paradoxes and Pathways at Bond University in April.
2004	International Presentation	Presented workshop in Dubai.
	International Invitation	Professor Moores invited as visiting Professor, Keynote conference speaker, and Awards judge at Austin Family Business Program Oregon State University.
	Strategic Alliance Established	Three year strategic alliance established with Chartered Accountants and Advisers BDO in July.
	First Executive Education Program	Inaugural Learning to Lead program presented in conjunction with FBA National Conference in August.
2005	Retained by National Advisor Firm	Retained by KPMG for a three-year period to develop their “family business roll-out” nationally.
	Landmark Family Business Roundtable Summit held at Bond University	Invited family business leaders, researchers, and advisers from around the nation and overseas, gathered in July for the country’s inaugural Family Business Summit that focused on contemporary concerns and emerging issues. The Summit was part of BDO’s thought leadership initiative.
2006	2nd Family Business Round Table Summit held at Bond University	Invited faculty of Adjunct Professors and Research Fellows drawn from family firms, advisers and universities both nationally and overseas explored the topic Family Business Governance: personalities, passion and power.
	Family Business Open Lecture Program launched	The series provided an opportunity to hear first hand from a group of prominent family business operators and advisers affiliated with the ACFB.
	Lunch & Learn Program series commenced	Dr Cindy Iannarelli, President of Bernelli University an international expert on family business who is founder of the “Buzz Project” (dedicated to train and stimulate entrepreneurial behaviours in children and adults) launches ACFB’s first Lunch & Learn series for family business operators.
2007	Global Research Initiative	First Australian University to be invited to join Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices (STEP) international research program.
	Executive MBA	Launch of Executive MBA: Family Business.
2008	3rd Family Business Researchers’ Roundtable Summit	Leading Australian Family Business researchers gathered at Bond University to address issues affecting families in business and collaborative research projects can be pursued.
	Launch of Learning Community of Family Firms	A select number of key family firms were invited to work with the centre on an ongoing basis as they undergo targeted learning and development activities.
2009	KPMG-FBA Business Climate Survey	Developed and authored the fifth annual national survey of family businesses in conjunction with KPMG and FBA, this year extending the survey to include both family and non-family businesses.
	Executive MBA Study Tour	The first EMBA – Family Business International Study Tour took place in July, incorporating 12 days of site visits, guest lectures and presentations across Northern Italy.
	Third Book Published	Women in Family Business Leadership Roles: Daughters on the Stage (Professor Ken Moores and Professor Mary Barrett) published in August.

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