B2B magazine issue 89 December 2013 by B2B magazine

B2BMAGAZINE.COM.AU

DECEMBER 2013

Trains, planes & a plan for success Canberra Business Council CANBERRA WOMEN IN BUSINESS TURNS 21! NEW RECRUITMENT ADVICE COLUMN BY HAYS READ ABOUT CANBERRA BUSINESSPOINT AWARDS

ISSN 1833-8232

9 771833 823005

FOR SALE

INNER SOUTH AWARD WINNING RESTAURANT FOR SALE PRICE GUIDE: $400,000 + SAV (CIRCA $20,000) •

Specialise in fresh seafood

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Classic ﬁt-out, comfortable dining area

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Location advantage – situated in the parliamentary triangle and surrounded by the wealthiest suburbs in Canberra

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Replacement value of equipment and ﬁt-out in excess of $200,000

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Highly experienced head chef, popular chef’s special dishes and seasonal menus

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Long lease of 12 years with ﬁxed rent

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Fully licensed + BYO

Fast population growth and ample new commercial/residential developments in surrounding areas

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Trading only 4.5 days a week and closed for three weeks during Christmas

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Many options to expand the business

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Can be run owner-managed or under full management

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Current earnings (EBITDA): approximately $170,000 per annum

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Seats 60 inside and 40 outside with appropriate government lease

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Current owner only works 20-30 hours a week

CONTACT OWNER CHRIS 0404 431 998

CONTENTS

B2B EDITORIAL

Christmas is a time to take stock ...

Photo by Andrew Sikorski

I don't know about you but this year has been a big one for me. What with elections, a new government TIM and getting on with doing business BENSON - we are all due for a well earned Editor rest. But of course the year is not yet ended and it seems as though we are as busy as ever in the run up to Christmas. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I just love Christmas. I love the rituals, sentiment, meaning - and commercialisation - of Christmas. I love whatever it takes to make people stop and take stock of what is important in their lives. This issue we feature the Canberra Business Council (CBC) and some of its members. CBC CEO Chris Faulks, who has been at the helm for six years, outlines some achievements and vision for the future in our cover story. B2B magazine also congratulates Canberra Women in Business (CBC) as they celebrate their 21st anniversary. In the feature in this issue the CWB reflects on the last 21 years, launches a new name and logo and features some of its rapidly growing membership. Local accounting firm ACCRUE are also celebrating their 25th anniversary with a feature in this issue. ACCRUE has a proud 25 year history and are embracing technology to better service their clients in the future. Finally, a big thank you to the B2B magazine family for all your efforts and support in 2013. These include, but are not limited to: my lovely wife and business partner Liz Lang and daughter Alexandria; Shannon Rennie, designer extraordinaire, from Pixel to Paper; Darrell Malone from BluestarIQ and new printers Chris Bugden and Ian O'Connor from Focus Press; arty european type and crack photographer, Andrew Sikorski, from Art Atelier and sales consultant and vineyard owner, Steve Whelan - and of course all of our advertisers and contributors.

22 COVER STORY

TRAINS, PLANES & A PLAN FOR SUCCESS

And a final thank you to my long suffering dietician and health advisor, Robbie Manzano from Healthy Identity. 2013 has been a big year. But 2014 holds even more. Here's wishing you all a very safe and happy Christmas. Send all comments to editorial@b2bincanberra.com.au

your gateway to business support Visit our website for a full list of events, latest news and more!

WWW.CANBERRABUSINESSPOINT.COM.AU

CONTENTS

FEATURES 06 Moving in with a Family Member. Advice from DDCS

07 The Haig draws in new loyal customers

with LivingSocial 08 Responsive design: it can make all the difference explains CanberraWeb 09 Advertising feature from Gai Brodtmann: Last chance to claim instant tax write-off

FAMILY LAW Child Protection Convention and your financial interests By DDCS 36 HEALTH Sugar: tip the scales in your favour By Healthy Identity

10 14 things business owners should do before 2014

PROPERTY FINANCING Get fixed to fix By Loan Market Home Finance Brokers

12 Canberra Women in Business celebrates 21years 18 Accrue: Celebrating 25 years 20 PayMe Australia named 2013 Canberra

38 RECRUITMENT Demand for professionals high in New Year By Hays

with RSM Bird Cameron Chartered Accountants

BusinessPoint Business of the Year

COVER STORY 22 Canberra Business Council: Trains, planes & a plan for success 30 ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS 31 ACCOUNTING Don’t pay your super guarantee late By RSM Bird Cameron

BUSINESS LAW Copyright in software: off the rack lessons for tailor-made By Bradley Allen Love 32 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Still too much red tape By Australian Institute of Company Directors INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Business names, domain names and trade marks By Arete Group

34 ESTATE PLANNING SMSFs and separation By Certus Law

PUBLISHER I EDITOR

Tim Benson editorial@b2bincanberra.com.au 0402 900 402 02 6161 2751

SERVICED OFFICES 10 tips for better meetings By Synergy Business Centres 39 WEBSITES Mobile Commerce (mCommerce) By Synapse Worldwide A2B: ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS 40 MINISTER'S MESSAGE: Brand Canberra 41 ACT & REGION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY: Changes to the Fair Work Act: Get it right before you get it wrong 42 ACT EXPORTERS: The importance of a strong Indonesia-Australia relationship for the 21st century BUSINESS NETWORKING 44 B2B @ Canberra Women in Business celebrates 21 years 45 B2B @ Canberra BusinessPoint Awards 46 B2B @ ACT Chamber Melbourne Cup Day B2B @ October Business After Business

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F E AT U R E

MOVING IN WITH A FAMILY MEMBER By Rebecca Tetlow

or older family members looking to downsize or needing a bit of extra help with daily activities, moving in with a child or other family member may seem attractive. As residential aged care becomes more scarce and expensive, families are looking at other care solutions. While there are many advantages to living with a family member, without the proper planning, these arrangements can cause great heartache for all involved. What issues should I consider before moving in? Moving in with a family member can result in major changes to your personal and financial circumstances. Financial matters You should seek financial advice before you move in so you understand how the proposed arrangement will affect your current or future entitlements to Centrelink benefits. Depending on how the arrangement is structured, you may or may not be treated as a homeowner for the purposes of a Centrelink assets and income test. In addition, if you make a financial contribution, for example to build a granny flat on your child’s property, then this could be deemed as a gift unless the financial contribution is classified as purchasing a life interest in your child’s property. You should also get advice on any tax implications for you or your child. Family expectations It is a good idea to discuss your decision with all family members to ensure that everyone is aware of their respective rights and obligations. Hurt feelings can arise if other children perceive that they are being treated unfairly or left out of the planning process. You should be clear about whether any financial contribution by you to a child’s property is a loan or a gift. Although it might seem trivial at first, you should be specific about what kind of care you expect to receive (e.g. meals and cleaning) and who is responsible for outgoings such as utility expenses or maintenance on the property. Proper planning and discussion will reduce the potential for misunderstandings. Estate Planning You should consider whether you need to update your Will in light of the proposed change to your circumstances. If you are making a financial contribution to your child, it is important to think about what will happen to those funds upon your death and ensure that there are no unexpected consequences for your estate planning. In most cases, proper structuring at the outset will avoid unexpected or undesirable outcomes down the track. What can go wrong? There are a number of reasons that a family care arrangement will come to an end. Sometimes the realities of living with family members may be different from expected and both parties recognise that they would be happier living separately. Often the situation becomes unworkable through no fault of the parties. Examples include: • Divorce or insolvency of your child which may result in the property being sold; • Death or illness of your child or their partner; or • The need for you to access a higher level of care. What can I do? A properly documented family care agreement can deal with what happens in the event that the arrangement comes to an end, providing clarity and certainty in relation to the rights, obligations and consequences for all concerned. Agreement about all critical aspects of the proposed arrangements at the outset will avoid the potential for misunderstanding and heartache if this arrangement does not work out. Where can I get help? Taking the time to discuss your expectations with your family and seeking professional advice about your options will go a long way towards ensuring a happy arrangement that is workable for all family members. Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson, Family Law and Wills & Estates Specialists, can assist you and your family in discussing and formulating a family care agreement. T 6212 7600 | mail@ddcslawyers.com.au | www.ddcslawyers.com.au

F E AT U R E

The Haig draws in new loyal customers with LivingSocial $20,000 worth of vouchers sold in one week, $8,000 in additional sales and 65% plan to return Having been in business for 13 years, owners of iconic Italian Restaurant The Haig in Braddon, Canberra, Robert and Lesley Oliver, are repeatedly faced with the challenge of reaching new customers that will return. “Like many restaurant owners, we are constantly challenged with attracting new business and bringing back previous customers. The Haig seats 80 people, but we had found it difficult to attract more than 20 people to dine with us a night, ” said Robert. Identifying new marketing channels After a review of marketing options, Robert and Lesley partnered with LivingSocial, who allowed them to reach more than 65,000 LivingSocial members in the Canberra area looking for exactly this kind of restaurant via the website and targeted email campaigns. “The LivingSocial value proposition answered all our needs. We were given the opportunity to hugely increase our brand exposure through LivingSocial’s database and website and run the deal during one of our quietest periods. We offered a deal that encouraged groups of two or more to dine at The Haig with a saving of almost 50 per cent to the customer, while still being a profitable deal for us. It attracted a new crowd of diners willing to try different restaurants,” said Robert. On time and regular payments “Importantly to us as business owners, LivingSocial offered flexible payment terms staggered throughout the campaign when we needed them most. It was great to know we would have a steady stream of income via redemptions throughout the duration of the campaign. It supported our business and was paid on time, every time,” said Robert. When The Haig’s offer went out to LivingSocial members it far exceeded Robert’s expectations.

