Seeley International founder and executive chairman, Frank Seeley AM has been honoured as the 2013 Ernst & Young Champion of Entrepreneurship, South Australia, in recognition of his long-term entrepreneurial achievements and significant contribution to the community.
He was named as the winner at the launch of the Entrepreneur of the Year Central region program, in Adelaide on May 15, and joins a select group of previous winners that include Dr Tim Cooper AM and Glenn Cooper AM, Janet Holmes à Court AC, Thérèse Rein and Imelda Roche AO.
Seeley said he was greatly honoured to be the recipient of the Champion of Entrepreneurship award and encouraged others to embrace an entrepreneurial approach, think outside the square and follow their dreams, until they come true.
"When I first founded Seeley International back in 1972 in my garage at home I believed that it could grow into a thriving, successful business and now we are Australia's largest manufacturer of heating and cooling systems and export our locally designed and manufactured products to more than 120 countries around the world,” Seeley said.
"The journey certainly hasn't been an easy one, but I encourage other business owners to keep a positive attitude, surround themselves with like-minded people, have a strong sense of self-belief and give back to the community at all times.
"I have had incredible support from the Seeley International team over many years, and I share this accolade with my wife Kathy, who has been unwavering in her support and commitment.”
It was Seeley's entrepreneurial spirit that originally saw the portable evaporative cooler salesman decide to turn his efforts to manufacturing, with the aim of developing the world's first-ever all-plastic portable cooler.
"People were adamant that it couldn't be done and were quick to tell me all the ways I would fail, but I knew that it was a matter of perseverance and I was delighted when I was able to prove the critics wrong," Seeley said.
"Having developed the first all-plastic portable cooler I then focused my efforts on creating an all-plastic rooftop cooler, which proved to be a breakthrough for the entire industry and grew the Australian rooftop cooling market from 12,000 coolers to around 70,000 annually.
"Since then we have developed our award-winning Climate Wizard which is an indirect evaporative air conditioner that uses the natural cooling power of evaporation to dramatically reduce air temperatures without adding moisture.
"We went on to launch the world's first 6-star ducted gas heating range in 2012, and only this month we have unveiled the Braemar "Super-Six" ducted gas heater, the most energy-efficient conventional ducted gas heater in the world.”
Despite economic downturns and his business being destroyed twice by fire, Seeley has continued to make a significant contribution to the community through philanthropic activity and donations.
"As the business has grown it has been very important to me to give back to the community in recognition of the support that we have received,” Seeley said.
