Luke was born and bred in the Newcastle region. He grew up in Merewether and went through school in this region. He also studied at the University of Newcastle. Luke has a Bachelor Teaching/Bachelor Arts double degree and a Master of Education degree.

As a current Lake Macquarie City Councillor and Lake Mac resident, he is passionate about the city and the wider Hunter region. Luke is CEO and one of the founders of everyday tasks outsourcing platform www.employs.com.au, where people can have everyday tasks completed like gardening, cleaning, handyman jobs, etc. He is also associated with local technology company itsFOUND.

He enjoys helping the community and is a board member of two local charities.

• What journey led you to start your own business?

I have been around people who founded businesses and other entities my whole life. I guess they’ve all instilled in me the endless possibilities and excitement related to taking that path.

I’ve always been open to ideas and opportunities that others present to me or that I might have had myself. Anytime I see potential in something, I’m prepared to have a go. Not many things are worse than regrets.

That’s all led to me starting the things I’ve started when the opportunities arose. I’d rather try something so that I don’t die wondering. In a balance of risking failure weighted against the opportunity for success and making a difference, the latter far outweighs the former. Now I have the view that I’ll explore any new opportunity or partnership with anybody. For example, with Employs.com.au, if someone reading this article thought of a way we could help each other, I’d be very interested in hearing what they had to say.

There are so many great businesses, people and ideas out there. I’ve never met a person who couldn’t add at least one thing of value to someone else.

• Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I enjoy founding things and being part of the excitement and potential of the early stages of start-ups. I also really enjoy finding ways to make things succeed. Plus, I really believe in the principle of “how it can be done, not if it can be done”. There’s always a solution. There are a lot of people in our region like this, and it’s great that there is now strong focus on, investment in and a real community around this sector.

• What is one action or task you ensure you incorporate into your diary each week?

Spending large portions of quality time with my family. This is something I love and value and I will always prioritise it.

• What do you attribute your success to?

Success can be quite subjective and is probably measured differently by many people, but I’m probably a long way off where I would like to be yet. I believe having quality people around you and with you would be a key contributor to anyone succeeding in any area of life.

• Which local entrepreneur do you find inspiring?

Trent Bagnall at Slingshot. I admire what he’s achieved and what he’s able to do.