“We were blown away by the response to the offer. In the first week, we sold 450 vouchers and were thrilled with how quickly! These sales totaled more than $20,000 in revenue for us and have been exactly the boost we needed.” “Now we are seating up to 70 people each night. Not only did this generate revenue, but also increased foot traffic because the restaurant looked busy every night. The atmosphere was buzzing and staff morale improved dramatically throughout this time,” said Robert. Incremental sales “In addition to the voucher sales, we made an extra $8,000 from LivingSocial customers buying extras when they were in the restaurant. This was a nice surprise that demonstrated the quality of customer we were attracting through LivingSocial. We had people come in that would never have tried The Haig before and many of them came back. In fact, 80 per cent of people said they had a good experience at The Haig and 65 per cent said they would return,” said Robert. Looking ahead, The Haig has already signed up to run a second campaign with LivingSocial in 2014. “LivingSocial far exceeded any other marketing activity in terms of return on investment and account service. I’ve already recommended it to other business owners – it worked for us and it will work for them too.” “We know people are always looking for good value great dining experiences in Canberra, and if they don’t get it from you, they will look elsewhere,” said Robert.

For more information about how LivingSocial can help your business, please visit www.livingsocial.com or call 1800 586 766.

F E AT U R E

Responsive design it can make all the difference

t’s true, it can. If you’re thinking about a new website, then make sure you build one that has responsive design because it will deliver great results for your business.

WHY?

People lead busy lives today and want to access information quickly through their mobile devices such as tablets or phones. If your website is responsive, then customers will be able to do this, and either spend money on your site or gain the information they need, and leave with a positive impression about your business. At Canberra Web, we like to use this analogy about business websites that don’t work well or are difficult to navigate using a mobile device. Imagine your business had a shopfront where ten percent of people could not open the front door because it

continually jammed and they had to stand outside trying to phone you to open the door!

IT’S A GOOD INVESTMENT

If your business invests in responsive design now, it will end up saving you money in the future. This is because responsive design enables a web designer to create a website that is attractive and functional at any screen size without having to create multiple web pages for the same content which speeds up development and ultimately saves costs. And when a new device comes on the market with a different screen size, your business website will display correctly on the screen without having to have another expensive website built.

CanberraWeb

RESPONSIVE VS MOBILE WEBSITES

It’s important to understand the difference. It used to be common practice that if a company wanted to display its website’s content effectively on a mobile device then a mobile version of the web site would be created. These webpages would automatically redirect visitors to the company’s website. There are still some advantages to having a separate mobile website created. For example, If your website needs to have different features or content displayed dependent on whether it is being viewed via a mobile or desktop site.

NAVIGATING YOUR WAY

Our team at Canberra Web can help your business with a responsive web site because it’s what we love to do.

Call us on 02 6223 2222 or drop into our office at U5 47 Vicars St, Mitchell for a chat. www.canberraweb.com.au.

Last chance to claim instant tax write-off Small businesses and sole traders talk to your accountants. Your chance to benefit from Labor’s instant tax write-off is running out.

Time is sho to bene rt You hav fit. eu 1 Jan 2 ntil 014.

The instant tax write-offs for assets and for motor vehicles were introduced by Labor in 2012/13 to help with cash flow. Tony Abbott has introduced a Bill to Parliament that will scrap them as of 1 January 2014. Talk to your accountant. If you are planning on buying a motor vehicle or assets, now might be the time.

For business related assets: Labor’s law allows for the immediate write-off of (each) asset costing less than $6,500. Tony Abbott will reduce that to $1,000 per asset as of 1 January 2014.

For motor vehicles: Labor’s law allows small businesses to claim up to $5,000 as an immediate deduction for motor vehicles, new or used, that cost $6,500 or more. Tony Abbott will scrap the special deduction for motor vehicles as of 1 January 2014.

For more information Office: 205 Anketell St, Tuggeranong, ACT, 2900 Phone: 02 6293 1344 Fax: 02 6293 1068 Email: gai.brodtmann.mp@aph.gov.au f

/GaiBrodtmannMP Twitter: @GaiBrodtmannMP www.gaibrodtmann.com.au

Authorised by Gai Brodtmann MP, 205 Anketell St, Tuggeranong, ACT, 2900

F E AT U R E

any industries are still experiencing difficult times. The retail sector faces challenges such as the battle for online sales, decreased consumer confidence and unemployment. Resources, mining and manufacturing are encountering challenges caused by exchange rates and the high cost of doing business in Australia. To make the most of this optimism and ensure they have a clear path to growth business owners need to have strategies in place to end the year and start the new one in the best shape possible. This will also ensure that business owners can make the most of the holiday period. Here are 14 things business owners should do before 2014: 1. Review the products and services you sell. Tailor the mix to appeal to changing customer needs for the holiday and new year season. Also, start considering and planning for other times in the year when customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs change, for example Easter. 2. Review pricing structures to ensure competitiveness and profitability. Put formal procedures in place to monitor and proactively respond to competitor pricing changes.

14 things business owners should do before

2014 10

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B2B M AGA ZIN E

3. Review stock levels. Make sure you can satisfy customer demand for profitable product and service lines. Identify slow moving stock that can be liquidated as â&#x20AC;&#x153;bargain buysâ&#x20AC;? or bundled with other products as a value-add. 4. Review sales, marketing and promotion plans. Make sure plans are optimised to help achieve the best results not only during the holiday season but well into the new year. Ensure staff are aware of the targets for each week and be proactive in monitoring and addressing shortfalls. 5. Review staffing plans and confirm acceptance of the rosters by all staff. For non-retail businesses, annual leave plans need to be balanced and finalised as early as possible to ensure the business continues to operate effectively. Consider a shutdown period if the Christmas and New Year period is traditionally not busy to use up staff annual leave balances during this quieter time.

F E AT U R E

6. Review fraud and theft protection systems. Ensure all staff are reminded of their responsibility to be vigilant as customer traffic increases and the pressures of Christmas expectations can motivate increased customer and staff theft. 7. Review debtor lists and actively chase all overdue accounts. Any amount not collected by December 23 is unlikely to be collected until February or later. Collecting money owed to you is critical particularly over this period when the cash cycle tends to tighten. 8. Review the use of finance products for effectiveness. Overdrafts, premium funding, lease facilities and cash flow funding products can all be excellent tools to help match a business’ cash supply with planned outlays, and may be especially useful in managing cash flow throughout the holiday season. 9. Complete a GST health check. Small businesses are in danger of losing time and money because of unreliable or outdated business systems causing them to incorrectly report GST.

10.Set effective goals. The beginning of the new year is an ideal time to review goals set at the beginning of the financial year, ensure you are on track to achieve them and put in place an action if you can see areas that are not working. Important things to consider include retirement planning, present and future investments, maximising your superannuation scheme and reviewing assets. 11. Update your business plan. Make sure your business plan is updated regularly to reflect changing market and economic conditions. Keep in mind a solid business plan is critical in meeting financing requirements as many industries face increased scrutiny from government and financial institutions requiring a much higher quality of management reporting and strategic planning to support funding applications and reviews. 12. Strategically plan end of year gifts and entertainment to key customers, prospects, suppliers and business partners. This will strengthen relationships into the new year rather than simply being a cost of doing business.

13.Carefully plan end of year staff parties to reward and recognise efforts for the year. Remember your workplace obligations to provide a safe environment for the event in relation to alcohol and discrimination. 14.Remember that you deserve a break as well. Plan to take advantage of any public holidays or other time off to protect your own health and wellbeing and reduce the chance of illness disrupting your business activities.

Bird Cameron

Chartered Accountants

RSM Bird Cameron | Ph: (02) 6217 0350 103-105 Northbourne Avenue Canberra, ACT www.rsmi.com.au

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C A N B E R R A W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E

CANBERRA WOMEN IN BUSINESS CELEBRATES 21 YEARS Cake, presents and diamonds – that was the scene at the National Press Club, where businessmen and businesswomen from across the region gathered to welcome the new face of Canberra Women in Business.

anberra Women in Business (CWB) celebrated 21 years since their organisation founding. In celebration of their coming of age CWB hosted a lavish birthday party on Saturday 9th November. Well-known businesspeople, as well as, past and present politicians came out to mark over 20 years of achievements for the volunteer run not-for-profit organisation. You would be forgiven for forgetting the night was about business as the event sported all the essentials of a true birthday festivity. Launched in 1992 by Chief Minister Rosemary Follett, the focus of the CWB was to promote women in business and help them become more successful. Formerly the Chamber of Women in Business, the organisation was formed when a group of local businesswomen saw need for a collective that would assist women with the challenges they faced at the time. The group set out to help women overcome the now widely acknowledged ‘glass ceiling’ and the lack of willingness by banks and financial institutions to offer funding to women. Looking around a room filled with successful and inspiring businesswomen it was hard to imagine that two decades ago these obstacles prevented many from achieving their goals and dreams. However, thoughts of these hardships were lost

amongst the crowd with joy and laughter generated by the hairstyles and fashion in photos from the CWB vault. Conversations were more of what you would expect at a high school reunion, with most discussion conjuring up nostalgic memories for the many CWB past presidents and lifelong members. Many of the guests had travelled from across the country be part of the CWB’s big moment. Two of those individuals were the guest speakers of the night, former CWB president Ilona Cipe Fraser and Kate Carnell, former Chief Minister and patron of the CWB. Ms Carnell shared personal and humorous tales of her experience of combining motherhood while starting her own business. Claire Connelly, President of the CWB, announced the organisation’s new name and vision at the Women in Business Awards ceremony in August. The change in identity and direction was aimed at “bringing the CWB into the new millennium and to take the women out of the chamber”. Having loyally kept the same logo and brand since its inception, a makeover was needed to give the CWB a fresh, modern image that better represented the organisation and their services. So for their birthday the CWB decided to treat themselves to a present -“a new look for the next 21 years”.

