Below you’ll find some excellent free and in-depth EOA webinars on a variety of topics. If you enjoy the content be sure to check out the EOA Events page where you’ll find some great opportunities to learn and contact your peers in person – whether you are new to employee-ownership or an EO veteran.
An Update on Canada’s New Employee Ownership Legislation
> Webinar held: Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 at 12:00 noon (AEDT)
Our Panel Expert, Jon Shell, Chair of Social Capital Partners (SCP), discussed how the advocacy campaign and legislative program has progressed in Canada over the past few years, and what we might learn from their successes.
Equity Plans for non-executive directors (NEDs)
> Webinar held: Tuesday, 17th October, 2023 at 10:00am (AEDT)
Our Panel Experts, Natalia Gordin and Alexander Cambria, Senior Managers in EY’s Reward team provided insights on market practice, common structures, the purpose and objectives of NED equity plans and the key legal and tax considerations.
Employee Ownership – An update on Broad based Employee Share Plans
> Webinar held: Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 10am (AEDT)
Our panel of experts discussed the key features of Broad-based Employee Share Plans with a focus on salary sacrifice plan design, employee engagement strategies and insights into implementing a broad-based plan in a company setting. Highlighted also were tax considerations for Australian and Global employee share plans.
A good number of companies in Australia have now implemented broad based employee share plans. These plans are designed to (i) improve employee engagement, (ii) drive employee motivation and retention and (iii) provide employees with an opportunity to invest in their employer.
The webinar explored the different plan designs, implementation processes and employee engagement strategies involved, while providing an insight into global tax considerations for such plans in large companies.
Employee Ownership – So What? What it means for your employees to be owners
> Webinar held: Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at 10am (AEDT)
As more interest grows in Employee Ownership by Trust (EOT) in Australia, there is more curiosity around the benefits, opportunities, and challenges of being an employee who has the benefit of ownership. Simon and Janna explored in the webinar topics such as purpose & job satisfaction, voice & participation, financial reward, and transparency & decision-making.
Hope you found this webinar as interesting as we did.
Related to this topic is the excellent article just published in Indesign magazine – “People want meaning in their work”: the architecture of employee ownership with Make and Meld – on the development of employee ownership within architect firms in Australia. You can read this article at: https://www.indesignlive.com/ideas/employee-ownership. Employee ownership comes in many different forms and there is certainly no one size fits all. It is a growing trend especially in design and architect firms overseas, so Timothy Alouani-Roby spoke to some of those blazing the trail in Australia.
Tackling the worker engagement deficit – how can ‘cooperative workplaces’ become more prevalent in Australian industry
> Webinar held: Monday, 17 April 2023 at 10 am (AEDT)
From their recent work with a range of mutual and employee-owned enterprises, Anna Booth and Clive Thompson from EOA member, CoSolve, discussed the promises, the challenges, and the obstacles surrounding the quest for cooperative workplaces in Australian industry.
With the evidence available showing that ‘shared ownership’ encourages productive relations in the workplace, it is clear that deeper insights into workplace dynamics, the careful shaping of workplace culture, and gainsharing are key drivers for success. Where employers and employees collaborate to improve the performance of their business, there are better prospects of joint success, including better job security, higher wages, and higher profits. The lesson for the broader employee ownership sector appears to be that ‘ownership’ without ‘participation’ produces very little by way of mutual gain.
Mentioned in the webinar were EOA’s submissions to the Jobs and Skills Summit and the Cooperative Workplaces Consultation.
Employee ownership trusts in law firms: can it happen in Australia
> Webinar held: Thursday, 15 December 2022 at 10 am (AEDT)
There are now over 1,000 companies owned by employee ownership trusts in the UK, including many professional services firms in fields like architecture. As far as law firms go, there are only a handful that have converted to EOTs in the UK, and none in Australia – yet. In this webinar, we look at the case study of Tapestry Compliance, a UK law firm that became EOT owned two years ago. Jess Mitchell, a consultant for Tapestry, will talk about how it works, the advantages and disadvantages of the EOT model compared to a traditional law firm structure, and Tapestry’s advice for law (or other professional services) firms that may consider employee ownership by trust. Luke Geary, partner (NFPs, Human Rights & Social Impact) of large Australian law firm Mills Oakley, will give perspective on the potential for EOTs in law firms in the Australian context, including the barriers and opportunities ahead. The webinar will be facilitated by Janna DeVylder, co-founder, principal and director of EOT-owned Australian design firm Meld Studios.
