Dr John Goddard · Director and business leader advisor
Increase your business’s productivity through better management.
Strategy, ideas and solutions for the owners and leaders of Australian small and medium enterprises — practical help with planning, operations improvement and the people decisions every growing business faces.
Prefer to talk now? Call +61 412 696 329
1,200 → 4,500
Clients, as CEO of Rockend from 2004 to 2014
12×
Profit growth over the same decade, with national client service awards
DBA, 2026
Doctor of Business Administration, Charles Sturt University
Since 2015
Network group chair for owner-managers; a member since 2004
Career · BOC · Peat Marwick Mitchell (KPMG) · Coopers & Lybrand · Cimplan (founder) · Hewlett Packard · Rockend (CEO)
Why it matters
Every day, Australian SME business owners and leaders face challenges that threaten their business and the 6 million+ Australians they employ.
Unlike well-resourced large businesses, most SMEs lack some of the key skills essential to build a sustainable growing organisation.
Developing high level people skills and growing a leadership team with deep management experience are common challenges when building a sustainable business.
When a second opinion or a new solution is required, we can assist to fill the skills gap through providing support to owners and managers on strategy, planning, operations improvement and people decisions.
How we help
Three ways John works with owners and leaders.
Every SME is different, but the work usually lands in one of three connected areas.
Strategy & Planning
Step back from the day-to-day, get clear on where the business is heading, and turn that direction into a plan you can actually run.
Includes
- Annual planning with the Balanced Scorecard
- Establishing and supporting advisory boards
Operations Improvement
Find the friction in how the work gets done. Practical changes to processes and day-to-day operations that lift productivity across the business.
Includes
- A second opinion when a new solution is required
- Plans that delegate and measure progress
People & Leadership
Make people-management decisions with confidence, and close the skills gaps in leadership, management and organisational sustainability.
Includes
- In-house manager and leader training
- Recruitment process and coaching
- Networking with peers
The research behind the work
“Exploring the impact of Action Learning and Communities of Practice on Owner-Manager and Business Performance in Regional Networks.”
In 2026 John was awarded a Doctor of Business Administration degree by Charles Sturt University, based on research undertaken with NSW mid north coast firms which participated in a community of practice network.
John has been a network group member since 2004 and chair since 2015. His doctoral thesis focuses on the value of SME networks.
In their own words
What owner-managers in John’s CEO group say.
In the new bigger organisation, I need to build my overall leadership capability and skill. I appreciate the feedback and support I get from John.
CEO group member, 2026
After 4 years as the business owner, I recognise just how important this CEO group is for me. I really appreciate the support and ideas shared.
CEO group member, 2026
I understand that we need to bulk-up the business through acquisitions to fully recognise its value over the next few years. The group gives me all the input I need to help manage and lead.
CEO group member, 2026
Direct quotations from CEO group members in 2026, shared anonymously.
Do you want to increase productivity & grow your business?
Would you value some external help or new ideas?
You’ll speak with John directly.
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