‘Share your dreams’: Irvin talks innovation and its importance for the region and nation’s future

A lack of fear around sharing big ideas has been the key to the current success of Bega Cheese, according to the company’s executive chair Barry Irvin.

While isolating at home after going through recent treatment for cancer, Mr Irvin said the current COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession is forcing Australia to engage in inevitable conversations earlier than may have happened otherwise.

When I’ve had a good idea I’ve told as many people as possible, because human nature is not to steal things, but to help each other.

Discussions around growing trends including working from home, working in regional and rural areas away from the big cities, home cooking and convenience, as well as a universal basic income have been accelerated by COVID-19, he said.

“It [a universal basic income] was a debate that was going to be had at some point in the future,’ he said.

Mr Irvin said he has always had an interest in following innovation hubs and accelerators, and regularly keeps an eye on what goes on in Australia’s capital cities as well as abroad.

He said while innovation hubs “still have a journey to run” and their evolution in Australia “still has a way to go”, if a “couple” of ideas become successful, they will lead the way in the sector for others to follow.

“I’m very keen on all aspects of ag tech, and in particular precision farming,” he said.

“I’m very interested in the older style of farming, especially from a consumer point of view.”

The company has been a sponsor of the University of Wollongong’s Bega Valley Innovation Hub, and Mr Irvin has been a guest speaker at Bega AgTech Days, run by IntoIT Sapphire Coast founder Liam O’Duibhir.

Mr Irvin is now recognised around the world for his experience in the dairy industry and has been chair of the company for the last 20 years – a time in which he seen the industry change in many ways.

Mr Irvin said mixed farming models will be important in the future, and said “new age efficient agriculture” , and a focus on local production and reducing food miles are now what consumers are looking for.

He also said innovations around carbon sequestration, or long-term storage of carbon dioxide, will be important in Australia’s future economy.

Mr Irvin said the Bega Valley is a place with a great opportunity to provide consumers with what they want as well as to “develop unique markets”.

“Sometimes people forget that when I joined Bega Cheese all the value adding was being done elsewhere,” he said.

“The origins of the idea to value add happened in the Bega Valley.”

He said local knowledge has gone on to “create more knowledge” within the business and help “meet the emerging and changing market”.

Mr Irvin said growing diversity throughout the region will also boost local innovation, and he urged anyone with an idea to share it with others.

He said an ethos of “not being afraid to share ideas” has been the key to Bega’s success as a company.

“In my experience, the best thing to do is you’ve got a big idea is to share it,” Mr Irvin said.

“When I’ve had a good idea I’ve told as many people as possible, because human nature is not to steal things, but to help each other.

“The majority of times, people want to help develop ideas.

“You should share your ideas and share your dreams,” he said.

He said he has at times been told his big ideas are “entirely idiotic”, and a combination of persistence and “business humility” have been “extraordinarily important”.

“I wander around a lot of the time with a good idea thinking others think it’s not, but I never let that stop me,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid of criticism and be persistent.”

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