KOOLOONONG-raised Peter Macfarlane, chair of consulting firm Grosvenor, originally had the dream of becoming a farmer and carrying on his grandfather’s torch.
But after making the difficult decision to sell off the family farm in 1989 due to high levels of debt, he felt he had no choice but to become successful in his next venture.
“I guess selling the farm was something that was quite hard to do, probably because it was a large part of my identity,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“But it has also been a factor in my motivation to do well in business.”
Now based in Canberra, Mr Macfarlane can safely say he was successful after the firm was named top of the Australian Financial Review Best Places to Work list.
“We were a bit shocked at first but also satisfied to receive recognition for what we’ve been focusing on for years, which was trying to be a better place to work,” he said.
Grosvenor won the professional services category of the 2024 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work awards after introducing the Visible Expert Development Pathway Initiative – a program to help employees become recognised experts in their field by providing them with tools to develop their skills and market themselves as such.
The achievement had Mr Macfarlane reflecting on his roots as a country boy.
“I think growing up near Swan Hill in the country instilled many values in me that have contributed to my success,” he said.
After selling the farm in his 20s, Mr Macfarlane studied for a degree in agricultural science at Dookie College.
He then went on to consult for small businesses and agribusinesses in regional Victoria before joining Grosvenor in 1997.
Since taking on managing the company in 2014, he has seen it evolve and receive multiple Australian Business Awards before being named one of the best places to work by AFR.
“It’s a difficult market,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“It’s very competitive and that has its challenges, but professional services are very much driven by the quality of the people and that is really important in making it a great place to work.”
