# About Me - Ric Raftis MBA MICDA ![[ricCircleClr250.png|center]] Welcome to the crossroads of experience and innovation, where the wisdom of years meets the freshness of new ideas. I’m Ric Raftis, a lifelong learner with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. With a tapestry of roles that span across various sectors, my life’s work is a testament to the power of dynamic leadership and the transformative potential of strategic thinking. My foray into the world of business development and customer relations began in banking and finance which evolved to a change and taking up accounting , where I honed my skills in financial analysis and business restructuring. Balancing the books was just the start; I was the partner who brought peace of mind to clients in distress, fostering resilience within agricultural, retail, commercial  and community endeavours. I love the challenge of a difficult problem. The digital revolution called for pioneers, and I answered by founding Bushsong Web Development. For over a decade and a half, I crafted digital identities for businesses and organisations, weaving together words, images, and technology to tell their unique stories on the global stage. As a lifelong learner, a quality reflected in my academic pursuits. My journey has seen me attain an MBA, nurturing my already robust understanding of business principles. This, combined with formal qualifications in accounting, training, assessment, and information technology, enables me to offer a holistic and informed approach to the consultancy and community volunteering I do. Community service is important to me. As an active member of the Loddon Healthy Minds Network, community leadership organisations and the Wedderburn Korong Vale RSL, my commitment to societal well-being is unwavering. My governance and strategic planning expertise bolster non-profits and community groups, ensuring their voices are heard and their visions realised. The pages of my life are filled with leadership, analytical prowess, and an ability to communicate and engage. Whether it’s articulating the complex in simple terms or inspiring teams to excel, my focus is steadfast: to foster environments where innovation thrives and communities prosper. This is the focus of my current pursuit in obtaining a Doctor of Business with Charles Sturt University. My research is focusing on the delivery and influence of community leadership programs in rural Victoria. This will include the adopting of emerging technology and looking for ways to fund leadership programs with a sustainable model. A significant part of my academic and personal pursuits involve the use of Obsidian note making software. I have been described as a power user and enjoy sharing my knowledge about the power of Obsidian with others. If you have got this far in reading about me, then you probably deserve a reward. I offer you my shared passion for learning and imparting what knowledge I can so that others may grow. ### More Information? Go to the [Contact Page](https://ricraftis.au/contact/) or book a video appointment with my [online calendar](https://tidycal.com/ric).