2013 has been a great year for the CWB. Membership has doubled and the group is attracting a younger demographic of businesswomen who are looking for opportunities to meet like-mind individuals in a friendly environment. “We offer our members opportunities to learn new skills and share stories in an intimate and fun atmosphere,” said Ms Connelly. “Let’s be honest, networking is sometimes awkward and boring but it doesn’t have to be. We try to give our members something different at our networking events to make it easier for them to start a conversation with each other. Our members love the changes that we have made to the CWB. I believe that one of the reasons why we have seen such growth in numbers is because the word is getting out there that the CWB is an inclusive, fun and energetic organisation helping women in today’s business world.” To join the CWB or for more information please visit www.cwb.org.au or follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ACTCWB

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CANBE RR A BUSINESS COUNCIL

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I was proud to officially launch our new name – ‘Canberra Women in Business’ (CWB) and new logo at the 21st birthday celebration on November 9th held at the National Press Club. Champagne was flowing and there was a lovely joyous energy in the room as we heard about Kate Carnell’s experience of the CWB, and that of our life long member Ilona Cipe Fraser. Our 21 years of history has grown through vast change for women in the workforce, and it was evident that our organisation has played a very important role in the Canberra business arena in supporting and empowering our local women in business. An energetic board of like-minded women who share my mission to continue to grow this organisation to its fullest potential have embraced my vision for the CWB. Going forward I have faith that the CWB with our new name, new brand, increasing membership and board of devoted women will continue to serve our members to help their businesses grow, prosper and succeed. Claire Connelly, President

C A N B E R R A W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E

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C A N B E R R A W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E

How can butterflies impact on your finances?

butterfly flaps its wings in California and sets off a cyclone in Brisbane. This is the basis of the chaos theory, which uses 'the butterfly effect' to describe how a harmless incident can set in motion a much larger chain of events, with farreaching and unpredictable consequences. Put in financial terms, a financial plan that does not take into account all of a client’s needs, could have unforeseen and unfortunate consequences. For many of us, we devote our financial efforts towards our home loan, but give little consideration to our life insurance plan. Or, we buy an investment property to add to our investment in the family home, but don’t consider the planning needed to diversify and lower risk. Alternatively, we hold assets in our own name that would be more tax effective in other structures such as superannuation. Worst of all, many of us don’t have, or fail to put in place, a properly constructed will. The result is that, upon your passing, your family is left with the difficult task of settling your estate as best they can, usually involving stress, disagreements and unwarranted costs. For many of us this “hands off” approach to long term financial planning often creates a tangled web of ineffective investment, a lack of financial protection, and higher than necessary taxation.

Planning for the future is wise. Starting earlier rather than later is even wiser and often cheaper. A simple meeting with a financial adviser can help avoid all of the above mentioned financial pitfalls, and help set up a brighter future for you and your family. At resi Canberra Southern we have a Financial Services team who can advise you on all your financial, superannuation, investment, estate planning, taxation and insurance needs. We have brought together a group of professionals that are experts in their respective fields. We work together to provide a holistic plan, encompassing your financial and lending requirements both now and in the future. Call Karen or Linden today on 136 126, 0406 377 866 or email canberrasouthern@resi.com.au Resi Canberra Southern | 2/22 Strangways St, Curtin ACT 2605 resi.com.au

Karen Murphy

Linden Toll

B2B magazine

congratulates Canberra Women in Business

for its 21 years of success

C A N B E R R A W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E

Have you ever had to tackle the following issues in your business? I find it hard to charge what I’m worth. I’m spending a fortune on websites, brochures and logos – every time I blink there seems to be something else that my business needs. My business partner spends money like it’s water! I’ve been researching my business idea for the past two years – I’ve got the business plan, done the courses, but can’t seem to get it off the ground. People comment on how hard I work, but I just can’t get my business to the next stage. People think my business is so successful – if only they knew! If any of these sounds like you, then it’s time to get a grip on your

and get it working for you not against you.

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Exhale: tailoring training to individual and group needs

ccording to Exhale Consulting Group Founder and Director, The individual coaching sessions would cover areas including: Antoinette Gomez, ‘The art of life balance begins with a leadership and management, personal growth, and career development. deep breath’. “We are passionate, capable and bring a fresh approach to the Exhale Consulting Group’s focus is to offer industry business of management and leadership, motivating teams towards leading consultancy, coaching, group training, and Neuro-Linguistic meeting organisational mission and vision; this is demonstrated Programming training to leaders, teams and individuals who wish to through our dynamic client base and measurable results. The return optimise their skill sets and build sustainable success. on investment for all our clients is documented, measured and easily All Exhale consultants are experts in their respective fields, and identifiable,” Antoinette concluded. offer specialist services in: • Management Training • Neuro-Linguistic Programming Testimonials • Communication • Cleaning & Facility Services “As a business owner my philosophy and motivation is to provide • Training Design, • Tender Writing personal development and skills training to team members in order Development & Delivery • Tender Design for them to grow and prosper. The Exhale program we had delivered • Coaching Services • Performance Management to our team managers provided them with new skills and the With 20 years’ experience in SME and large multi-national confidence to run their salons, engage positively with their teams and organisations Antoinette is just the person to assist you and your staff. improve the productivity of their salons. Investment in training and “Our clients have varying requirements, so we partner with them to providing opportunities for our teams has been rewarding map and work towards common objectives,” Antoinette said. and successful.” Exhale works with clients across all sectors including private, not for Sonia Holgate, Owner, Just Cuts Canberra Centre, profit and government. Gungahlin, Tuggeranong & Queanbeyan. “Our inclusive and relaxed approach to the delivery of all services encourages open and transparent relationships founded on trust and “Exhale provided a comprehensive program which effectively built up respect,” Antoinette explained. the skills of my managers. The combination of challenging monthly Building on a very strong 2013, Exhale is adapting and extending group work and personal coaching reinforced each other very well. their Professional Development for Managers – Group Training and After 6 months, the program had delivered for my management Individual Coaching program for 2014. team and Northside, with sustained improvements in a range of high “The program has been directed at groups of 10 or more staff but level skills, and enhanced confidence in exercising leadership.” I have decided to open it up in 2014 to any number of staff and tailor Northside Community Service CEO, Simon Rosenberg. the program to fit clients needs,” Antoinette outlined. The program consists of six 3.5-hour monthly group coaching sessions and six 1-hour individual coaching sessions per participant. These sessions would cover topics in the following areas: Communication Skills – including understanding behavioural styles and expressing empathy. Management and Leadership Development – including how to contribute to company direction. Corporate Welfare – including stress management and issue escalation. Performance Management – including setting clear expectations and staff reviews. Antoniette Gomez Presentation and Meeting Skills – including managing anxiety and Director structuring and preparing a presentation. Coaching Skills for Managers – including reflection and delegation. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ExhaleCoaching

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CONSULTING GROUP

F E AT U R E

ACCRUE CELEBRATING 25 YEARS DON DI PLACIDO DIRECTOR

MARK DE BORTOLI DIRECTOR

I look back on the past 25 years of my professional career as an accountant and business owner with a sense of pride and achievement. Running a business, as any business owner will know, requires not only expertise in your particular area of knowledge but the need to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of clients, embrace the continuous evolution of technology and its impact on business and the need to create a work environment that will allow staff to develop their personal and technical skills. The reward for me is knowing that the work we do is valued by our clients and that we make a difference. Whether its providing the assurance that they are meeting their tax obligations, working with them to solve various issues that arise, assisting with a significant transaction or just being there as a sounding board. Until recently I sat on the board of a large professional services engineering company and was heavily involved in the sale of the business to a listed mining services company resulting in a highly successful outcome for its shareholders. I believe our success in business is due to the long term relationships we have with our clients and that we have a low staff turnover rate. During our 25 years we have been privileged to be associated with a large number of fantastic clients and successful businesses. A significant number of clients from our early years are still with us today and we believe this is testament to our quality of service and personal attention. We excel at solving problems for our clients and we don’t accept a position without analysing it from a range of different angles. Our combined technical and business experience is hard to beat and our clients are the beneficiaries of that.

I feel very fortunate to be working in a role that I thoroughly enjoy. Since an early age I have had a lifelong learning passion for business in terms of what makes it tick and what works. After 10 years working in taxation consulting divisions of large accounting practices, the reason I joined Accrue was that since its inception, it has had a culture of looking beyond the numbers and going the extra mile to help clients succeed. This has always meant taking a holistic approach to meeting financial goals. Accrue’s offering has evolved over the years to include not only being a proactive and available trusted advisor but also identifying and solving all issues that have an impact on our clients’ financial success - including monitoring performance, strategic planning, protecting assets, extracting wealth from their business and planning for retirement. In my 15 years at Accrue, I have had the great privilege and pleasure to be actively involved with clients in the decision making process across a whole spectrum of transactions and endeavours. My role allows me to obtain and impart knowledge with clients, staff and related service providers. Knowledge sharing is a fundamental part of the Accrue ethos and nothing is more satisfying than experiencing great results for clients and mentoring staff and witnessing their outstanding career development. I am very proud to be a part of the celebration of Accrue’s 25 years in business. Looking forward, Accrue is in an exciting new phase to harness the full potential of IT developments and other tools in a tailored way for each client. This will take our services to a whole new level on a regular and real time basis.

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Mark De Bortoli, Director, and Don Di Placido, Director Accrue Chartered Accountants

Julie Whyte retired in June 2013 after 25 years’ service with Accrue. We would like to acknowledge Julie’s contribution to the success of our firm.

ACCRUE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Accrue’s client sector experience and knowledge is broad based and includes building & construction, medical, retail, professional services and property development. Over 25 years Accrue has developed a comprehensive data base of internal benchmarking enabling them to add value to how businesses are performing and areas for improvement. With an ageing population and a large number of business owners looking to retire over the next 5 to 10 years, Don believes succession planning is becoming increasingly important. “We have delivered some great outcomes for our clients when they have sold their businesses by planning ahead and positioning them so that the small business CGT concessions are able to be utilised.” With regard to self-managed superannuation funds, Accrue regularly assists clients with pre-retirement and post-retirement contribution and pension strategies. “This is a big area for us and clients come to us because we can provide objective advice on the strategies available. Clients want to know that if they have a question or a particular problem that they can get someone on the phone, arrange a meeting and resolve matters efficiently and effectively.” “Accrue provides much more than traditional taxation and accounting services. We get involved in strategic decision making, monitoring and improving business performance. Having done all the hard work it’s also important that assets are protected and estate planning options considered.” Mark said. Accrue is at the forefront of new technology enabling them to efficiently manage their client’s business and taxation affairs.

“We constantly assess our systems and at our regular monthly staff meeting we openly discuss matters affecting the practice and areas for improvement.” Don said.

