ken willis
MANAGING DIRECTOR, WANDSCORP
Ken works with buyers and sellers of technology, products and systems through novel challenges in highly regulated, political and sensitive environments. He has a particular interest in demystifying markets subject to high scrutiny or national security considerations for potential new entrants.
Since playing a direct role in Australia launching a high technology national industry that now has well-established export markets, he has held a passion for combining brand and business strategy for all sectors of the economy seeking to address an unmet need.
An experienced negotiator, Ken has successfully led a number of high-risk negotiations with cross-border parties, including rescuing fraught deals between major multinationals and averting catastrophic program failure, as well as more acute and life-and-death situations.
Ken also spent 7 years directing complex engagements in Australia's then-largest consulting firm, spanning advising both listed companies and nonprofit organisations on Research & Development (R&D) stage gates and IP commercialisation, supplier and consortium on major capital programs up to AUD 4 Billion, and development of real-time Business Intelligence (BI) tools for matters of major national interest.
As a result of his professional experience, Ken has become a strong advocate for making the benefits of sound business rigour available and accessible to any industries, organisations and business turning good thinking into good concepts that are endorsed by the market.
Ken is a keen supporter of sports, particularly AFL (Australian Rules Football) and Rugby, as well as the arts and music. He is a lifelong technical student of multiple guitar styles, including classical, flamenco and metal. Despite his love of music as well as experience sourcing and selling across multiple operation and capital spend categories, the name of his favourite instrument - the Armenian duduk - eluded him for over 25 years.