Conor McKenna (Ireland)

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

A ‘serial’ entrepreneur, Irish-born Conor McKenna is an active member of the venture industry in South Australia.

Conor is founder and Managing Director of Twoeyes, a venture advisory & development firm; inventor & founder of ZORK, the new wine cork alternative; co-founder of Kid Sense Child Development Corporation; founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Guild; founder of the South Australian chapter of AVCAL, the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited. He is also an appointed member of the South Australian Government’s Small Business Development Committee.

After living in Adelaide for almost 15 years, he wanted to officially call Australia home - so on Australia Day 2007, just four days short of his 40th birthday, he became an Australian citizen.

The story of his road to Australian citizenship, was published on Sunday 21 January 2007, in the Adelaide Sunday Mail.

‘It's a move I've resisted for years and perhaps should have been quicker to embrace,’ Conor said.

‘I have been an Australian permanent resident since January 15, 1993. Over the last few years, my desire and commitment to become an Australian citizen has hardened.

‘Yes, Australian citizenship enables me to vote in elections and run for public office if I so desire.

‘And as a bearer of an Australian passport, I'll also be very proud to be conferred the rights afforded citizens of Australia, both here and overseas. But more importantly, it will allow me to feel like a full member of the country and have a say in my own future and the future of my kids.

‘Becoming an Australian citizen is a way for me to affirm that this is my home, make a commitment to the future and to show how thankful I am for the opportunity to continue to enjoy living here.

‘I reckon it will be a most memorable experience: The Lord Mayor, Michael Harbison, will confer my citizenship on behalf of the Federal Government at his civic ceremony on Australia Day in the Council Chamber at historic Adelaide Town Hall.

‘I understand I am one of about 30 lucky new citizens from all parts of the globe who have chosen Adelaide, Australia, as their new adopted city and country.

‘And here's a bouquet for Aussie bureaucrats. I had assumed that the application process would invade my privacy and cause me a lot of frustration in dealing with bureaucratic red tape. How wrong I was.

‘The whole process was the most simple and streamlined experience I have ever gone through in dealing with any government department and any city council.

‘All credit to the staff at the Adelaide office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and the Lord Mayor's office. I am proud to say, these individuals exemplify the character of the people of Australia which I really appreciate - truly friendly, helpful and considerate in dealing with others.

‘I suppose that is the essence of mateship.’