Accrue provides much more than traditional taxation and accounting services. We get involved in strategic decision making, monitoring and improving business performance. Accrue staff are highly trained and devote a great deal of time and personal effort participating in technical and business training programs as well as attendance at a range of seminars to ensure they are up to date with the latest technical changes and planning opportunities. “We believe that the accountants of today have a wide range of options and it’s important that we keep our business dynamic so that they are constantly challenged.” Accrue have a number of long serving employees with one or our more senior managers, Julie Whyte retiring recently after 25 years of service. All of us at Accrue would like to thank our clients for their support over the last 25 years.

Level 1, 8 Phipps Cl, Deakin ACT 2600 Ph: (02) 6285-4441 Fax: (02) 6285-4464 www.accrue.com.au

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Anna Pino, Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, Minister Andrew Barr, Ian Lindgren PayMe Australia, Dean Seeley, Canberra Business Council

2013 CANBERRA PayME Australia named 2013

BUSINESSPOINT Canberra BusinessPoint Business of the Year

AWARDS

anberra business PayMe Australia has been recognised for its innovation and growth in the field of specialised payroll management by winning the inaugural Canberra BusinessPoint Business of the Year award. PayMe Australia, a contractor payroll management company, was originally formed to support the payroll needs of IT contractors in the ACT. Today PayMe provides specialised services to the IT, administrative, gas and oil sectors nationally. It was chosen as the 2013 Canberra BusinessPoint Business of the Year after winning the High Growth category at the 3rd annual Canberra BusinessPoint Awards held at the National Portrait Gallery. Finalists and winners in the 2013 Canberra BusinessPoint Awards were announced across six categories which recognise both the diversity of start-ups and existing firms in the ACT and the innovation, effective business planning and future potential of these enterprises. The major prize of 2013

Canberra BusinessPoint Business of the Year was presented by Minister Andrew Barr. The winners in each category were: • Web and Mobile – SimplyShow.me • Clean and Green – Envirolove • Bricks and Mortar – Autolyse • Creative and Design – Handmade Canberra • Micro-enterprise – Ontong Patafta Bernal Football Academy • High growth – PayMe Australia Chris Faulks, Canberra Business Council CEO, and Anna Pino, CEO of the Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, said the high standard of entries in this year’s Awards is very encouraging for the future of business in Canberra. “Canberra BusinessPoint Awards this year demonstrate that the ACT is an excellent incubator for successful small businesses”, Ms Pino said. Ms Faulks added that the calibre of finalists and winners not only reflects the success of

C ANBE RR A BUSINESS COUNCIL

each of these companies but the high-quality assistance being provided to new and growing businesses by Canberra BusinessPoint. This was backed up by the CEO of PayMe Australia, Ian Lindgren, who said “The Canberra BusinessPoint program has been invaluable” “Regular strategic updates and focused business workshops has encouraged change and development on an ongoing basis for PayMe,” Mr Lindgren Said. Canberra BusinessPoint had over 1200 businesses come to it for assistance or advice in 2013 alone and over 3000 since its relaunch in February 2011. It offers practical advice and support for both existing businesses and those intending to start a business in Canberra. Through mentoring programs and one-on-one consultations, Canberra BusinessPoint provides tailored and specific advice, allowing local businesses to reach their full potential.

F E AT U R E

Winners and Finalists | 2013 WEB AND MOBILE Winner SimplyShow.me | simplyshow.me SimplyShow.me (SSM) is a private and secure, web and mobile, video messaging service allowing professionals to share their experience and expertise with their clients and co-workers. SSM allows professionals to have full control over who receives their content and this allows them to protect their intellectual property, and monetise their skills and expertise. SSM is currently servicing the health and fitness, financial services, and corporate training sectors.

Finalists EEP! Imagine Team Pty Ltd imagineteamsolutions.com

CLEAN AND GREEN Winner Envirolove | envirolove.com.au

Finalists Purepod www.purepod.com.au

Envirolove implements environmental solutions into ACT businesses. Their main service is organic waste recycling, providing this service to large, complex businesses or workplaces, where a customised solution is required, and also empowering managers and staff to create a long lasting solution. Envirolove continues to service a varied range of businesses. In 2011, they extended their services to environmental consultation, supporting recycling in businesses and also working on projects for ACT government departments. In 2012/2013 they developed an interactive software practice currently used by departments in the ACT to train staff on workplace recycling.

Rolfe Cleaning Services Pty Ltd www.mmrcs.com.au

BRICKS AND MORTAR Winner Autolyse | autolyse.com.au

Finalists Stripey Sundae www.stripeysundae.com.au

Sour Dough bakery/patisserie cafe serves interesting meals based around their sour dough and prepare everything in full view of their customers. Autolyse believes this builds an enormous amount of trust with their customers. 90% of their products are sold retail and10% of their turnover is wholesale bread sales to supermarkets. According to Autolyse, their wholesale sales could easily grow by 500% within a month if they had the capacity. This has been addressed through the recent signing of a new lease in the same group of shops which will double Autolyse’s floor space.

Flint in the Vines www.flintinthevines.net.au

CREATIVE AND DESIGN Winner Handmade Canberra | www.handmadecanberra.com.au

Finalist Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art www.cada.net.au

Handmade Canberra is a specialised retailer with a twist. Handmade Canberra is made up of the Handmade Market and Shop Handmade. Both the Market and Shop carry only high-quality, Australian-made products produced by local, regional and interstate designers. Their mission statement perfectly reflects their aim of “Connecting the designer to the customer”, local and visiting, through Shop Handmade and the Handmade Market. The Handmade Market is quarterly with more than 150 local and interstate designers, attracting 20,000 customers to each event. Shop Handmade brings together over 170 local and interstate artists, designers, craftsmen and gourmets all in one beautiful retail space.

Big Ice Cream www.bigicecream.com

MICRO-ENTERPRISE Winner Ontong Patafta Bernal Football Academy

Finalists White Knight Unmanned Aerial Systems Pty Ltd whiteknightuas.co

Ontong Patafta Bernal Football Academy is a new, dynamic and exciting football academy providing football education, development and a proven pathway for all children in Canberra. They are there to help every individual take their football to the next level. From the kid just starting out to the very elite players of Canberra football, Ontong Patafta Bernal Football Academy caters for all development levels. It’s the little extras that make all the difference to ensure players give themselves every possible chance of living the dream!

HIGH GROWTH Winner PayMe Pty Ltd | www.payme.com.au/ PayMe Australia provides specialist payroll services to contractors throughout Australia primarily in the information technology, administrative, and oil and gas sectors. They have further developed the PayMe Brand to provide, individual tax returns and novated car leasing. PayMe will only provide the services that the can be the best at, not just the same as everyone else, but provide a real differentiation from the competition.

Sly Fox Coffee

Finalists Your Bread Company Pty Ltd Cloud Central Pty Ltd http://www.cloudcentral.com.au/

CANBERRA BUSINESS COUNCIL COVER STORY

Canberra Business Council a plan for success

hen Chris Faulks became CEO of the Canberra Business Council in 2007, she identified three priority areas for the Council to deliver results to its membership: improving member services as part of membership growth and retention strategies; increasing evidencebased policy and advocacy on behalf of members and the broader business community and raising the profile and reputation of the Council.

“Canberra’s future is as a ‘smart city’, ‘a city of ideas and big conversations’ where the world’s leading minds will develop new technologies, industries and solutions to global issues,” Chris said. Six years on, these priority areas are still important to her. A tireless defender of business and ambassador for Canberra, she talks to B2B about the Council’s plan to create long-term jobs, build existing industries and support new industries, so as to lessen Canberra’s over-reliance on the public sector as an economic driver, and position Canberra as a vibrant economic capital and region, where people choose to live and do business at a local, national and global level.

“Canberra’s future is as a ‘smart city’, ‘a city of ideas and big conversations’ where the world’s leading minds will develop new technologies, industries and solutions to global issues,” Chris said. “We need to leverage off Canberra’s distinctive competitive advantages as the seat of federal parliament, the home of national cultural institutions and collections, world-class universities, research institutions, and clever companies, and be positioned as a hub of innovation and great ideas. As an added bonus, Canberra also offers an exceptional lifestyle with all the benefits of a big city but without the congestion and stress.“ “The Board of Canberra Business Council and our members are absolutely focused on this vision for Canberra. We have a fantastic future ahead of us, provided there is the political will to put in place a framework that encourages and enables entrepreneurs and the private sector to flourish.” Acknowledging the current uncertainty that Canberra is experiencing with the proposed cuts to the Australian Public Service (APS), Chris said that unlike other states and territories, the APS accounts for 39% of the total employment in the ACT and the private sector is heavily reliant, directly and indirectly, on the APS. Therefore, any cuts to the public service have a disproportionately negative impact on private sector businesses, the economy and jobs in the ACT. This is the reality of the private sector in Canberra – and something successive federal governments have failed to understand.

CANBERRA BUSINESS COUNCIL COVER STORY

Results-driven advocacy Chris is proud of the advocacy results the Council has achieved for its members and the broader Canberra business community this year. Over 250 members are actively involved in the Council’s seven policy Taskforces which are the engine-room of policy development. Over recent months key policy areas targeted included the proposed Australia Forum convention centre; Canberra-a digital city; Brand Canberra; Regional Development and cross-border issues; red tape reduction; procurement; skills shortages; Canberra in the Asian Century and other trade and export matters; Digital Canberra Challenge and the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Before the federal election, the Council developed A Plan for Canberra & The Region - a proactive and strategic set of recommendations to influence the policy platform of both the Federal and ACT Governments in the pre-and post Federal Election environment. Over six months, the Council consulted with more than 50 peak industry bodies, national institutions, research and learning organisations, local Councils and 150 businesses and individuals to determine the priority projects for Canberra. The Council targeted job creation and diversification of the economy, identifying priority projects that would help the ACT to adjust positively and confidently to downsizing of the APS, minimize any short term impacts and maximize longer term opportunities. “The organisations that we consulted represent key industries and over half of the private sector employment base in the ACT and region,” Chris explained. “There was unanimous agreement that the construction of a world-class, highly secure new national convention centre called the Australia Forum is Canberra’s number one future priority.” “The level of support from the private sector for a new national convention centre is incredible. The Council and the Canberra Convention Bureau will continue to advocate at both the federal and ACT government levels to secure a commitment to make this convention centre a reality,” she said. Other recommendations within A Plan for Canberra & The Region include direct international flights to Canberra from Asia and NZ; funding for international tourism marketing; regional road connections; growth funding for the national cultural institutions and progressing the first stage of the high-speed rail project. “There is no doubt that the combination of direct international flights, a new Australia Forum convention centre and high-speed rail in the longer term will be transformative for Canberra and the region.” Chris said. Other advocacy successes included the ACT Government recognizing that burgeoning red tape and regulation are constraining small business so a concerted focus on red tape reduction is urgently needed; a 5 to 10% weighting for local small and medium enterprises in ACT Government tenders; securing $2.6 million for Brand Canberra; $300,000 for the Digital Canberra Challenge; and progressing the City to the Lake project.

