by brandsa2018

New local links in Future Frigate supply chain

The supply chain of the SEA 5000 Future Frigate Program has begun to firm up with a South Australian metalworking firm joining Raytheon Anschuetz.

Adelaide company Rowlands Metalworks has been appointed as an approved Raytheon supplier to work on the navigational bridge consoles for the Future Frigates program in South Australia.

The deal came about after Raytheon was introduced to South Australian electronics company REDARC through the BAE Systems Global Access Program.

REDARC then recommended Rowlands to construct the housing for the consoles.

Rowlands managing director Cameron Johnston says the rigorous vetting process and subsequent memorandum of understanding would allow his established company to bid for more work on other Raytheon projects, including non defence contracts.

“We’ve been in operation for more than 60 years now, supporting a broad range of industries and sectors and are delighted with the opportunity we can see to reach further into the defence industry with this deal,” Cameron says.

“There’s no doubt the South Australian defence industry is on the cusp of some very exciting times and we will now be well placed to make the most of the growth in the sector here in SA.”

Cameron says each of the nine navigation bridge consoles will cost more than $250,000, bringing the value of the contract to more than $2 million for Rowlands.

With a current team of 45 people, he says the company could potentially grow its staff number by at least 50% to service the new opportunity.

Construction is expected to start immediately after the contract is finalised in the coming months.

Header image: An artist impression of Raytheon’s navigational bridge console.

Visit the I Choose SA for Industry website to learn more about key industry leaders, why they’ve chosen SA as a base and how the state is enabling them to succeed.

 

by brandsa2018

SA Product Register roll-out boosting business profiles

How do you tell if a product is purely South Australian?

Since its launch in October 2017, the SA Product Register has allowed consumers to make solid choices and helped local businesses to raise their own profile.

The building and construction sector is the first industry to have access to the register, with a number of local businesses already seeing success from being a part of the Industry Advocate initiative.

The register will be developed in the future to include other sectors such as health industries, creative industries and manufacturing.

The SA Product Register uses a free rating system for products manufactured or supplied in the state, measuring local labour hours throughout the supply chain process.

An example of the rating system featuring the State Brand.

It seeks to support small to medium sized businesses and in turn create jobs and drive economic growth.

A report recently released by Deloitte Access Economics found that small business confidence in SA was at its best since 2013.

Deloitte also says SA has the highest new business survival rate than any other state.

Two local businesses and I Choose SA participants are already showing their support for the SA Product Register.

Best Bricks and Pavers managing director Dino D’Ottavi says he appreciates the Industry Advocate’s willingness to “go into bat” for local businesses.

“The advantage of the register is that it highlights SA manufactured products at the design and specification stage,” he says.

Best Bricks and Pavers sales representative and I Choose SA ambassador Nicholas Bucco.  PHOTO: James Knowler / @jkcrewphotos.

Air conditioning manufacturer Seeley International executive chairman Frank Seeley AM says the register helps promote the business’ profile to more than just the everyday consumer.

“The new SA Product Register not only recognises the important contribution Seeley International makes to the state’s economy, by highlighting products that create the most jobs … but also raises our profile with architects, quantity surveyors, project managers and designers,” he says.

Industry Advocate Ian Nightingale says more than 300 expressions of interest have been received from local manufacturing and supply businesses, with more expected over coming months.

Seeley International executive chairman and I Choose SA ambassador Frank Seeley AM. PHOTO: James Knowler / @jkcrewphotos.

“Whether it’s the design of a building, landscaping, an office fit-out or the purchase of ICT systems ­– more procurement decisions will now deliver greater economic benefit to SA and our local businesses,” he says.

There are more than 140,000 small businesses in SA, representing 98% of total businesses in the state and a third of the workforce.

The SA Product Register is proudly supported by Brand South Australia.

Itching to shop local right away? Then check out Shop South Australia.

Visit I Choose SA to find out how you can support our State by choosing South Australian businesses, products and services.

