Martin Hosking

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Martin Hosking was born in 1960 and lives in the Dandenongs, Australia. He is chairman of business Aconex,[1] which has growing operations in the Middle East, as well the executive Chairman of start-up Redbubble.[2] He teaches Entrepreneurship at the Melbourne Business School.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Background

Hosking grew up in Canberra and completed his higher education at the University of Melbourne in history. Hosking joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where he served in Damascus and Cairo. It was here where he learned to speak Arabic.[3]

Hosking started his business career with consultants McKinsey & Company. From 1996 Hosking was one of the Melbourne Trio,[citation needed] co-founders of the NASDAQ listed Looksmart with Evan Thornley and his wife Tracey Ellery. Hosking was eventually to hold the position of Senior Vice President, Product.[4] Looksmart shares went on a rollercoaster ride after listing.[5]

[edit] Chairman of Aconex

Hosking now chairs internet company Aconex[6] and is one of its major investors.[citation needed] Aconex provides online document management services to construction projects. Aconex says that it has “more than 30 offices” around the world and that it has "more than $160 billion worth" of projects under management.[7][8]

In addition to Hosking, the Aconex Board of management includes lawyer Michael Robinson who is the ex-Chairman of, and now a consultant to, the law firm Allens Arthur Robinson. The Australian Financial Review described Hosking’s decision to appoint the “heavyweight” Robinson in early 2006 as a “likely prelude to an initial public offering.”[9] The Board also includes the two co-founders of Aconex, Leigh Jasper and Robert Phillpot. Leigh Jasper’s father, Ken Jasper, is the National Party's Member for Murray Valley in Victoria.[10]

In 2005 Aconex raised $6.5m in "one of the largest private capital raisings in Australia".[11] Sales in the year to 30 June 2007 were A$28.2 million. Turnover was expected by to double again in the next financial year.[12] The order book is $41.6m.[13] The business has won numerous awards in including the BRW Fast Company, the Deloitte Fast 50, the “Smart Company Award” and Master Builders Exporter of the Year.[14]

[edit] Growth in Middle East

Hosking’s influence over the direction of Aconex is seen with the strong growth of Aconex in the Middle East. Aconex has opened offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Manama and Algiers and has won projects in Libya and Morrocco. Leigh Jasper says of Dubai: “We plan to hire an extra 50 people there by the end of the year.”[15] Most of Aconex's largest projects are in the Middle East.[16][17][18][19]


[edit] Executive Chairman of RedBubble

Hosking is a co-founder and Executive Chairman of RedBubble. The other co-founders were Paul Vanzella and Peter Styles. RedBubble is:

"an online marketplace for artists and art lovers. Membership of the site is free, artists retain their copyright, set their own prices and choose which products they want to sell (prints, t-shirts and gift cards). In keeping with the evolution of the web, RedBubble is fostering community above and beyond transactional interaction."[20]

Since launching in February 2007, RedBubble has become one of the fastest growing websites in Australia, now approaching 50 million page views per month.[21]

By the end of 2006 RedBubble had already raised over $2 million capital.[22] Now the company has grown to more than 14 employees. Simon Baker, CEO of RealEstate.com.au, has been appointed non-executive director.[23]

[edit] Australian Arabic Council

Hosking has been active in the Australian Arabic Council (AAC) and was its Secretary in 2005. In this capacity he emphasized support for Palestinian human rights and moderation on several significant issues including:

  • Arrests of terror suspects: "The strength of the Australian community as a whole depends upon the premise that there is no blame by association. Arab Australians and Muslims are as much potential victims of terrorism as the rest of the Australian community and abhor it no less."[24] "We see the arrests as a step forward ... in the sense that matters which have been bubbling along in the media are now firmly in the hands of the courts." "Of course we, like all Australians, welcome these arrests if they can improve our security and we support the actions of the authorities in this regard. We need to remember there is a presumption of innocence and the final verdict will be delivered by the courts."[25]
  • Racial profiling: “It is impossible to come up with a so called ‘Middle Eastern profile’. Nobody can tell by appearance whether any given individual is of Arabic background. Sending our security forces in pursuit of the caricatured Arab is not going to prevent any truly determined terrorist. The security forces will lose the support of the Australian Arabic community if they subject them to exceptional measures.[26]
  • ASIO searches: “The AAC recognises the need to protect Australia from possible terrorist threats and the role that ASIO plays in gathering intelligence to these ends. But the lack of transparency in conducting such operations poses a threat to the very democratic principles that the government and ASIO are protecting.”[27]

[edit] Personal

According to Hosking's profile on RedBubble as the user 'pilgrim'[28] he is married to Loreto and has 3 daughters.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Online document management, web collaboration and project management for construction, engineering and facility management. - Aconex
  2. ^ Search Results for " wwwredbubble.com "
  3. ^ Entrepreneur27 » Interview with Martin Hosking and Peter Styles of RedBubble
  4. ^ http://sec.edgar-online.com/2000/04/28/16/0000929624-00-000594/Section11.asp http://www.secinfo.com/dsBqn.5yt.htm
  5. ^ Inside Business - 19/10/2003: LookSmart faces reality of life without MSN
  6. ^ The Board - Aconex
  7. ^ http://www.gulftraffic.com/PDF/Aconexto07.pdf
  8. ^ Smart Company - Going global on shoestring - Going global on shoestring
  9. ^ The Australian Financial Review, Emma Connors, February 7, 2006
  10. ^ Global team plays it fast and friendly - Case Studies & Profiles - BizTech
  11. ^ Aconex Press Release - Leading Australian IT Company Set to Transform
  12. ^ Aconex
  13. ^ Extranet Evolution: Business/Financial
  14. ^ Master Builders name Aconex exporter of the year - Export case studies - Austrade
  15. ^ Aconex
  16. ^ http://www.ameinfo.com/126221.html T
  17. ^ Aconex lands role in Algerian toll road - Business - Business - theage.com.au
  18. ^ Snasco chooses Aconex for Sharjah Investment Center
  19. ^ http://www.mmv.vic.gov.au/uploads/downloads/Victorian_Success_Stories/Aconexmediarelease.pdf
  20. ^ Building online marketplaces | Australian Anthill Magazine
  21. ^ MBS: MBS entrepreneurs launch Australia's biggest online art gallery
  22. ^ Business Review Weekly Kath Walters, October 19, 2006
  23. ^ MBS: MBS entrepreneurs launch Australia's biggest online art gallery
  24. ^ Arabic council welcomes arrests | NEWS.com.au
  25. ^ PM not 'targeting' Muslims - National - theage.com.au
  26. ^ http://www.etu.asn.au/pdfs/2005/pr050805.pdf
  27. ^ http://www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/ccjdp/hrr-detail.asp?ID=1454
  28. ^ Pilgrim's Overview - RedBubble