Forum Group
{{distinguish|Forum Media Group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Forum Group Pty Ltd
| logo = M208918-Forum Group logo-300dpi.png
| caption =
| type = Privately held company
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = 2011
| founder = Basile Papadimitriou ({{a.k.a.}} Bill Papas)
| defunct =
| location_city = North Sydney, New South Wales
| location_country = Australia
| location =
| locations = Offices Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane/Perth/Gold Coast; 50+ regional dealers
| area_served = Australia and New Zealand
| key_people = Executive Chairman & CEO: Bill Papas
| industry = Business Services; Information Technology and Solutions
| products = Workflow Automation, Managed IT and Cloud Services, Managed Print Services, Fleet Management and GPS Asset Tracking Solutions
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees = 100 appx ~ since July 2021
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20200309034659/https://www.forumgroup.com.au/ www.forumgroup.com.au]
| footnotes = }}
Forum Group was an Australian managed services provider offering integrated B2B solutions,{{cite web|url=http://www.afr.com/content/afr/technology/midsized-business-growth-being-eroded-by-disruption-american-express-study-20150824-gj6vxx#ixzz3jsqQqSck|title=Mid-sized business growth being eroded by disruption: American Express study|website=Australian Financial Review|date=26 August 2015}} including IT,{{cite web|url=http://uplandsoftware.com/|title=Upland Software - Cloud-based Enterprise Software Solutions}} print, environment,{{cite web|url=http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/forum-group-acquires-powerperfector-vpo-technology-1252172831|title=Forum Group acquires powerPerfector VPO technology}}{{cite web|url=http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/545686/forum_group_launches_powerperfector_smbs/|title=Forum Group launches powerPerfector for SMBs|work=ARN }} fleet{{cite web|url=http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/article/how-small-businesses-can-walk-the-sustainability-talk-616504729|title=How small businesses can walk the sustainability talk}} and security.{{cite web|url=http://www.forumgroup.com.au/who-we-are/|title=Who we are|work=Forum Group of Companies }} Founded in 2011 in St Leonards, New South Wales, the business soon became the most elaborate front for a $400m fraud that competes with that of Christopher Skase.{{Cite web|last=Danckert|first=Sarah|date=2021-07-23|title=Alleged fraudster Papas' girlfriend lands in Greece as Westpac digs deeper|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/alleged-fraudster-papas-s-girlfriend-lands-in-greece-as-westpac-digs-deeper-20210723-p58cac.html|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} Bill Papas who goes by several names, including Basile Papadimitriou,{{cite web | url=https://neoskosmos.com/en/2024/06/16/news/australia/federal-court-to-deliver-verdict-in-400m-forum-finance-case-involving-bill-pappas-in-october/ | title=Federal Court to deliver verdict in $400M Forum Finance case involving Bill Pappas in October | date=16 June 2024 }} has 10 cars worth in excess of $5 million, 20 plus properties valued at $40 million has successfully funneled Westpac banks money with the help of his confidants all over the world particularly to Greece where he is hiding with his girlfriend [https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/bill-papas-bid-to-hang-onto-global-empire-hits-snag-20210728-p58dn5 Louise Agostino]. Forum had been on the BRW Fast Starters for consecutive years and its British subsidiary powerPerfector in the similar business lists.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/westwick-farrowmedia/docs/field_service_business_august_2015/25|title=Field Service Business August 2015|date=3 August 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.afr.com/leadership/brw-lists/fast-starters/fast-starters-2014-20160303-gn9715|title=BRW Fast Starters 2014|date=3 March 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/7954168/National-Business-Awards-finalists-announced.html|title=National Business Awards finalists announced|date=19 August 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/article/1055791/britains-top-100-entrepreneurs-2011-premier-league|title=Britain's Top 100 Entrepreneurs 2011: The Premier League}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c882555a-d9e6-11de-b2d5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz4F3HBPFxq|title=Case study: power efficiency|first=Rohit|last=Jaggi|date=25 November 2009|newspaper=Financial Times}}