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by brandsa2018

State of Origin clash to rake in $15m for SA economy

South Australia’s tourism industry will emerge as a winner when an NRL State of Origin clash is held at Adelaide Oval in 2020, delivering an estimated $15m to the state’s economy.

The match from the annual best-of-three series between the New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons will be the first event of its kind in SA.

The agreement for Adelaide Oval to host the 2020 State of Origin game has been secured through the State Government’s Major Events Bid Fund.

The government says more than 30% of fans coming to the game are expected to hail from outside of SA while four million people are expected to watch the clash on TV.

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NRL CEO Todd Greenberg says the popularity of Origin will only be enhanced when the game is played at “such (an) historic venue like Adelaide Oval”.

Tourism Minister Leon Bignell says thousands of NRL fans will enjoy SA’s bars, restaurants, hotels and wine regions during their stay.

Aside from AFL, the State of Origin is one of Australia’s biggest sporting competitions.

“Most of Australia is glued to the TV when the State of Origin is on,” Min. Bignell says.

“There have been so many great games between the Blues and the Maroons and it’s brilliant we’ll be able to cheer them on live at Adelaide Oval in 2020.”

More than seven million people have already attended events at Adelaide Oval since its award-winning and multi-million dollar redevelopment in 2014.

by brandsa2018

Goolwa Bakery pies want a slice of Asia

The Goolwa Bakery has made “food for the Fleurieu” for the past 105 years and now the long-established business is preparing to share its pies and pasties with Asia.

With help from Austrade, Goolwa Bakery owner Ben Hage is about to enter the Singaporean market after taking part in Business SA’s Export Ready Program recently.

Batches of pepper pies and pasties will be sent to Singapore in April 2018 for an international food and catering expo, with Ben also in discussion with an online Singaporean grocery retailer.

“The Goolwa Bakery has been going for 105 years, so it must be doing something right and why not share that with Asia?” he says.

“We need to step outside of our little comfort zone and explore.”

Goolwa Bakery will take its pepper pies and pasties to Singapore in April 2018.

The original Goolwa bakery is based in the seaside town, but within the past five years Ben has expanded the brand to four other sites across regional SA.

Stores are located at Hayborough and Stirling while the Seaford and McLaren Vale sites are both known as The Cottage Bakery.

All 120 products are baked at the original Goolwa Bakery site, with classic favourites including pepper pies, pasties, vanilla slices and chocolate eclairs.

“Our bakers start at 11pm–1am and then one of them leaves Goolwa at 2.30am to deliver the products to Stirling, then they’re back in Goolwa by 4.30–5am,” Ben says.

“We also have drivers who drop the products to the other stores seven days a week.

“Our head baker, Geoff Varcoe, he’s a Goolwa local and his attention to detail with the creams and cakes is absolutely outstanding.”

Head baker and Goolwa local Geoff Varcoe.

Established in 1912, the original Goolwa Bakery is one of the town’s longest running businesses.

It has changed hands a number of times, but many of the recipes have stayed the same.

Ben and his brother took it over five years ago from their parents who had owned it for six years prior.

Ben says opening the four other sites had provided year-round jobs for bakers and other staff.

“The biggest problem I saw (before opening four other sites) was that Goolwa Bakery is so seasonal due to everyone being down there in the summer,” he says.

“So the number of bakers went from six in peak season down to two in winter, which was hard to manage and wasn’t really creating a good workplace culture.

“So I thought, ‘how can we level out that rollercoaster of employment?’ The way to do that was to open a couple of other retail outlets by aiming for one new retail site a year.

All ingredients are sourced locally where possible, including eggs from Goolwa and meat and veggies from the Adelaide Hills.

“Now we employ seven bakers 52 weeks of the year and it’s gotten rid of that seasonality of the business.

“The workplace culture has improved because everyone is slightly more relaxed knowing they’re not getting cut when the peak season winds down.”

With the addition of four stores, the original bakery’s production volumes have also increased, prompting Ben to invest in two new ovens at Goolwa.