New Corporate disclosure regime for employee share schemes | EOA Experts Panel Webinar
> Webinar held: Wednesday, 26 October 2022 at 10am (AEDT)
The Corporate disclosure rules for offering interests in employee share schemes significantly changed on 1 October 2022. These rules have particular impact and provide opportunities for the manner in which equity can be provided in unlisted entities. They also create new obligation and processes for compliance from the listed companies.
Jack Hill, a partner in King & Wood Mallesons corporate section presents on the new rules and their impact. Jack has particular expertise in the corporate treatment of employee ownership arrangements for both private and public companies.
Ownership: Reinventing Companies, Capitalism, and Who Owns What | EOA Experts Panel Webinar
> Webinar held: Wednesday 14 September
EOA was delighted to welcome guest expert Corey Rosen from the US National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) for this webinar on how we can move forward to make employee ownership and similar practical ideas the norm, not the exception.
Thank you to everyone who attended the 11th EOA Expert Panel Webinar held on Wednesday, 14 September at 9.30am (AEST).
Employee ownership trusts: a flexible solution to business succession | EOA Experts Panel Webinar
> Webinar held: Tuesday 7 June
Join Professor Andrew Pendleton as he outlines the main features of the employee ownership trust (EOT) and explains why it is an attractive form of business succession.
The design features of the EOT help to overcome some of the well-known and long-standing barriers to employee ownership, such as financing constraints and employee coordination.
This presentation provides a comprehensive account of the demographics of EOTs: size of company, location, sector, and age, drawing on data from a population study and from an in-depth survey of 210 EOTs (around one-third of the population).
Finally, the presentation outlines and discusses employee involvement in governance such as representation on the EO trust and the main company board.
Andrew is Professor of Employee Ownership and Reward, and former head of the School of Management and Governance (2019 – 2021) at the UNSW Business School.
Thank you to everyone who attended the tenth EOA Expert Panel Webinar held on Tuesday, 7 June at 9am (AEST).
Topical Tax Issues with Employee Share Schemes (ESS) with Shaun Cartoon | EOA Experts Panel Webinar
> Webinar held: Tuesday 24 May
Shaun Cartoon, Partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler, explores some recurring, but often overlooked tax issues in relation to the application of the start-up tax concessions, Employee Share Trusts (ESTs), value shifting provisions and cross-border tax issues.
Thank you to everyone who attended the ninth EOA Expert Panel Webinar held on Tuesday, 24 May at 9am (AEST).
Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) with Graeme Nuttall OBE | EOA Experts Panel Webinar
> Webinar held: Tuesday 5 April 2022
In this webinar Graeme Nuttall OBE explains how and why employee ownership trusts (EOTs) have become a mainstream way of owning and governing UK private companies and discusses the potential for EOTs in Australia.
A big thank you to everyone who attended the eighth EOA Expert Panel Webinar held on Tuesday, 5 April at 5pm (AEST).
“Congratulations should go to all involved in this webinar. It is easily the most effective 1 hr discussion on EOTs I’ve heard.”
– James Miller, Director, Roof and Balcony Solutions
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | ESS Tax and Regulatory Reform
> Webinar held: Thursday 21 October 2021
A big thank you to everyone who attended the seventh EOA Expert Panel Webinar, with Tom McCarty from Link Market Services and Shaun Cartoon and Eileen Liu from Arnold Bloch Leibler, held on Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 9am (AEDT).
During 2021 the Government has provided a roadmap of significant regulatory and tax reforms that will make it easier for businesses to offer Employee Share Schemes, which will ultimately support Australian businesses to attract and retain their top talent. Join Tom as he discusses the proposed new ESS tax and regulatory changes in Australia with Shaun and Eileen.
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | Employee Share Trusts
> Webinar held: Thursday 16 September 2021
Thanks to everyone that attended the sixth EOA Experts Panel Webinar, hosted and led by Daniela Del Rossi from PwC on Thursday, 16 September 2021 at 10am (AEST).
Employee Share Trusts are common structures companies use to facilitate their employee share schemes. In this session, Daniela will be providing a refresher on Employee Share Trusts including ATO guidance and some practical tips on managing tax risks.