Connecting members – recognition and profile There’s always so much happening for members of Canberra Business Council. Last financial year, the Council held 208 events attended by 7,654 people. Among these were the Annual Dinner at the Hotel Realm, the first dinner held at the National Arboretum, the Federal and ACT Budget Breakfasts, and a Pre-election Debate.

Membership manager, Sharon Sloan says one of the greatest strengths of Canberra Business Council is its diverse membership base and the ability for members to network with each other. With small to medium enterprises (SMEs) making up more over 60 per cent of the Council’s membership, providing information, networking, learning and development opportunities for this sector has become a real priority for the Council through programs such as Canberra BusinessPoint which now has over 2000 clients; Digital Enterprise interactive training sessions; ScreenACT Pods, tourism forums and Listening to Small Business focus groups. Membership manager, Sharon Sloan says one of the greatest strengths of Canberra Business Council is its diverse membership base and the ability for members to network with each other. “Our small business members have the opportunity to network with each other and with the big end of town and collectively lobby government. Bigger business can mentor and partner with smaller businesses.” Sharon said. “Our members span a broad range of sectors, including ICT, professional services, not-for-profit, financial services and banking, transport, telecommunications, retail, manufacturing, building, construction and property, and infrastructure. Canberra Business Council extends its reach through more than 40 peak industry associations, known as Kindred Organisations,” she said. The Council clearly has the membership formula right as its membership grew strongly in 2012-13 with a 91 per cent retention rate. “With so many major projects on the Council’s forward agenda, 2014 is shaping up to be a very busy year and one where members will have plenty of opportunity to be involved and shape the future of business in Canberra.” Chris concluded.

CANBE RR A BUSINESS COUNCIL

For more information or to become a member: Canberra Business Council Novelle House, Ground Floor, 216 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon T: 6247 4199

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PA R TN E R ING W I T H A CT BU SIN E SS WH ILE M ANY IN PRO FESSIONAL SE RVIC ES ARE WIN DIN G DOWN FO R TH E FESTIVE SEA SON, CAN BE RR A’S OLDEST IN DE PE N DE NT L AW FIR M IS E XPE RIE N C IN G SOM E O F ITS BUSIEST MONTHS.

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t’s been quite eventful,’ says Richard Faulks, who has led Snedden Hall & Gallop (Sneddens) since 1997. ‘A good deal of work is flowing through despite the post-election uncertainty.’ It is not only the law that has kept the lawyers busy; in November Sneddens held its 13th annual athletics carnival for students with a disability. Around 300 local children participated at the AIS Athletics Track, and the event was proudly supported by event partner ACT Sport, as well as Athletics ACT, Supabarn Supermarkets, bankmecu and a number of the firm’s clients and colleagues. ‘Community involvement has always been important to the firm’ Mr Faulks notes. The staff hold monthly fundraisers for local causes. ‘We feel strongly about supporting the community that has supported us. Profits from the office coffee machine are used for a land restoration project in Angus Downs led by Canberra Rotary.’ LO O K I N G BAC K Sneddens has come a long way from its early years. Founded in 1960, when the ACT’s population was scarcely 50,000, Sneddens was a venture of two government lawyers, Norm Snedden and Allan Hall. They were joined by John Gallop in 1962, and the firm grew to become one of the region’s most well-known legal practices. Hall went on to develop the University of Canberra’s first law courses and serve as a deputy president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, a position now held by another former Sneddens partner, James Constance. Gallop was famously a judge of the ACT Supreme Court, and is one of only two Canberrans to have held the presidency of both the Law Society and Bar Association (the other, Greg Stretton, is another Sneddens alumnus). ‘We’re quite proud of our history’ says director Dennis Martin, who joined Sneddens in 1980 from his own firm where he was in partnership with Terry Higgins, the recently retired ACT chief justice and John Faulks, Deputy Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia. ‘But we’re equally proud of what lies ahead.’

Based in Deakin, the Sneddens of today is an 11 lawyer team, who works in the areas of dispute resolution, including personal injury work, commercial law, property law, estate planning and migration law. The firm’s clients are a roster of prominent ACT businesses, including Supabarn Supermarkets, Hyatt Hotel, National Capital Motors, John James Memorial Foundation, the Uniting Church (ACT) and the Canberra Raiders. I N N OVATI V E A PPROAC H The firm’s directors – Messrs Faulks and Martin, Gerald Santucci and Tanya Herbertson – have actively sought to be innovative and to take on new lines of work. Most notably, Sneddens has carved out a niche in the area of Commonwealth superannuation. ‘Some years ago we took on a client who had been wrongly advised that he wasn’t eligible to join the Commonwealth superannuation scheme,’ explains Mr Faulks. ‘We decided it was an interesting legal question, and a very important one, given a person’s retirement had been disrupted.’ Sneddens conducted a lawsuit against the government, which was successful before the High Court in 2007. Sneddens is now representing over a hundred similar clients; predominately workers who were employed by the government in blue-collar roles. The firm has recently received publicity for an ACT Supreme Court case which awarded damages to one such client. PA RTN E R I N G W ITH AC T BUS I N ESS Sneddens has also positioned itself at the cutting edge of pricing. Over the past several years the firm has phased in fixedfee arrangements as an alternative to the traditional hourly billing model for which lawyers are known. ‘It’s about helping clients manage their expenditure,’ remarks Gerald Santucci, who heads the Sneddens business and commercial practice. ‘Knowing the law isn’t enough, lawyers need to align their services to a client’s business and provide advice that’s practical and, most importantly,

accessible.’ In fact, the firm prides itself on partnering with its business clients, and assisting with all manner of enquiries, whether large or small, so that clients can receive the best practical and cost effective advice available. “Understanding our clients’ business: what makes them tick and what can interrupt them, is a key focus of our firm” said Mr Santucci. One of the major challenges that Sneddens has identified for local businesses is their estate and succession planning. Indeed, many local business owners are starting now to consider how and when they will transition from business to retirement. For anyone who considers their business to be their superannuation, a carefully managed succession plan is crucial. Sneddens’ business team can provide comprehensive estate planning and business succession advice, tailored to their clients’ needs and cognizant of the unique circumstances of the Canberra market. LO O K I N G FO RWA R D The directors are confident the firm will continue innovating under future generations of leaders. Many of these leaders are expected to originate from Sneddens’ scholarship program, which offers financial support to scholarship winners to study law at an ACT university. This initiative, involving a competition run through local schools and colleges, was launched in 1999 and since that time dozens of winners, including Nick Tebbey (who is now a senior associate with Sneddens) and each of the firm’s five current paralegals, have worked with Sneddens. In an environment marked by at least short-term uncertainty in the Canberra economy, Sneddens remains confident the city will thrive. ‘Canberra is a remarkable, tight-knit community with many outstanding businesses’ emphasises Mr Faulks. ‘Resilience and innovation will steer us through anything.’

43 - 49 Geils Court Deakin ACT 2600 T (02) 6285 8000 E info@sneddenhall.com.au www.sneddenhall.com.au

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UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA OPENS CAMPUS FOR BUSINESS

artners and investors are being invited to join the University of Canberra to develop unused areas of its campus. The University has released a new development prospectus outlining the principles and selection criteria for developing the campus. According to Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Parker the University has more land than it will ever need for academic purposes, but the campus offers opportunities for developments that would strengthen the University and the community. “The world of higher education is changing at an increasing pace and we need to be a university, and a campus, of the future,” Professor Parker said. “The nature of teaching and learning is changing, particularly with the advent of e-learning on computers and mobile devices. Students are coming onto campus less often or for shorter periods. “We will never need the whole campus for academic and related purposes in the traditional sense. And this provides an opportunity to be a leader, to change our sense of what a campus is for and to open it out for the benefit of our students, our researchers and our community.” The University is particularly interested in working with like-minded partners, who are attracted by the chance to collaborate in research or provide opportunities for the next generation of professionals through internships. The University is already working with partners in health and sport with work underway on a new sports hub, which will include ACT Sports Hall of Fame, a new headquarters for the Brumbies Super Rugby side, sports studies teaching and research facilities, a bocce court and new student sports facilities. Special Olympics and ACTSPORT will also call the new building home. Work is almost complete on a GP Super Clinic on campus. Operator Ochre Health chose to partner with UC in a new development on the campus and was successfully allocated Commonwealth funding. Health Workforce Australia also contributed funds as an Australian Government initiative to extend the University’s innovative student-led clinics as part of the development.