“We had the ‘old girl’, a six-deck oven that had been baking for 48 years,” Ben says.

“But she was so temperamental because she had hot spots and cold spots.

“Our bakers are a lot happier and our power bills have decreased.”

The original Goolwa Bakery is one of the town’s longest running business.

Ben says the Goolwa Bakery is strongly focused on delivering “the best food, best service and best culture”.

“Culture in a business is all about everyone working together and making it all happen,” he says.

“It’s not something that can be measured from KPIs and numbers, but it flows through to these things.

“It’s about the staff being on board, and if you’re front of house you need to provide the best service for the customers.

“We get good feedback and that’s why people keep coming back.”

Goolwa Bakery pastry is hand rolled, while ingredients are always sourced local where possible.

Whether in a quiet country town in South Australia or the skyscraper city of Singapore, Ben says it’s important for a meat pie to always be hot.

As for tomato sauce spilling onto one’s shirt mid-bite? Well, that’s inevitable.

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Top three fresh talents at Cellar Door Fest 2018

Next month’s Cellar Door Fest will welcome the South Australian wine industry’s newest talents in the first-time installation of the Emerging Winemakers Kitchen Table.

Among internationally renowned brands and well-established boutique labels will be 20 emerging winemakers’ drops from regions across the state.

Now in its eighth year, the festival will run from March 2–4 at the Adelaide Convention Centre and will also showcase more than 180 South Australian wineries, breweries, distilleries and food producers.

Local wine hero and Cellar Door Fest ambassador, Paul Henry, will host the Emerging Winemakers Kitchen Table, a free event that gives visitors a chance to sample a series of new drops.

Wine ambassador Paul Henry.

Paul, who runs Winehero and is a driving force behind Adelaide’s membership within the Great Wine Capitals Network, shared with Brand SA News three notable new players in SA wine.

“SA is the engine room of the whole Australian wine industry,” he says.

“So whether you’re from an internationally recognised brand like Jacob’s Creek or you’re a 23-year-old from a fourth-generation (wine) family and have had a passion for something you’ve seen in your travels – what businesses always need are interesting people coming into the wine market.”

See the full Emerging Winemakers list here.

Paul Henry’s Top three emerging winemakers

Ricca Terra Vintners, Riverland

Ashley and Holly Ratcliff are behind Ricca Terra Farms which over the years has grown grapes for some of the country’s greatest names in wine.

Now the pair have launched their own label, Ricca Terra Vintners, exploring interesting varieties suitable to the Riverland’s dry climate.

“They’re doing some fantastic things with Vermentino and Nero d’Avola,” Paul says.

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Turon Wines, Adelaide Hills

This small batch winery is led by winemaker Turon White who sources fruit from the top vineyards within the Hills.

Paul says Turon Wines is “making some really beautiful field blends”, but their creative packaging is also to be admired.

“The labels are done by a local artist to create an image to reflect the individuality of the wine,” Paul says.

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Lévrier by Jo Irvine, Barossa Valley

After making top wines for other winemakers, Jo Irvine recently launched her own luxury brand inspired by her long love of rescued greyhound dogs.

“I won’t give too much away,” says Paul.

“But it’s the sparkling brut I’m particularly fascinated by.”

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Make your way to the Emerging Winemakers district at the following times to secure a spot at the ‘kitchen table’; Friday March 2, 7pm & 8pm, Saturday March 3, 1pm & 3pm or Sunday March 4, 1pm & 3pm.

The complete Cellar Door Fest is on Friday March 2, 5–9pm, Saturday March 3, 11am–6pm, and Sunday March 4, 11am–6pm.

The festival will also include long table dining experiences, masterclasses, a new interactive DIY series and Food, Booze + Dancing Shoes on the Friday from 8pm – midnight.

Check out ticket information and the full program by following this link.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Feeling lucky? Enter the draw to win our Ultimate Cellar Door Fest Giveaway.

We’re giving you and three mates the chance to win free Cellar Door Fest entry, Festival Flavours Goodie bags, and half-dozen mixed wines.