Forum had offices in all mainland Australian capital cities, and was the provider of TomTom in Oceania,{{Cite web|url=https://prezi.com/uxanrgo5uune/forum-fleet-group-presentation/|title = Forum Fleet Group Presentation}}{{cite web|url=https://business.tomtom.com/en_au/webfleet/partners/find/sales-partners/|title=Find a sales partner—TomTom Telematics AU|first=TomTom Telematics|last=B.V.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au//technology/45796-six-ways-your-business-can-use-tech-to-win-the-efficiency-war/?mc_cid=d517d9186b&mc_eid=2a9468e520|title=Six ways your business can use tech to win the efficiency war - SmartCompany|first=Brad|last=Howarth|date=23 February 2015}} being a $60 million per year revenue business.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/business/investment-deals/forum-group-in-expansion-drive-sustainably/63325|title=The Fifth Estate - Forum Group in expansion drive, sustainably|date=11 June 2014}} Thanks to Papas the business has now been liquidated, over 50% of the staff have been terminated and have not received their entitlements while he is seen drinking cocktails in his luxury abode on the Mediterranean.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-23|title=Revealed: where alleged fraudster Bill Papas is holed up|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/revealed-where-alleged-fraudster-bill-papas-is-holed-up-20210723-p58c86|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}
Forum has over 4,500 customers including Metcash, Boston Scientific, Tower of London{{Cite web |url=http://www.powerperfector.com/docs/ClientTestimonialBooklet.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=21 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923220952/http://www.powerperfector.com/docs/ClientTestimonialBooklet.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead }} and Australian Rugby Union. Forum's Enviro services which include fuel{{cite web|url=http://www.electricalsolutions.net.au/content/efficiency-renewables/product/forum-enviro-fenic-alpha-fuel-management-solution-500986455|title=Forum Enviro Fenic Alpha fuel management solution}}{{cite web|url=https://prezi.com/ddotcpums6fl/forum-group-presentation-incl-fenic/|title=Forum Group Presentation incl Fenic}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/news/international-fuel-management-solution-now-available-to-australian-businesses-n2517974 |title = International fuel management solution now available to Australian businesses}}{{cite web| url = http://www.slideshare.net/PranavMool/forum-enviro-fenic-fuel-optimisation| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160816231340/http://www.slideshare.net/PranavMool/forum-enviro-fenic-fuel-optimisation| archive-date = 2016-08-16| title = Forum Enviro Fenic Fuel Optimisation}} and energy reduction,{{cite web|url=https://www.environmental-expert.com/products/powerperfector-vpo-voltage-power-optimisation-189007|title=powerPerfector VPO - Voltage Power Optimisation by powerPerfector}}http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/MC34262-D.PDF {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{cite web| url = http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2016/01/councils-power-up-efficiency/| title = Councils power-up efficiency - Government News| date = 20 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rexelenergy.com.au/power_quality|title=- Rexel Energy|date=22 April 2013}} solar panels and waste compounders{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/imagine-world-without-food-waste-landfill-peter-burr|title=Imagine a world without food waste in landfill|date=12 November 2015}} have been utilised by local councils and Adelaide Town Hall,{{cite web|url=http://www.forumgroup.com.au/optimizing-voltage-output/|title=Optimising Voltage Output}} malls, museums, Westminster Abbey,{{Cite web |url=http://www.powerperfector.com/latest_news/NewsAbbeyweddedtoagreenerfutureMarch2012.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=21 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917114001/http://www.powerperfector.com/latest_news/NewsAbbeyweddedtoagreenerfutureMarch2012.pdf |archive-date=17 September 2016 |url-status=dead }} stadiums and hospitals in Australia as well as in Europe and East Asia too.{{cite web|url=http://www.glencal.jp/index.html|title=グレンカル株式会社}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sheepcentral.com/wellards-wa-sheep-and-lamb-plant-to-cut-energy-use/|title=Wellard's WA sheep and lamb plant to cut energy use - Sheep Central|date=8 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/article/richmond-marketplace-makes-energy-savings-941757618|title=Richmond Marketplace makes energy savings}}{{cite web| url = http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2015/06/local-councils-light-the-way-in-the-energy-efficiency-revolution/| title = Local councils light the way in the energy efficiency revolution - Government News| date = June 2015}} {{cite web| url = https://issuu.com/westwick-farrowmedia/docs/field_service_business_feb_2015/25?e=3504708/11470516| title = Field Service Business Feb 2015 by Westwick-Farrow Media - Issuu| date = 16 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/05/watch-a-giant-orca-machine-eat-up-hotel-food-scraps/|title=NYC law requires businesses to feed food waste to giant metal ORCAs|date=29 May 2016 }}
As of 8 July 2021, Forum Group has had administrators appointed, as a result of a $300-$400 million financial scam against Westpac and other banks with forged documents and fraudulent transactions with a subsidiary, Forum Finance.{{cite news| url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-09/westpac-fraud-forum-bill-papas-federal-court/100281016| title = Westpac loses $290 million to 'long-running' and 'calculated' fraud - ABC News| website = Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date = 9 July 2021}}
