Oak Tree Australia.

Over the past few years, Oak Tree Devanning has been developing into one of the more innovative divisions of Pathway Charitable Group, and we’re excited to announce our latest move: Oak Tree is launching in Brisbane, Australia.

Heading up this new chapter is Grant Thomson, a long-time business leader and friend of Pathway. Grant brings 26 years of experience launching and growing successful companies on both sides of the Tasman, including the award-winning DataCol Group. Having worked with Pathway’s leadership as a consultant in recent years, he knows the heart of our mission and the power of doing business with purpose.

To me, social enterprise is the purest form of business, so helping others and doing it with the awesome team of people at Pathway is a super big bonus. 

"Murray and I have met each year for the past decade or more and shared our respective business journeys and progress, so I understand Oak Tree’s journey, and I think the systems and infrastructures are in place for it to grow.”

Operations Manager Jamie Dale adds "Our latest expansion back into Auckland has been a good stepping stone in this direction. It has allowed us to fine-tune some of our processes and streamline our management software. This progress has set us up well for further expansion, and we think the next step is Australia."

It’s a market with a lot of potential. The Port of Melbourne alone sees around 1.4 million import containers each year, with similar volumes in Sydney and Brisbane. It’s a daunting but exciting space to be stepping into. 

A major asset we bring with us is our unique combination of operational software (ProDevan) and a bonus system that empowers staff and delivers results for logistics partners. That’s a key part of what excites Grant.

“Whilst devanning companies are operating here, they do not appear to have the software system and team incentivisation programme that Oak Tree has. We believe this gives an advantage to devanning operations and to the logistics companies we're serving.”

The plan is to establish a foundation in Brisbane, learn the nuances of the market, and make the adjustments that we need to continue improving our services. Grant is particularly keen to explore the possibility of extending our labour hire services beyond container devanning.

Of course, there are challenges ahead, too. Convincing companies to switch from their current providers, building operational teams from scratch, and learning the ins and outs of a new regulatory environment won’t be easy. But it’s an awesome opportunity that could be a major step for Oak Tree.

These are ambitious goals, but ultimately, we’re reminded that our biggest goal is to help people make a fresh start. Grant has this at the front of his mind as he takes on his new role.

“I want Oak Tree Australia to be a place where people wanting to progress and do more with their life, can come and receive encouragement and assistance to grow, overcome and achieve life goals. A place where they can progress personally and financially. A place where our team members and customers feel important, valued and blessed.

With this at the centre of our focus and with Grant at the helm, we’re stepping into this next chapter with confidence. Watch this space — Oak Tree Australia is just getting started.

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