Ten double passes are also up for grabs for runner ups.

Click here to enter. Terms and conditions apply.

Visit I Choose SA to find out how you can support our state by choosing South Australian businesses, products and services.

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by brandsa2018

Saab boss says shipbuilding jobs are here for the long run

Defence and shipbuilding in South Australia will not be a “boom and bust” industry, but will support secure long-term jobs and opportunities.

That’s according to Andy Keough, former Defence SA chief and current managing director of defence and security company Saab Australia.

Andy, a former submariner, played a key part in lobbying for Australia’s $50 billion Future Submarines to be built here in SA.

He says despite big sectors, such as the mining industry, usually experiencing a “boom and bust” pattern, there is a long-term commitment to continue shipbuilding in SA.

“We saw it with the upswing of the mining industry which took off with unimaginable riches that have come and gone,” Andy says.

“But here there is now a Federal Government commitment to continuous shipbuilding … and that’s a massive magnet that will continue to draw high quality workers from across Australia and the world.

“There aren’t many sectors in Australia that have the assurance that their industry will continue for many decades to come.”

Saab Australia managing director Andy Keough.

The Future Submarines Program includes the construction of a fleet of 12 new subs, constructed from 2022/23 at Adelaide’s Osborne shipyards, creating 2800 jobs.

The subs are one part of the nation’s $89 billion naval shipbuilding plan, which also features the construction of the Future Frigates and Offshore Patrol Vehicles.

While Saab has been selected to upgrade the control systems for navy’s current fleet of Collins Class submarines, it is also supporting Lockheed Martin to deliver the cutting edge combat system capability for the Future Submarines.

After two years in the top job at government agency, Defence SA, Andy joined the Mawson Lakes-based Saab as its managing director.

He brought with him 22 years of experience in the Australian Navy, including commanding two Collins Class submarines.

Andy retired from the navy in 2007, a year after receiving the Conspicuous Service Cross for his leadership while in command of HMAS Sheean.

Originally from Sydney, he came to SA nine years ago to work for ASC, starting in business improvement before graduating to being responsible for the in-service maintenance of the Collins Class fleet.

He says that typical views of the shipbuilding workforce were changing as people realised both skilled tradespeople and high-tech engineers are essential to operations.

“When I was with ASC there was a large trade workforce, but for every tradesman there were four or five highly skilled professionals including engineers, project managers, and supply chain and quality,” he says.

The skill level of the defence industry is evident in Saab’s own workforce, which includes a range of “hardware and software engineers undertaking advanced naval combat system work”.

Ships from Task Group 659.1 (including HMA Ships Canberra, Warramunga and Ballarat and HMNZS Te Kaha) joined by French Floreal class frigate FNS Prairial transit to Pearl Harbour, Hawaii to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. The ships have Saab’s combat management system on board.

Andy says “business is expanding” at Saab Australia, with the company expecting to grow its workforce by at least 150 “in the next couple of years”.

Saab is also strengthening its ties to academia through a partnership with the University of South Australia (UniSA).

Saab will partner with UniSA students to collaborate on the design of a future combat system, following the formation of the Defence Technologies Institute in 2017.

The initial collaboration involved Saab hosting projects for students in STEM-related fields, helping to equip them for their careers in defence and shipbuilding industries.

“Saab is working closely with UniSA so that for generations to come, graduates from this partnership will build a skilled, technologically savvy workforce for defence capabilities,” Andy says.

“It’s essential for a company like Saab to have a close relationship with UniSA because they (students) are our talent pipeline.

“They will assist us to get the best individuals on board.”

 

This I Choose SA for Shipbuilding and Defence Industries story is made possible by City of Salisbury and the University of South Australia:

Visit the I Choose SA for Industry website to read more stories about key industry leaders, why they’ve chosen SA as a base and how the state is enabling them to succeed.

 

by brandsa2018

Family-owned distillery lures gin lovers to Hahndorf

An Adelaide Hills family’s curiosity for the world of gin making has led to the establishment of Hahndorf’s first distillery.