Professor Parker said the University of Canberra could become like a modern day cathedral, pointing out universities already shared many of titles, such as dean and chancellor, used in cathedrals and adding cathedrals had important economic and cultural functions. “I think the campus of the future will be a special community resource, where learning, discovery, cultural activities, sport, business, innovation, health and residential living all combine,” he said. “I think the university is the cathedral of a modern knowledge economy; and this campus can be a new form of cathedral town. The university will be the organising element at the heart of it, but much else will go on besides, which will strengthen the University and strengthen the community.” The University would consider a range of business opportunities. And there is flexibility in the commercial structures that will be considered, including ‘BOOTs’ (build, own, operate, transfer), joint ventures, alliances, lease back arrangements and others consistent with market conditions. The University’s focus is on developments that clearly provide mutual benefits. Partnerships will be based on the University’s Campus Development Principles outlined in the development prospectus. These include consistency with the University’s existing plans, strategy and brand; long term financial benefit to the University and the communities it serves; and a clear contribution to a campus environment that is conducive to excellence in learning and research Expressions of interest will be assessed based on criteria including the respondent’s previous experience of delivering similar projects, alignment with the University’s campus development principles and opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefit. Financial and operational risk together with timing considerations will also be taken into account. For more details or to submit an expression of interest, visit: www.canberra.edu.au/develop

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C A N B E R R A B U S I N E S S C O U N C I L F E AT U R E S

SERREE – South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence SERREE is an industry development initiative for the renewable energy sector across the south east NSW-ACT region. Objectives • A strong and collaborative SERREE Network that is inclusive of the region’s wide diversity of renewable energy stakeholders • A robust and exemplar renewable energy industry capacity that stimulates investment in the region • A local workforce with the necessary skills and capacity to service the region’s current and expanding renewable energy industry • Engaged communities with a good understanding and appreciation for renewable energy development. The Network The Network includes over 300 members who represent the diverse range of stakeholder groups involved in the renewable energy sector: • Governments – Federal, State/Territory and Local; • Business and Industry; • Education, Training and Research; and • Community, including landholders and Not-for-Profit organisations. Steering Committee SERREE is led by a Steering Committee that includes representation from Regional Development Australia (RDA) ACT, RDA Southern Inland, RDA Far South Coast, and from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the ACT Economic Development Directorate, and the Federal Department of Industry.

Join If your company is developing renewable energy projects in the south east NSW-ACT region and/or provides goods and services to the sector, we invite you to join the SERREE Network. Membership is free and without obligation – it provides opportunities to be informed about the latest industry developments and to connect with other key renewable energy stakeholders. For Information SERREE Chair Liz Veitch T: 02 6173 7000 | M: 0428 223350 E: liz.veitch@rdaact.org.au SERREE Project Officer Craig Hanicek M: 044 88 66 444 E: craig.hanicek@rdaact.org.au

www.rdaact.org.au/serree

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C A N B E R R A B U S I N E S S C O U N C I L F E AT U R E

LOCAL BOTTLE COMPANY PRODUCTS USED WORLDWIDE by Anton Pemmer, Director, Bottles of Australia

ince 1989, Bottles of Australiaâ&#x201E;˘ have provided quality products to the Australian market. In 1991 BOA was the first Australian company to manufacture the bicycle shape bottle here in Australia. Today our bottles can be seen across many industries both domestically and internationally, at retail and in the promotional industry, corporate business, schools, colleges and universities, government departments, and sporting clubs. BoA has an extensive distributor network which you can locate on their website www. bottlesofaustralia.com.au If you have a printed drink bottle in your cupboard or refrigerator at home there is a great change that it will be a BOA bottle. So check out the bottom of the bottle, then you will know if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using a quality Australian made product.

The BOA bottle meets and exceeds international and Australian food standards and has been independently tested. That is why companies like Nestle and eight out of the ten top international sporting brands use BOA products. Australian Olympic Teams, Paralympics Teams and Commonwealth Games Teams have been using BOA bottles event after event because the product stands up to the requirements of elite athletes. We are continually researching and developing new drink bottles and drink bottle carriers and printing processes to supply the market with the best quality products available. We strive to set the benchmark for up-to-date styles and colours, constantly reviewing our ranges every year. We take the feedback from our customers and consumers to make improvements and changes that people want and need. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated and

can only help us to do a better job in the future. Our services and promotional drink bottles are tailored to your individual needs and we are constantly assessing market trends and the upgrading of our equipment, skills and products, to meet your requirements and expectations. We are able to turn around most orders within our standard production times of 7 to 10 working days from artwork approval or faster when we need to respond to your tight deadlines. Service and Quality is our key to helping you with our products. So with minimum quantities as low as fifty bottles or in the tens of thousands we will always strive to look after your needs.

ADVICE

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ACCOUNTING

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ESTATE PLANNING

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay your super guarantee late by Matuesz Jakubaszek, RSM Bird Cameron

BUSINESS LAW Copyright in software: off the rack lessons for tailor-made by Mark Love, Bradley Allen Love

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Still too much red tape By Phil Butler, Australian Institute of Company Directors

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Business names, domain names and trade marks: By Shaun Creighton, Arete Group

SMSFs and separation By Stephen Bourke, Certus Law

FAMILY LAW Child Protection Convention and your financial interests By Alison Osmand, Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson

HEALTH Sugar: tip the scales in your favour By Robbie Manzano, Healthy Identity

PROPERTY FINANCING Get fixed to fix By Peter Spooner, Loan Market Home Finance Brokers

RECRUITMENT Demand for professional high in New Year By Jim Roy, Hays Recruitment

SERVICED OFFICES 10 tips for better meetings By Robert Okulus, Synergy Business Centres

WEBSITES Mobile Commerce (mCommerce) By Sam Gupta, Synapse Worldwide

ACCOUNTING

By Matuesz Jakubaszek

BUSINESS LAW

Don’t pay your super guarantee late

We have seen a significant amount of activity by the Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) in relation to reviewing the timing of Superannuation Guarantee (“SG”) payments. Employers are currently required to pay 9.25% (up from 9% in 2012-2013) of Ordinary Times Earnings into the employees’ superannuation fund by the 28th day after each quarter end (i.e. 28 October, 28 January, 28 April, and 28 July). Ordinary Times Earnings is what employees get for their normal hours of work including: • Over award Payments • Commissions • Shift-loading • Allowances • Certain bonuses This payment must be received by the superannuation fund by this date. Posting a cheque on the 28th or depositing money in a normal clearing house will not meet these requirements. The exception to this is if the 28th day is a weekend or a public holiday in which case the next business day will effectively be the cut-off date. Another option for small businesses is access to a free Superannuation Clearing House that is administered by the Department of Human Services. Under this service the SG payments are counted as paid on the date the clearing house accepts them (and they are not rejected by the superannuation fund). If a company is late in paying, the company (or potentially the directors) are liable to a Superannuation Guarantee Charge (“SGC”) as well as penalties and interest. Furthermore the superannuation payments will not be deductible. It’s important to note that the SGC is based on salary and wages not on Ordinary Times Earnings which means that the surcharge is based on a higher amount than would have been paid in SG. For companies where there is a significant amount of overtime, the SGC can be substantial. Recommendations • Don’t get caught out. Make sure your superannuation guarantee is paid on time; • Ensure your SG is being paid on the correct Ordinary Times Earnings; • Review your recent superannuation guarantee payments and confirm that the amounts are shown on your bank statements on or before the 28th day of each quarter; • If you are in the process of acquiring shares in a company, ensure your due diligence procedures include a check on superannuation guarantee payments, or that warranties are include in the Share Purchase Agreement; • Consider making payments by Electronic Funds Transfer (“EFT”) rather than cheque. For more information on this topic, please feel free to contact Matuesz Jakubaszek, Manager at RSM Bird Cameron on matuesz. jakubaszek@rsmi.com.au or 02 6217 0300.

By Mark Love

Many businesses invest considerable sums to develop functionality for their computer programs. Contracted IT developers are commonly asked develop solutions to reorganise the way in which business information can be stored, accessed and used. The solutions themselves become valuable assets, but controlling rights to the solution is often left overlooked until it is too late.

Solution – Whatever you expect from your consultants, get it in writing first. Paying a consultant to develop software is not like buying an asset. If you are careless, you might have to pay for it to be built, then pay more to use it. User fees might be hidden in “ongoing support and maintenance contracts”. Further, you may be “captive” when you want to re-scale” or further enhance the functionality of your “system”. For consultants and contractors, the author or inventor of the code is the owner of it. You won’t be, unless you can prove otherwise. Copyright in “literary works” (of which computer programs are one) does not extend to the right to prohibit someone from “using” the work, but it does prohibit reproduction, publication or adaptation. Most computer programs function by reproducing the code (albeit invisibly and electronically) whenever the program runs, and therein lies the problem. For computer programs, the Copyright Act permits that automatic reproduction, where it occurs in the course of running the program, however, first you must show you hold a “licence” for the copy you use (s.47B). If your contract doesn’t address this issue, then you must prove that your bargain includes an implicit licence or assignment of rights permitting your continued use, else you face the potential to pay licence fees to the author. In most cases you have to find that implication from within the contractual documents you have with your contractor. Businesses that engage outside consultants to design or develop computer programs must ensure that they either: • retain ownership of the developed copyright; • have some sort of “licence” to use, reproduce, modify or adapt the copyrighted work, or • have an “assignment” to do those acts, and while “licences to use” don’t have to be in writing, rights to modify or adapt could well require assignments in writing. “An assignment of copyright (whether total or partial) does not have effect unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor” (s.196(3) of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)). Solution – Whatever you expect from your consultants, get it in writing first.

Bird Cameron

Chartered Accountants

RSM Bird Cameron assists a broad range of organisations with risk management. If you are struggling to implement a risk management process or simply need to re –invigorate the process you already have we can help. Please contact Rodney Miller, Director at RSM Bird Cameron, on rodney.miller@rsmi.com.au or 02 6217 0363.

9th Floor, Canberra House, 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601 Tel 02 6274 0905 | www.bradleyallenlove.com.au

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

by Phil Butler

Still too much red tape

The confidence of Australian directors about the outlook for business and the future of the economy has dramatically improved since the election of the Coalition, but they see increasing red tape and the burden of regulation as Australia’s greatest economic challenges, according to the latest Director Sentiment Index (DSI) which is published by the Australian Institute of Company Directors .

