Contributor: Des Kennedy (again!)

A number of years ago, I had occasion to fly, one Friday afternoon, back to New Zealand where I was living at the time. On arriving at the gate, I was surprised that the wonderful Qantas staff at the gate had upgraded me to Business Class. My seat was in the centre aisle, and so I took my seat, opened my book, and sipped on the glass of Champagne offered by the crew.

Shortly after, an older gentleman arrived at the seat adjacent to mine, put his bag on the seat, his passport on the armrest, and proceeded to take off his coat. As you do, I glanced at the passport in front of me and noticed, as you would, that it was an Australian Diplomatic Passport. The gentleman, on taking his seat, said hello, and I ventured to ask how he managed to get the passport to which he replied that he had worked for the Australian Diplomatic service most of his career.

Being interested, I asked him what he actually did, and he advised that he was John Dauth, the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand – a lofty position indeed. Having introduced myself, John and I continued to talk throughout the three hour flight about the diplomatic service and my software company, Intilecta Corporation. A new glasses of Aussie red each later, and just prior to the plane landing in Auckland, I turned to John and asked “John, excuse me for being forward, but how does one get an invitation to the dinner parties held at the Embassy residence..?”.

I was surprised when John turned to me and said “Des, in your case, just give me your card and I will make it happen..?”. After the plan landed, and business cards exchanged, I said goodbye to my new friend not really expecting any further communication.

Naturally when I arrived back down in Hamilton, I was keen to relay the story of my flight to my wife, and then thought nothing more about it until Monday morning when, sitting in my home office, I got a call from a young lady, who identified herself as the Personal Assistant to the Australian High Commissioner. She asked me if my wife and I would be available to attend the residence for dinner a few weeks hence. Naturally, I was extremely keen to accept. The formal crested invitation arrived a few days later, along with the guest list including: Fiji Ambassador to New Zealand and wife, NZ Head of Commerce and Trade and wife, NZ Head of Foreign Affairs and wife, Chairman of NZ Post and wife (my company had just started to do some pilot work with a subsidiary of NZ Post),  a few other diplomats and their partners, the Mayor of Wellington and his wife, and Des and Debra..!!

After drinks in the lobby, we were ushered into the main banquet room, and prior to entrees, John, from the centre of the table, addressed the group thanking them all for attending the informal occasion, and suggested that all enjoy the Australian wines, and hospitality, which we all did.

When entrees where finished, John once again rose to his feet, and said the following “I am going to something unusual this evening. Des Kennedy, over here on my left, I have only known for a few weeks having made his acquaintance on a flight to Auckland, but Des has a very interesting business and I would like to give him the opportunity to talk about what his company does and what makes it so different. So, Des, please take the floor..?”.

After gulping a little red, I rose to my feet and spoke, off the cuff, for about fifteen minutes on my company, and its software product, to these distinguished people including the Chairman of the company we had been pursuing – and he was very enthusiastic about what I had to say, to the point that we did get the business…!!

Since then I have been back a number of times to the Embassy and, since John, has now been appointed Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, I have an open invitation to dinner in London at Australia House. Further, the High Commissioner from Fiji has become a good friend, and my wife and I attended their daughter’s wedding last year.

The message is that you never know who is beside you, or what contacts you can make..!!