Steve, Trudy and son Matt Dickson are behind Hahndorf tasting room and small-batch distillery, Ambleside Distillers, which is already quenching thirsts around town.

All three family members come from different industries, with Matt in construction, Trudy running a recruitment agency and Steve holding 35 years of experience in the health sector.

But it was a six-month trip to the UK that opened Matt’s eyes to the world of gin making, prompting the family to have a shot at launching a distillery and tasting room.

Matt Dickson was inspired to explore gin making after time spent in the UK.

“There was this whole gin revival in London and it wasn’t just about the standard London dry gin, I experienced many boutique gins and just fell in love with it,” Matt says.

“Mum and Dad also visited the UK and when we were back in Australia we introduced ourselves to many of the boutique gins, made with really good tonic water and garnishes.

“For us it was about creating gins we loved and that were of a very high quality and taste that hopefully many others would enjoy.”

With Matt’s experience in the construction industry, the Dicksons built the tasting room and distillery on the family’s property on the corner of Mount Barker and Ambleside roads.

Ambleside has three signature gin styles, crafted on site.

The tasting room’s fit out is simple and modern, incorporating textures such as brickwork and timber.

Crafted and hand-bottled on site are three signature styles, the Big Dry Gin, No. 8 Botanical Gin and Small Acre Gin.

Ambleside Distillers grows some of the botanicals on the property, including thyme and rosemary, while other flavours including jalapeno and citrus are sourced locally where possible.

Matt says that while wine is one of South Australia’s most dominant industries, the family wanted to get in on the state’s blossoming spirit scene.

Platters featuring local produce can be enjoyed with a gin cocktail, overlooking Hahndorf’s rural landscape.

He says the Adelaide Hills region was also cementing itself as one of the premier food and wine areas on offer to visitors.

“Each of the regions is really booming and the Hills is really coming into its own,” Matt says.

“We wanted to get in line with the other businesses in Hahndorf, because if you’re planning a trip to the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf is where you want to be headed.

“This was an opportunity for us to become a part of a different section of the food and beverage industry, not just wine.”

Steve says the state’s distilling scene had welcomed the Ambleside operation with open arms.

“We’ve had four different distillers visit us and say ‘welcome to the family, it’s good to have you on board’,” he says.

Ambleside Distillers offers platters featuring local cheeses and produce that can be enjoyed on the deck.

Curious about how it all works? The distilling equipment is in view from the tasting room.

Ambleside Distillers is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am–6pm.

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Lockheed Martin’s GM on SA’s shipbuilding jobs bonanza

Jack Mahoney, general manager of Lockheed Martin Australia, says South Australia’s burgeoning defence industry is luring “advanced and highly skilled” workers to carry out some of the biggest defence contracts in the country’s history.

The former US Navy combat systems technician has been in SA for more than a decade and says the high tech jobs needed for the future submarines and frigates programs are bringing world class innovation to the state.

“I think we’re definitely changing perceptions and people’s way of thinking that shipbuilding is only about banging metal,” Jack says.

“We employ very advanced, highly skilled tradespeople, all the way up to employees of a PhD level.”

“These are extremely high tech jobs.”

The nation’s $89 billion naval shipbuilding projects are providing high-tech jobs of the future within many companies, including Lockheed Martin Australia.

Lockheed Martin Australia’s SA facility is located in Mawson Lakes.

Rather than being involved in the physical build of Australia’s submarines, vessels and aircraft, Lockheed Martin Australia is a leader in the research, design, development, integration and maintenance of advanced technology systems.

Its latest announcement is yet another example of the economy-changing defence projects set to unfold (and already under way) in SA.

The company is partnering with French shipbuilder Naval Group to carry out a $700m contract to fit combat systems into Australia’s Future Submarines.

Jack says the project, set to deliver 200 jobs, the majority in SA, is already in the design phase.