The survey sends a clear message to Government, loud and clear, that reducing the regulatory burden, both through cutting existing red tape and taking a more efficient approach to creating any new regulation, must be a priority. For the first time in the history of the survey, a majority of directors surveyed agreed that ‘the current government understands business’ (55 per cent agree, compared to just 8 per cent in the last survey in April ). Further, almost 70 per cent of directors expect the new Government will have a positive impact on their business decision making, while 80 per cent expect it to affect consumer confidence positively. The outlook for the future health of the Australian economy has significantly improved, although directors remains slightly pessimistic. Interestingly, there has been a notable increase in pessimism about the present and future health of the US economy. The outlook for the Asian economy continues to be positive and most continue to rate the European economy as the weakest economy. When asked to identify the biggest economic challenges facing Australia, directors cited too much regulation or “red-tape’ and global economic uncertainty, together with low productivity growth. More than 60 per cent of directors believe that the level of ‘red-tape’ and the time spent by the board on regulatory compliance has increased over the last 12 months, with more than 70 per cent of directors identifying workplace health and safety and preparing and paying taxes as the aspects of their business most affected by ‘red-tape’. Respondents saw general economic conditions followed by ‘red-tape’ and regulation as the biggest impediments to productivity growth. The survey sends a clear message to Government, loud and clear, that reducing the regulatory burden, both through cutting existing red tape and taking a more efficient approach to creating any new regulation, must be a priority.

Phil Butler is Manager - NFP, Public Sector & ACT at the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Level 3 54 Marcus Clarke Street Canberra T: 02 6132 3200 | www.companydirectors.com.au

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

By Shaun Creighton

Business names, domain names and trade marks...

Do you know that the registration of a business, company or domain name gives you no substantive intellectual property rights in law? Many businesses operate under the belief that the registration of a business, company or domain name gives them the exclusive right to use that name and provides a form of immunity against infringement proceedings brought by owners of registered trade marks. This belief is erroneous, and results in a large number of businesses defending trade mark infringement proceedings or being forced to re-brand (and without the intellectual property protection they thought they had). Trade marks, business names, company names and domain names are four distinct systems of registration. Only trade mark registration provides a proprietary right in a mark, or an exclusive right to use that mark in respect of specified goods and services. The registration of business names, on the other hand, is a largely administrative procedure aimed at providing a mechanism by which consumers and traders can identify trading entities. We recommend any business operating with a registered trade mark check to ensure they are not inadvertently infringing 3rd party rights. This is cheaper and more convenient that being forced to re-brand. Specialist Trade Mark Attorney firms, like ARETE Group, can provide cost effective searches and associated advice. Businesses with a registered business names, but without trade mark protection, would be wise to formally protect their intellectual property. Trade mark registration can provide monopoly style rights in a brand. Trade marks can be recorded as valuable assets on balance sheets and are capable of being licensed, sold and even used as security in commercial transactions. Like the business and company name systems, there are no proprietary rights in a domain name. Although there are threshold criteria for the registration of certain domain names, registration does not involve a check to see whether the domain name is identical or similar to the registered trade marks of other traders. The registration of a domain name therefore does not amount to any proprietary right in that name, nor immunity from infringement of registered trade marks. The law relating to trade marks can be difficult to navigate and often requires specialist services and advice. ARETE Group provide a full suite of IP and trade mark related services, including providing trade mark strategies, conducting prefiling searches, filing Australian and international applications (noting trade mark rights are on a ‘per country’ basis), attending to trade mark prosecutions / oppositions and enforcing rights in your brand. Contact us on 6162 1639 or go to www.aretegroup.com.au

P: GPO Box 579, Canberra ACT 2601 E: shaun.creighton@aretegroup.com.au shaun.creighton@aretegroup.com.au T: 02 6162 1639 | M: 0430 22 78 62 W: www.aretegroup.com.au or www.asportslaw.com.au

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ESTATE PLANNING

by Stephen Bourke

SMSFs and separation

As Neil Sedaka crooned “Breaking up is hard to do”. But it is doubly hard if you are both members of an SMSF! In an SMSF, the individuals that "own" the fund have the dual role of trustee and member. This gives rise to problems that are unique to SMSFs. The individuals must separate their roles as trustee from their entitlements as members. When a married or de facto couple are in the process of separating, it is even more critical that the member/trustee demarcation is clear. The member entitlements will often be disparate. The fund may be difficult to split if there are non liquid assets such as real estate that needs to be sold before a split can occur. Clever engineering may be required. But there can be tax benefits that flow from the splitting of superannuation, including CGT rollover relief. The ATO may well conduct an audit to ensure that the splitting of the superannuation fund was for a genuine separation and that the splitting was not contrived to reap the tax benefits. To ensure that the SMSF is audit proof, all trustee decisions should be documented. There are notices that the party receiving the superannuation (called the non-member under the Family Law Act, even though they might have their own member entitlement) is required to provide the trustee after a splitting order or agreement. The trustee is also required to give notices to both the member and non-member. Even though the parties are the trustees, the notices should be given and documentation of this action should also be prepared. This will ensure that the law was strictly observed and that the splitting of the superannuation was genuine. If one of the parties remained or became a member of the SMSF it would make the management of the SMSF quite a challenge! Trustee meetings and decisions could become very strained and it is not a recommended course of action to adopt. Part 7A of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations therefore provides that the member can insist that the leaving mmember rollover their entitlement. It is important to remember though that until a splitting order has been made and you have rolled out your entitlement you cannot wash your hands of your obligations as a trustee. During the separation process, it is important to remember that the SMSF may be audited by the ATO and that proper documentation should be in place to reflect the settlement that the parties have reached in relation to the SMSF. When you are going through a separation the last thing you need is to be in the firing line of the ATO!

Certus Law specialises in superannuation, trusts and estate planning. Visit Certus Law at Level 5, 28 University Avenue, T: 6268 9090, www.certuslaw.com.au

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FAMILY LAW

By Alison Osmand

Child Protection Convention and your financial interests

In 2003 Australia ratified the Child Protection Convention. This Convention is also known as the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition and Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children. The Child Protection Convention provides for the personal protection of children and for the protection of property of children. While the Convention was signed in 1996, it did not come into force until 2002. It is only recently that a significant number of countries have become parties to it, including Sweden, Portugal, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. As a result, the Convention is now being used much more frequently than in the past. This also reflects the global nature of family law. Why is this a relevant and important Convention in a financial context? The Convention may be directly relevant to children who own or are entitled to claim ownership of assets located in an overseas country. The Convention is part of Australian law through the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). As a result, the family law courts can make Orders where a child on whose behalf an application is made is habitually resident in Australia or present in Australia but habitually resident in a Convention country (with some conditions). A case called Flemming [2012] FAMCA 985, was decided by Justice Benjamin of the Family Court of Australia. The Court was asked by the children’s mother to make Orders for a “property protection measure” for three children aged 15, 14 and 12. The relevant property was the proceeds of a life insurance policy that had been held by their deceased father. Those funds were held for the children (who were the beneficiaries of the policy) by an overseas insurance company. The insurance company was only prepared to release the funds to the mother if she had a Court Order naming her as guardian for the children in respect of the insurance payout. The country in which the funds were held was a party to the Child Protection Convention. The mother therefore sought Orders for property protection measures pursuant to section 111CK of the Family Law Act (implementing the relevant part of Child Protection Convention). The Judge made Orders appointing the children’s mother their guardian in respect of the insurance payment and giving her the power to hold the monies on trust for the children and then pay the capital and interest to the children on them attaining 18 years of age. The Orders then allowed the mother to secure the funds, invest them in Australia and hold them on trust for the children.

18 Kendall Lane, New Acton Canberra City ACT 2601 T: (02) 6212 7600 E: mail@ddcsfamilylawyers.com.au www.ddcsfamilylawyers.com.au

This festive season, 1 in every 13 Canberrans will struggle to pay for essentials like food, toiletries and clothing.

y o J e Gihvoliday season this

When it comes to Christmas time and you realise that there are people out there willing to give you that bit of support so the kids get one or two presents, its overwhelming to us that there is that thought and kindness still out there. I wish they could see the smiles on the kids’ faces on Christmas morning…to really know all they’ve done for us. (Communities@Work’s Care&Share client)

You can join Communities@Work’s movement to give every disadvantaged Canberran a life-changing gift of joy this holiday season. Your gift will help provide dignity, hope and resilience to those experiencing hardship.

Visit givejoy.commsatwork.org or call 6293 6500 to donate

“I helped my staff, and my bottom line, get healthier” Find out how: healthierwork.act.gov.au A joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventative Health.

HEALTH

By Robbie Manzano

PROPERTY FINANCING

Sugar: tip the scales in your favour

Sugar has become one of the main talking points of our society in terms of health, with the prevalence of obesity related diseases, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome increasing all the time. Glucose (also known as sugar or carbohydrates) is what the brain uses for energy. Consequently, we cannot take sugar out of our diet. The Atkins Diet is a diet based on eliminating sugar from the diet. It popularity grew due to the fact that it promoted weight loss. Unfortunately, this phenomenon was short lived, as the weight loss was only sustainable in the short term and the stress on the body and brain caused many to revert back to their previous eating patterns. By removing sugar out of our diet we move into a state of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels). Although this term is commonly associated with diabetes, anyone that breathes experiences hypoglycaemia to a certain degree. Like body temperature our blood glucose levels need to be at a homeostatic level (between 4.4mmol/L to 6.1mmol/L). Skipping meals is the main reason one might find themselves in a hypoglycaemic state. This triggers hunger as our body needs glucose for the brain to function. Consequently, the likelihood of over consuming sugar and fat during your next meal increases, resulting in the formation of fat. The overconsumption of sugar causes the body to move into a hyperglycaemic state (high blood glucose levels). This causes the body release insulin to lower blood glucose levels back to a homeostatic state. What many people don’t understand is that when insulin is released from the beta cells in the pancreas, sugar is taken from the blood to lower blood glucose levels and is stored in our fat cells. Sadly, there comes a stage where the constant activation of insulin causes the beta cells to break, which transpires to the disease we now know as diabetes. For many trying to lose weight this is a common problem to overcome, as counting calories is the heavily advertised method to reduce the over consumption of sugar. Restricting calories by the day will reduce over consumption of sugar, however we must be mindful of including a small amount of sugar in each meal to keep our blood sugar levels happy. What many dieting fads fail to grasp is that balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle, and any diet based on eliminating any food group is not sustainable. We forget that health management is a skill that needs to be practiced every day, there is never a quick fix. Don't get sucked in to the latest fashion diet, just enjoy all foods in moderation and keep in mind every day to make a few conscious healthy choices. Healthy Identity advocates healthy communities. For that reason, if you, your business or your network needs a program to reach a healthier status, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 0423 366 014 or robbie. manzano@healthyidentity.com.au. Healthy Identity looks forward to supporting and guiding you. Robbie Manzano is founder and managing director of Healthy Identity. Robbie has degrees in Human Nutrition and Coaching Science from the University of Canberra and has completed a Graduate Certificate Public Health from Curtin University. robbie.manzano@healthyidentity.com.au 0423 366 014

