At an early stage in his career, Carl Bates has already proven himself as an astute leader in the growth and development of small and medium enterprise globally. Carl graduated with a Bachelor Business Studies First Class Honours Degree (Accountancy) and a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Finance) from Massey University. He was also named a Massey Alumni and a Freemason Scholar and was awarded the Allan Gibson and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Wanganui Branch Scholarships.

At 18, Carl was a director of the Brightwater Centre (a specialised aged care facility), two years later he was appointed a director of the Arena Manawatu board, chairing the finance and audit committee.

Carl has held the role of Acting Chief Executive of Quality Health New Zealand, New Zealand’s leading provider of standards setting, performance assessment and recognition of achievement in health and disability services. Carl led Quality Health through a dramatic turnaround, positioning it strongly for the future.

Carl was also the general manager of At The Hub, helping transform it into a business able to tap the student accommodation market. Additionally, he has been a council member of The Universal College of Learning (UCOL) and has worked as an Accountant in a Chartered Accountancy firm.

Carl has a keen interest in the non-profit sector; he has held several roles in the United Nations Association of New Zealand (Inc.) and is a Trustee of the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand Trust. Carl has spoken to audiences globally – from MBA students and graduates at various Universities, industry associations and conferences, business expos and national speaking tours in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and United Kingdom.

It is this experience, and Carl’s inherent financial nouse, that enables him to inform and empower fellow business owners. Through Carl’s support they are able to see the potential and the possibilities for their own business through focusing on key areas of growth. Carl’s depth of understanding and insight leaves his audiences inspired and motivated to climb to new heights. Widely travelled, and with a huge variety of interesting life experiences, his array of anecdotes adds to his colourful ability to share knowledge and value.