Lockheed’s combat systems are the ‘brains’ of a submarine, consisting of sensors and radar technology that collects data which is then processed to control the submarine’s missiles and torpedoes.

The systems will be integrated into Australia’s fleet of 12 new submarines, constructed at Adelaide’s Osborne shipyards.

“The combat system controls all the aspects of what the ship does from a mission perspective,” Jack says.

“It can see other ships in the water and it can detect if the submarine is under potential attack.

“The project will unfold over many years (but) we are in the design phase of development and production.”

The $50 billion construction of the Future Submarines Program is one of the biggest defence contracts in Australia’s history.

It’s set to deliver more than 2800 direct and indirect jobs over the course of its lifetime, expected to run into the 2040–50s.

Aside from the future subs, Lockheed is also delivering missile defence systems for the $35 billion Future Frigates Program – a fleet of nine new vessels to replace the ANZAC class frigates.

The highly advanced Aegis Combat System can shoot down missiles from long and medium range, increasing Australia’s defence against rogue regimes.

The system will include technology by fellow defence company, Adelaide-based SAAB Australia.

Construction of the vessels is expected to take place in 2020.

Both projects, plus the construction of 12 offshore patrol vessels, come under the $89 billion National Shipbuilding Plan.

Lockheed is also providing the Royal Australian Navy with combat systems for the country’s most complex ship construction – the Air Warfare Destroyers Program.

The project, involving the build of “the world’s most capable multi-mission ships”, is being worked on by 2000 people in SA and is driving high-tech manufacturing jobs of the future.

Jack says SA’s defence industry jobs are starting to shake the misconception that its workers are only skilled in traditional trades.

He says Lockheed Martin South Australia employs 300 people, of which half are (bachelor’s) degree engineers.

“I think we have to do a better job of advertising the (high skilled nature) of the defence industry,” Jack says.

“STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and (advanced) mechanical development – all these things are going on in our state and we need to find better ways of (letting) our school kids know.

“We engage with high schools and encourage students to be involved in STEM.”

Lockheed Martin Australia general manager Jack Mahoney.

Jack, who also sits on the Defence Reserves Support Council of SA, was in the US Navy for 25 years before moving to Australia.

With SA setting itself up as the epicentre of the nation’s defence sector shortly after his arrival, it made sense for the father-of-two to call SA home.

He says the defence industry holds significant responsibility and one sole objective – to keep Australians safe.

“If you get it wrong there are severe ramifications,” Jack says.

“The number one objective is to keep people safe.

“I’ve been supporting the state for 12 plus years, I’m very proud of SA.”

I Choose SA for Shipbuilding and Defence Industries stories are made possible by City of Salisbury:

Visit the I Choose SA for Industry website to read more stories about key industry leaders, why they’ve chosen SA as a base and how the state is enabling them to succeed.

by brandsa2018

Story of growth for Angaston’s queen of cheese

Barossa Valley artisan producer Victoria McClurg has come a long way in her cheesemaking pursuits since crafting her first ever camembert in 2003 at home at the kitchen sink.

Now her Barossa Valley Cheese Co has settled into its new fit out after a near $1m expansion that has increased the business’ total footprint threefold.

Staff numbers have also more than doubled to 18 people.

Victoria says the expansion, which kicked off in 2014 and was boosted by a $200,000 Regional Development Fund grant, was necessary as the cheese tasting premises often reached visitor capacity.

The production cellar had also outgrown its facilities, she says.

The Barossa Valley Cheese Co cellar door and factory in Angaston has undergone significant expansion in the past three years.

“We were at a point where we couldn’t fit everyone … it was pretty intense,” she says.

“We’re now offering innovative opportunities for visitors that we weren’t able to provide before, which brings people to our business and contributes to the regional community.”

Barossa Valley Cheese Co has diversified from an earlier focus on only soft cheeses to include semi-matured varieties.

Production now reaches up to 10,000 litres a week, with milk sourced from the Nietschke dairy farm north of Angaston.