{{cite web| url = https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/lessons-from-alleged-400m-papas-fraud-20210716-p58adl| title = Lessons from alleged $400m Papas fraud| date = 16 July 2021}} Forum Group was subsequently bought by Our Kloud on 22 July 2021, the sole owner being a cousin of Bill Papas (real name Basile Papadimitriou, who had fled to Greece).{{cite web| url = https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/racecars-and-seaside-apartments-inside-papas-offshore-assets-20210721-p58boa.html| title = Racecars and seaside apartments: Inside Papas' offshore assets| date = 21 July 2021}}{{cite web| url = https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/millions-owed-by-sydney-olympic-fc-to-directors-companies-20210722-p58by6| title = Bill Papas Forum Finance: More money owed by Sydney Olympic FC to directors' companies| date = 22 July 2021}}{{cite web| url = https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/689994/embattled-forum-group-sold-our-kloud/| title = Embattled Forum Group sold to Our Kloud - ARN| date = 22 July 2021}}{{cite web| url = https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/forum-can-help-company-at-centre-of-400m-westpac-fraud-open-for-business-20210726-p58d2y.html| title = 'Forum can help': Company at centre of $400m Westpac fraud open for business| date = 26 July 2021}}{{cite web| url = https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/revealed-where-alleged-fraudster-bill-papas-is-holed-up-20210723-p58c86| title = Bill Papas Forum Finance: Alleged fraudster is holed up in Greece| date = 23 July 2021}}
On 30 July 2021 in a federal court hearing, Bill Papas was accused of telling lies in his statement to the court. Bill also claimed to not have enough money to fly to Sydney to answer the allegation in the court.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-28|title=Alleged fraudster claims he's too poor to fly home to answer accusations|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/soccer-identity-bill-papas-says-he-doesnt-have-enough-money-to-return-to-australia-to-answer-fraud-allegations/news-story/769d76e797b0fc448a2177b8cdbb1e38|access-date=2021-07-31|website=News.com.au|language=en}}
In Bill Papas affidavits that were finally submitted to the Australian courts in early August 2021, Bill claims to be suffering from "Extreme Anxiety" as a result of being involved with the $400M+ scam which is one of the reasons why he has been unable to return to Australia.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-05|title=Alleged fraudster suffering from 'extreme anxiety' after getting sued by Westpac|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-05/bill-papas-westpac-extreme-anxiety-assets-fraud/100327992|access-date=2021-08-05|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}
In September 2021 it was claimed that Craig Rollinson, a Forum Group Executive was aware of the fraud conducted by Bill Papas as early as 2018 and had failed to take any action with the whistleblower. Further it was claimed that in June/July 2021, presumably just before the collapse of the business, Rollinson had contacted Papas and asked for him to pay for the renovations to his investment property in lieu of bonuses.{{cite web| url = https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/papas-executive-accused-of-failing-to-act-on-2018-whistleblower-report-20210927-p58v1f.html| title = Papas executive accused of failing to act on 2018 whistleblower report| date = 27 September 2021}}
On 21 October 2021, the Federal Court of Australia issued an arrest warrant for Papas, deeming that he displayed no genuine effort to return to Australia.{{Cite web|title=Court issues warrant for arrest of Forum Group's Bill Papas|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/692358/court-issues-warrant-for-arrest-of-forum-groups-bill-papas/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=www.arnnet.com.au}}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-20|title=Warrant issued for arrest of Bill Papas|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/warrant-issued-for-arrest-of-bill-papas-20211020-p591je|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}
In late 2021, Bills Cousin, Eric Constantinidis was challenged about payments he received from Forum at the time of its administration. It appears these funds were used to pay for Bill Papas legal fees.{{Cite web|title=Bill Papas' cousin defends $720,000 in payments from alleged fraudster|url=https://theworldnews.net/au-news/bill-papas-cousin-defends-720-000-in-payments-from-alleged-fraudster|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Bill Papas’ cousin defends $720,000 in payments from alleged fraudster}}
In January 2022, Justice Michael Lee issued freezing orders on property owned by Louisa (“Louise”) Agostino. It was claimed she sold her apartment in Rozelle, Sydney for $1.1 million and these funds would now be frozen. Further recently Papas in a meeting with the Greek sporting authorities claimed he still owners Xanthi soccer club. Earlier he had told the Federal Court of Australia that he did not own Xanthi.{{Cite web|last=Danckert|first=Sarah|date=2022-01-26|title=Westpac to launch court action in Greece against Bill Papas|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/westpac-to-launch-court-action-in-greece-against-bill-papas-20220126-p59rbh.html|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}