Meet Ben Hobby

Q&A with Ben Hobby

Global VP, RegTech solutions at Objective

Objective Corporation creates information and process governance solutions that enable organisations to advance their own digital transformation.

The Wollongong team is one of four world-class development centres and specialises in creating outstanding software for government agencies and regulators.

Responsible for specialist RegTech products Objective RegWorks and Objective Reach, the team works across a range of industries to help regulators make informed consistent decisions, increase productivity and improve safety outcomes.

How does being based in Wollongong help with your work-life balance?

Being based in Wollongong is truly fantastic. Many of our employees enjoy a comfortable and happy life outside of work, which when mixed with an innovative and productive time at work, allows precious time to spend at family events such as school assemblies, sports days, house maintenance, or personal activities. It is so important for the positive wellbeing of our employees.

With a gym on campus, bicycle lock up facilities and the beach at our doorstop, we drive an active lifestyle during and outside of work time.

What experience have you had recruiting the workforce you need in Wollongong?

Recruitment has been good at the graduate and junior level as we have a strong relationship with the UOW; specifically, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences.

What are some of the things you love about living in Wollongong?

Wollongong is a community driven area and is the perfect region to live life to the full, whether it be lifestyle, raising a family or education. The outdoor lifestyle is extremely appealing with the beach never too far away, quality sporting teams and events, and fine dining in beautiful locations.

“Wollongong is also appealing because of our multicultural society – everyone feels welcomed. The community spirit really drives the region.”

If a company was thinking of establishing their business in Wollongong, what would you tell them?

Wollongong is such a community driven area, with a lot of people deciding to either start a family here or move here to give their family the best possible life. The outdoor lifestyle and dining is extremely appealing with the beach, parklands and bush reserves never too far away.

Within the Wollongong area, there is a great mix of established businesses and start-ups. Both of these attributes create an innovative growth environment, which attracts and retains talent to the area.

These businesses are able to harness strengths from the vast multicultural society.  The community spirit really drives the region and in turn, this is a region where people feel safe and the perfect place to get the right kind of people to steer your business into success.

What advice would you give to a new business exploring establishing in Wollongong?

Connections are key to making a business succeed. Leaders within the Wollongong community have been driving the networking opportunities within the area. Establishing connections within the Business Chamber, local tertiary education establishments and domain specific organisations will assist in creating a successful business.

What have you found to be the advantage of basing your business in Wollongong?

With Wollongong being the 3rd largest city in NSW, we find this to be a huge advantage for a growing business. Supplying employment in the area can offer our employees a fantastic work-life balance without the long commute to Sydney, something that many people in the region have to do each day.

I feel like we have everything we need here but it is nice to have the big smoke only 1.5 hours away.

We first began operations as Itree and were based at the main campus of the University of Wollongong. As the business grew, we relocated to the UOW innovation campus as their second tenant.

Over the years we have built a wonderful relationship with the UOW and the wider community. For example, we have supported the UOW Excellence Awards which allows us to seek out amazing talent and prospective employees.

“Over 10% of our workforce are graduates from the UOW, with the majority employed in a part-time capacity during their studies.”

What has been the company’s biggest achievement from operating in Wollongong?

We’ve accomplished a lot in our 24 years in Wollongong, but the three that stand out for us are:

• Retaining a strong, local and loyal workforce – our longest standing employee in the Wollongong office has been here for 23.5 years!
• Promoting and achieving a true work-life balance with a flexible work ethic
• Remaining successful and continuing to grow for a quarter of a century

What kinds of local activities do you/your family enjoy doing recreationally?

The outdoor lifestyle that the Illawarra has to offer is just phenomenal, here are just a few things we like to do:

• Bushwalks – There are so many beautiful bush walks to do within the region. We recently did the Minnamurra Falls walk through the rainforest and it was just breathtaking.
• Sporting events – WIN Stadium holds an array of events, not only do we get the best sports teams from around the world battling it out here, we also get artists from all over the globe performing here.
• Beach – You are never too far away from a beach in the Illawarra region, and who doesn’t like going for a swim on a hot day?
• Jamberoo Recreation Park – To have something as big as this attraction in our region is just amazing, perfect for families who want to do something fun with the kids but don’t want to drive to Sydney or go to the Gold Coast.
• Dining out – With such a diverse culture in the Illawarra comes the different and delicious choice of food that we have on offer. Plus Eat Streets in Wollongong Mall on a Thursday is just great.
• Music festivals – Yours and Owls, it’s something for the younger audience. With the attraction of more big names every year means that it is growing in popularity.

Q: Do you have any tips for people moving here from overseas?

I would suggest taking a beach safety course as surfing and swimming are enjoyable activities in the Illawarra. It is recommended that new people to the area go to the Wollongong Tourist Information office to get a map and local information.

To feel part of the community, get involved in charity work around the region and/or join a sporting team or club.

How does living in Wollongong/Australia differ from your home country of the UK?

The weather is just sensational, even in winter the sun shines! The culture is very similar to the UK, and the people just seem to go out of their way to be friendly to everyone.

Why are more and more people moving to the region?

Wollongong is more affordable than Sydney for housing and living. It is also by the beach and has a more family friendly community. More businesses are moving to the Wollongong area, which in turns means more employment, it is a win/win for everyone.

“The people of Wollongong are so welcoming, friendly and are all about building a positive community vibe.”