“The Nietschke family enable us to use 100% Barossa cows’ milk for the authenticity and integrity of our flagship products,” Victoria says.

The Barossa Valley Cheese Co has supported local dairy farming family the Nietschke’s since day one.

Victoria originally studied winemaking and travelled to Bordeaux, France, where she claimed a new appreciation for premium food and wine experiences.

Like Adelaide, Bordeaux is part of the Great Wine Capital Network, an exclusive cluster of nine cities which are internationally recognised wine regions.

But instead of falling deeper in love with wine while in Bordeaux, Victoria found her calling – cheese.

“Life was so simple in Bordeaux, everyone would sit down with friends and family, just enjoying being in each other’s company with a fresh bowl of produce in front of them,” Victoria says.

“That’s what I wanted in my life when I came back to Australia.”

Upon her return to Australia, Victoria moved to Angaston in 2003 and began “experimenting at home at the kitchen sink” with cheesemaking.

She soon mastered the craft and launched Barossa Valley Cheese Co in the main street of Angaston with her mother, Frances.

Pairing cheese with wine? Done before. Try a match making session with tea, cider or gin!

By 2008 their cheese had been crowned grand champion at the Australasian Cheese Competition for two consecutive years.

Over time Victoria has built a reputation for her washed rind cheeses, in particular the ‘bitey’ Barossa Washrind.

Her philosophy is to “keep culture alive by bringing heroes to the table and using what we have got”.

This mantra is evident in her loyalty to the local dairy industry and her integration of other Barossa products into the cheese cellar door experience.

“We offer cheese pairings with local wines, cider, beer, gin and tea,” Victoria says.

“The Barossa has an amazing reputation for its offerings.

“We aim to keep the culture and diversity alive.”

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New pool of talent for Adelaide’s fashion scene

Emerging fashion designer Brian Yambao could have picked anywhere in Australia to scratch his creative itch and study fashion.

But after falling in love with Adelaide during a work trip, the young designer who is originally from the Philippines, settled on honing his craft in South Australia.

This month Brian will watch his label Maelstrom glide down the runway as part of SA Fashion Graduate Parade, Unbound.

He is one of 27 TAFE SA and Flinders University fashion graduates who will show off their final collections on Thursday, February 8 on the grounds of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Brian will showcase six outfits under his label Maelstrom.

Brian says the parade is the culmination of three years of “learning, hard work and fun”.

“It also marks the beginning of our careers in the fashion industry as we look to the future with hopeful eyes, armed with newly developed skills and brimming with inspiration,” he says.

Brian is among the second lot of students to graduate from the three-year Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion), the highest fashion-related education course offered in SA.

Prior to 2014, fashion could only be studied through an Advanced Diploma at TAFE SA.

Brian says he sees “exciting things happening with the fashion scene in SA”, with the help of the rising popularity of the Adelaide Fashion Festival every year.

“It’s going from strength to strength with new designers and everyone is becoming more recognised,” he says.

“There’s no shortage of talent here, we have the capacity to be a big player, so it’s a very exciting time.”

Emerging fashion designer Brian Yambao.

In recent years Adelaide has seen many of its homegrown fashion talents become global businesses, including Australian Fashion Labels and Paul Vasileff of Paolo Sebastian.

Brian was recently mentored by Paul, an I Choose SA ambassador, through four weeks of work experience.

“I have the utmost respect and admiration for Paul as a designer and the way he conducts his label,” Brian says.

Growing up in the Philippines, Brian moved to Australia in recent years and has lived in Alice Springs and WA.

He visited Adelaide for work when he was a graphic designer and was taken by the city’s accessibility and the lifestyle.

His move into fashion was prompted by his love for sketching.

“I never knew how to sew but have always sketched,” Brian says.

“So this (the TAFE SA/Flinders degree) has opened me up to new skills.”

Brian says his graduate collection of six outfits explores striking colours and textures.

“My main muse was a triumphant woman … and the metaphor for a phoenix rising from the flame.”

Tickets for the SA Fashion Graduate Parade are on sale here.