Australia’s Fastway founder to speak at Franchise Asia 2001

Bill McGowan, the founder and chairman of Australia’s Fastway Group of Companies, has confirmed his attendance to Franchise Asia 2001, the biggest premier international franchise event and the first ever to be staged in the country this coming Sept. 12-16.

Adding to the list of international franchise experts who will talk before the said event, McGowan will be one of the panelists together with Rolf Kirst of Uniglobe on "Voices of Experience: From the Master of Franchising."

McGowan sits at the top of a conglomerate that includes Fastway Ltd., Fastway Holdings Ltd., Fastway Global Couriers Aust. Pty Ltd., Fastway Couriers NZ Ltd., Fastway Post New Zealand Ltd and Fastway Technologies.

Fastway is Australia’s fifth largest franchise system and the fifth largest courier operation in the country. In new Zealand, it is the third largest system and the second largest courier organization. For the year ending March 2001, the Fastway Group had a combined turnover of $150 million per annum and operated from 55 locations with an excess of 1,000 franchisees. It now operates in Asia and Europe which include Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

McGowan and his companies have received various awards through the years. In 1986, he was awarded the prestigious title of "Entrepreneur of the Year" for New Zealand and the Outstanding Achievement Award for 2001 by the Franchise Association of New Zealand while Fastway was given the Australian Franchise System of the year 1999/2000 by the Franchise Council of Australia and 1st place in the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Australia by the Business Review Weekly in 1998, to name a few.

Franchise Asia 2001 is a four-in-one international franchise event which will include two top level council meetings by the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the APFC on Sept. 12; a franchise conference which promises to be a most comprehensive one on Sept. 13-14 at the Shangri-La Hotel Manila, and the biggest expo of franchise companies and products at the World Trade Center on Sept. 14-16. The secretariat is now accepting inquiries at telephone numbers 687-03-66 or 67.

A virtual gathering of who’s who in the local and international franchise business, the initial list include Don Boroian, chairman of Francorp International and the man behind the success of Jollibee franchise who will talk on "How To Expand Your Franchise Network"; Dr. Bernardo Villegas, dean of School of Economics on "Economic Prospects of Asia-Pacific Economies in the Medium Term"; Chantal Zimmer, executive director-European Franchise Federation on "Franchising in Europe"; lawyer Claro Certeza, vice-presidnet for legal affairs, Jollibee Foods on "The Success Story of Jollibee"; Brian Smart of the British Franchise Association on "Workshop on Legal Aspects in Franchising"; William Callaghan, training specialist-Tricon, Inc. on "Supporting Your Franchisees: Strategies That Build Winning Relationships"; Ichiro Fujita, president-Idea Link Japan on "Re-Engineering Your Franchise Network"; David Franz, finance project manager-OPIC on "Acquiring Capital To Build Your Franchise Network."

Newly appointed APFC chairman Samie Lim will give an overview on "The growth of Franchising in Asia" during the opening ceremonies. This will be followed by country reports on industry update-trends and innovations by members of the APFC.