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Member Spotlight for October 2021 - Denis Stollery

  • 1.  Member Spotlight for October 2021 - Denis Stollery

    I'mLinkedIn
    Posted 18-10-2021 09:56 AM
    Edited by David Chin 07-02-2022 04:19 PM

    Name : Denis Stollery.

    Position: Founder, Mediator and Executive Director
    Company: MyMediation Pty Limited


    Briefly describe your career journey:

    • My business career commenced as an Assistant Accountant for a Fruit and Produce Market in Christchurch, at the time I was studying Accountancy for an ACA at Canterbury University . I then moved to establishing a Office Supply business which focused on new products for small business to accelerate their cash flow. This business I sold to a top 50 listed New Zealand company. I then commenced my journey of inventing new products, and cash flow solutions for small business.
    •  I came to Australia in 1988 to support the distributors in each State who were marketing the Australian version of my Small Business Accounting product. With the success of the Small Business Accounting product, and that I had Licenced the manufacturing, and distribution rights, I decided to commence a Law degree, which I did not complete instead transferred to Mediation which I completed with Leadr in 1996  .
    •  I established a Debt Collection business Creditcorp , which I sold my interest in 2001. In 2002 with the a UK Investor, and funding lines of $100m Credit Corporation Holdings Limited("CCH") commenced marketing my version 2 of what is now called "ilPay", a small business cash flow product which I had invented. CCH launched the product first in Australia, then New Zealand and later Germany and the UK. In 2004 I sold out to my partner and commenced my journey to invent "bzPay". In 2017 with investors bzPay was incorporated and commenced business. Over a period of 3 year as the MD/CEO bzPay raised over $8m, and in September 2020 bzPay executed a partnership agreement with Mastercard to launch a new Hybrid product for small business first in Australia, then other countries
    •  In September 2020 I appointed a CEO to bzPay and in February 2021 I resigned as the Managing Director of bzPay so that I could recommence MyMediation a Non-Lawyer practice as I was very concerned about the debt levels which Small Business has in Covid and beyond Covid. I am still an employee of bzPay, but I had a window of say 2 years before I consider that further new modules could be required, or updates to bzPay.
    •  In July 2021 I launched version 3 of the CCH Cash Flow product for small business and incorporated ilPay Holdings Pty Limited. The website for ilPay went live last month and the Executive Team are on track to commence transactions in September. The ilPay products has a number of benefits for parties in Mediation, which is the reason why I am not on the Executive Team of ilPay
    •  Besides business achievements I have also had Government appointments, for a period I was the New Zealand Govt Agency TradeNZ representative for South Australia, and the NT with the opening of the NZ Trade office by the NZ High Commissioner in 1999. I have also attended events in South Australia representing the NZ High Commissioner, such as laying a wreath on behalf of the people of New Zealand on ANZAC day. Further, I was also Deputy Chair/Treasurer of the Adelaide City Council Sister City Committee, and on the board of the Christchurch City Council Small Business Development.
    •  By far the most enjoyable work in my business career has been assisting parties in Mediation to resolve their Debt, or Contract disputes then using my skills to bring the parties together during, and at the completion of the Mediation. As an example I provide a brief of a recent Mediation which was referred to me by a Lawyer:

     The Mediation a Debt $48k:

     The Creditor and Debtor purchased a Unit in March 2002 which they rented in 2006 to handicap women. The Creditor and Debtor were in a relationship for a period. Both parties did not properly document the matters between them, so I had to reconstruct the financial and what was agreed.

     The Debtor did not believe that she had a loan amount payable to the Creditor at any time, but agreed to the Mediation as litigation was about to commence.  To assist the Debtor, I reconstructed all income and payments of the Debtor for a period March 2009 to August 2009 which months were relevant dates. The outcome was that the Debtor conceded the Debt was payable to the Creditor, from which a Mediation Outcome letter was executed and Lawyer instructed to complete Mediation Outcome Agreement for the parties to execute.

     Immediately after the Mediation Outcome Letter was executed(1 to 3 was not part, or included in the Mediation), and so the below could be included in the Agreement being prepared by the Lawyer, I commenced:

    1. Rebuilding the relationship between Debtor/Creditor
    2. Discuss with both parties that they should not sell the Unit
    3. Then with 1 and 2 agreed motivate the Debtor to repay the Loan which was now reduced to $45k by drawing down on her Mortgage  

     In summary: The reason why I commenced discussions with both parties after the Mediation to not sell the Unit, was that for 16 years a handicap woman had been renting the Unit.  This lovely lady who was in her early 80's was not part of the Mediation,  and was not in good health. Once I had the Mediation Outcome letter executed by both parties, I then went into what I will call a second Mediation(this took me a few hours) at NIL cost to the parties so that they agreed on the following which was then included in the Mediation Outcome Agreement being prepared by the Lawyer: 

    1. The Lady to continue Renting Unit until she is moved to a Rest Home, then Unit sold
    2. I managed to renew the Friendship between Debtor/Creditor, they now walk together on Saturdays and Sundays and enjoy a coffee/breakfast together every weekend
    3. As part of the MyMediation process I provided a letter to parties in Mediation with copy to Lawyer and Accountant on matters which I consider could require there attention, or advise  

    Career Highlights.

    • Been presented with 5 New Zealand Industrial Design Awards for products that I had invented.
    • The New Zealand Prime Minister attending the launch of my Accounting product which I had invented for small business.
    • The announcement that a product that I had invented was a semi-finalists in the Duke of Edinburgh Industrial Design Awards.
    • Commencing as a Mediator in July 1996 after completing the Leadr courses, then establishment of my MyMediation a Non-Lawyer practice .
    • The announcement by MasterCard that a small business payments solution that I had invented, bzPay was now in a partnership with Mastercard.
    • After an application process to Visa in February 2020, I was informed that of the 1300 Global enters that Visa had received for new innovative payment products, that my small business payment solution was one of 18 applicants that had advanced into the Sem finals and the only entry from the Southern Hemisphere to be a Semi-finalist.
    • Over the 25 years that I have practiced as a Non Lawyer Mediator, achieving the successful outcomes for parties.
    • After months of discussion at CEO level at first, receiving notification from Financial Institutions that they will establishment a Non-Lawyer Mediation panel for small business Debt disputes.
    • Receiving notification from Government that a POC will commence for a small business accelerated payments product that I had invented.
    • In 2018 after an application process to a Government Agency, I was awarded with 3 other inventors a Travel Grant to attend the London Tech Week as a member of the Government party.

      Career Advice:

      In my period of inventing new cash flow products for small business the advice that was always in a prominent position in the presentation slides, and marketing information was "stay in your business/skills box". If you are a builder, contract a plumber to attend to plumbing work. If you are a Non-Lawyer Mediator, then Mediation Settlement Agreements need to be prepared by a Lawyer.


      Favourite way to unplug from work:  

      What do I enjoy outside work;

      • Watching the All Blacks play.
      • I walk with my wife twice a day.
      • Tennis I play when I can.
      • Rowing I was a Coach for Prince Alfred College, then invited by South Australian Sports Institute as a Coach for the States under 23 athletes who are in selection for Australian Crews.
      • Movies and travel.
      • Fishing in the Waitaki and Ahuriri rivers in Central Otago New Zealand.
      • And most of all Cooking, planning and preparing meals for the family and friends.

      Community question:

      • I am a White Ribbon advocate and manager the sales of promotional goods at the White Ribbon breakfast every year in November to raise funds to educate and stop violence against women and children by males.




















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      david chin
      Membership Manager
      Resolution Institute
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