A reminder that the subject of Employee Share Trusts is different to that of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | Tax tricks and traps for ESOPs in a M&A transaction
> Webinar held: Wednesday 18 August 2021
Thanks to everyone that attended the fifth EOA Experts Panel Webinar, hosted and led by Cameron Blackwood from Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills on Wednesday, 18 August at 9am AEST.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are common and many of us get involved in the employee equity side of the deal. Join Cameron as he provides us with tax tricks and traps for employee share ownership plans in a M&A transaction.
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | Taking your share plan international
> Webinar held: Monday 12 July 2021
Thank you to everyone that attended the fourth EOA Experts Panel Webinar, hosted and led by Jon Lee & Natalia Gordin from Ernst & Young on Monday, 12 July at 10am AEST.
Offering participation in an employee equity plan on a global scale is a complex exercise. In this Experts Panel session, Jon and Natalia help you navigate through the key tax and legal / regulatory, and commercial considerations when taking your equity plan abroad.
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | Tax & corporate law issues for ESOPs for start-ups
> Webinar held: Thursday 24 June 2021
A big thank you to everyone that attended the third EOA Experts Panel Webinars, hosted and led by Toby Eggleston from Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills on Thursday, 24 June at 9am AEST.
In this session, Toby discusses the tax and legal issues for ESOPs for early stage companies, including the requirements to access the ‘startup concessions’ and what structures can be used when a private company scales beyond those measures.
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | Overview of employee share scheme reporting
> Webinar held: Wednesday 9 June 2021
A big thank you to everyone that attended the second EOA Experts Panel Webinars, hosted and led by Marc Bosotti from PwC on Wednesday, 9 June at 9am AEST.
Join Marc as we learn more about the processes, key requirements and deadlines involved in Employee Share Scheme reporting.
EOA Experts Panel Webinar | Overview of the different types of employee equity arrangements
> Webinar held: Wednesday 28 April 2021
A big thank you to everyone that attended the first of the EOA Experts Panel Webinars, hosted and led by Marc Bosotti from PwC on Wednesday, 28 April at 9am AEST.
In this session Marc covered the main types of employee equity instruments used, including shares, rights and options and discussed the different types of arrangements in which these instruments are used and some of the key considerations for companies and participants.
EOA Member Update August 2020
> Webinar held: Thursday 6th August 2020
Using Employee Equity During The COVID-19 Pandemic And EOA Advocacy Update
A big thank you to all of our members who joined the online member only webinar.
On the agenda we had a Q&A with Jo McLellan, Head of Tax at Domain, and one of the architects behind Domain’s innovative employee share rights offer in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Members also heard an update on EOA’s advocacy efforts, with a focus on EOA’s response to the recent parliamentary Inquiry into the Tax Treatments of Employee Share Plans.
A recording of the webinar can be found on our member dashboard.
What Women Want Webinar
> Webinar held: Wednesday 10 August 2016.
This webinar explores inclusiveness and engagement in relation to employee plan design and communication to women.
Why? Women make up a significant proportion of companies’ workforce but to what extent are they taken into account when considering plan design and communication? The webinar looked at: the key legal considerations; behavioural differences in response to risk; communicating with different demographics; what the research shows; and, what companies are doing in this space.
Introduced by EOA Chair, Angela Perry, the webinar featured Jessica Mitchell, UK and Australian qualified lawyer who works with Tapestry Compliance; and, Joanna Mak, Senior Manager, Share Plan at Brambles.
Tax Changes Explained Webinar
> Webinar held: Thursday 28 January, 2016
Tax changes will have an impact on your company, whether it is entirely employee-owned or you have some other form of employee share ownership in place. Webinar attendees found out about companies and enterprises adapting to the new tax environment in Australia for business-benefit. Expert opinion on the new opportunities and possible pitfalls in relation to significant government policy changes was provided.
The webinar featured a particular focus on start-ups. There is increasing interest from the Australian start-up community about the benefits of utilising employee share ownership schemes.
You can access the recording of this webinar here
Learning from Private Companies about Employee Ownership Webinar
> Webinar held: Monday 16 Nov 2015
Some excellent learnings from Geo Consulting and acQuire/Metech told first hand from the people who implemented them.