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By Peter Spooner

Get fixed to fix

In the prefect world property investment and owner occupied mortgage holders will fix their repayments at or near the bottom of the interest rate cycle for a period of time that is sufficiently long enough to ride through the next peek. Endless articles have been published on this subject but few, if any, are reliably instructive as to actually picking ‘the right time to fix’ in an interest rate cycle. It all pretty much boils down to most mortgage holders picking the right time for them to fix based on being well informed by media and RBA commentary in relation to possible interest rate movements and their own gut feel after taking into account their capacity should rates move upwards and overall risk management philosophy. I will be the first to admit that I have seldom got the timing right. Fix too soon and you pay more interest than you otherwise would have. Fix too late, and it’s the same story. Win-win or lose-lose. It’s the classic case of the glass half-empty or half-full. What I can offer in the current interest rate environment is a both a risk mitigation strategy and goal orientated approach based around mortgage structuring. Simplistically, for both investment and owner occupied mortgage holders I recommend that they define an amount that they reasonably believe that they can payoff in the initial 3 to 5 years. This then is setup as the principle and interest repayments element of the total borrowing and should be linked with a 100% offset account and no constraints with making extra repayments or redraws should they be required. Generally speaking, this element will not be an overly large portion of the total lending and if managed properly will be in front of the repayments curve and cope well with a rise in interest rates. And, at the end of the initial period, a measurable amount will have been paid down and equity built. Following on, I recommend that the balance of the lending be setup as interest only repayments for a term matching the initial payout period in a facility that allows switching to a fixed rate at anytime at a nominal fee. It’s not rocket science but I believe that this approach gives the mortgage holder a shot at staying in front of the curve and achieving real objectives which can be repeated in the next loan cycle. Want to know more? Want to discuss loan structures and options for effective investment property or owner occupied financing? Peter Spooner is a qualified and highly experienced residential property financing specialist. He has access to over 800 loan products from a panel of 30 lenders (including all of the major banks) plus reach-back to over 500 Loan Market associates when formulating solutions for his clients. Peter does not charge a fee-for-service. To gain further information into the Loan Market go to www.loanmarket. com or drop peter a note on peter.spooner@loanmarket.com.au or give Peter a call on 0400-281-398

Australian Credit Licence 390222

To gain further information into the Loan Market go to www.loanmarket or to book an appointment please call Peter on 0400 281 398 or email him at Peter.Spooner@loanmarket. com.au

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more than accommodating! It’s not that we have over 80 apartments for you to choose from, it’s the little extras that will make your stay with us exceptional. Accommodate Canberra offer a personal, leisure or corporate, experience in many of Canberra’s most sought-after locations. At significantly better rates than traditional hotel accommodation, Accommodate Canberra delivers the freedom of the home away from home experience, whilst providing loads more space, convenience, and total privacy.

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Visit our website and choose from the array of modern, fully appointed, self-contained & serviced, 1 to 3 bedroom apartments available or call to discuss your requirements with our concierge.

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RECRUITMENT

By Jim Roy

SERVICED OFFICES

Demand for professionals high in New Year

Australia’s economy is maintaining momentum and consumer confidence is strong heading into the busy end of calendar year period, fuelling an active jobs market.

Recruitment is a people business and at Hays we’re passionate about creating valuable relationships with everyone we work with. We want to make sure you find the right employees, the ones that fit with your company culture and tick as many boxes for you as possible. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index rose 1.9 per cent to 110.3 in November, close to the previous 2013 peaks in March and September. Consumer sentiment is being buoyed by low interest rates, rising house and share prices, and relatively stable unemployment. This bodes well for the retail industry over Christmas and the New Year. But how is demand for professional services such as accounting, financial planning, architecture and legal holding up? We’re seeing high-skills remain very much in demand. According to the Global Skills Index, in Australia the labour market is still not producing the right skills pipeline. Furthermore, vacancy activity is expected to increase in accountancy and finance since firms are keen to secure candidates who can start early in the new calendar year. Candidate levels have risen and people are increasingly confident to enter the jobs market if they are not happy in their current role. This is an indication of increasing confidence overall. In architecture candidate levels remain consistent. Given the project nature of the industry, we have seen an increase in the number of temporary and contract roles as employers look to maintain flexibility through project specific support. Legal firms are currently favouring long-term contract roles as opposed to permanent positions. At the senior level within professional practice, employers are preferring candidates with a portable practice. Mid-tier firms are winning more work as they are generally far more competitive than top-tier firms when it comes to cost. Given the pockets of specific skills shortages that exist, we advise you to partner with an expert recruiter who will meet your hiring needs. Recruitment is a people business and at Hays we’re passionate about creating valuable relationships with everyone we work with. We want to make sure you find the right employees, the ones that fit with your company culture and tick as many boxes for you as possible. We look forward to working with you to help you grow your business.

5th Floor, 54 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra T 02 6257 6344 | F 02 6257 6377 E canberra@hays.com.au

D E C E M B E R 2 0 13

By Robert Okulus

10 tips for better meetings

Team meetings are a great way to get everyone on board, reach consensus, gather opinions, build the team, work on a problem and share information. However, as there are a number of people present, this makes them challenging as group dynamics and roles that individuals in the group take on may hinder communication and progress. Ask yourself the following questions: • Is a meeting the right vehicle for what I want to do? • Have I got the right people in the room? • What is my role in the meeting today? • What is the outcome we want? • How can I gain real commitment to action? Jenny Garrett, sought after Leadership Coach and Founder of Reflection Associates, shares her top tips on making your meetings productive. 1. Make sure the right people are in the meeting – who can make a decision and move things forward 2. Purpose – have you ever been to a meeting and wondered why you were there? Help everyone to understand why they were invited and what is expected of them. Then stick to the purpose. 3. Facilitate – rather than dominate, see yourself as someone who is there to create connections, identify themes, build bridges, manage dominant characters and encourage the quieter ones 4. Delegate Tasks – be radically inclusive, everyone has a contribution. Rotate the lead/chair –this option gives everyone an opportunity to lead the meeting, this stops the approach to meetings becoming stale 5. Physiological Factors – make people comfortable – ensure that people are fed and watered, room temperature is right and the venue is conducive to this type of meeting 6. Time Boundaries – agree and stick to time boundaries, this helps keep the meeting on track. Expect people to arrive and leave on time, this culture is both respectful and efficient 7. Preparation is Vital – give out relevant information, and find ways to stimulate pre-meeting thinking so that the conversations are rich and purposeful and not vague 8. Encourage Participation – use flip charts, post it notes, individual thinking and small group discussion to encourage everyone to take part. You can even ask for anonymous suggestions. 9. Monitor Energy Levels – have regular breaks, changes in activity, and move people around 10. Beware of Groupthink – real conversations are challenging and engaging, not back patting and cosy.

Robert Okulus, Area Director robert.okulus@syn.net.au | T 1300 476 946 Level 6, 39 London Circuit, Canberra Units 1 to 4, 8 Jardine Street Kingston ACT 2604

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WEBSITES

by Sam Gupta

Mobile commerce (mCommerce)

10kg

EW N

Rag Bags Australia spent $5.6 billion on mobile devices last year and this trend is continually growing. More than 75% of the population chose mobile devices because of the convenience factor and most people kept their mobile devices close to them throughout the day. The natural progression then is for people to buy goods and services via mobile devices, because it’s accessible, fast and convenient.

In order to succeed in these changing times, you need to embrace the technology. Start simple. Get a mobile friendly responsive website first. Most businesses understand the need for a basic website, but with the increase of mobile and tablet use in Australia and around the world, it's also very important to optimise your website for mobile devices. Furthermore, you may wish to take advantage of the new mobile use trends and offer your customers the ability to purchase your product or service through mobile or tablet devices. Convenience is the key factor here. We have already seen the popularity of ‘PayPass’ on credit cards in the last two years, which allows customers to pay over the counter without having to enter their pin or signature. In the near future, NFC (Near Field Communication) on mobile phones will also pick up. This is where you can simply wave your mobile phone in front of the counter, accept the payment, and check out with ease. There is also a huge growth in the acceptance of eWallet concept around the world where your credit cards can be securely stored and when checking out from an online store, you simply choose the card you need to pay. You don’t need to enter the credit card number, your eWallet takes care of the payment for you. New payment options such as Bitcoin, the peer-to-peer online payment method, are also gaining momentum. In order to succeed in these changing times, you need to embrace the technology. Start simple. Get a mobile friendly /responsive website first. If you don’t have the budget to redesign your website, you can get a standalone mobile website for under $500. Speed is the key on mobile. Customers have no tolerance for sites that take forever to load. It comes down to user experience (UX). Customers will prefer to buy from your website if it is quick and convenient for them. To find out how your business can take advantage of mobile commerce, I invite you to book your free 1 hour consultation. Call 1300785230 or send an email to admin@synapseworldwide.com.

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act@visybm.com.au 3/5 Foster Street, Queanbeyan 2620 Sam Gupta is the managing director of Synapse Worldwide. Sam would love to hear your thoughts on this advice column. Please contact him on 1300 785 230 or admin@synapseworldwide.com

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G2B

MINISTER’S MESSAGE

Brand Canberra ANDREW BARR

ACT DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER TREASURER MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The need for an integrated city brand has been something that many in the public and private sectors have been acutely aware of for many years. For too long we have let our identify be shaped by others, without a strong grasp of what makes this city great.

Confident Bold and Ready are three words which frame a new way of thinking about Canberra. It’s not a tagline or positioning statement – they are simply three words we used in the brand development process to frame the thinking and we encourage everyone to think in a similar manner – to be confident, to be bold and to be ready for Canberra’s future, because collectively, we can grasp the opportunities on offer in all walks of life in the Territory. There is a need to shift perceptions of Canberra and to encourage more people to engage with Canberra as a place to live, work, learn, visit and invest. At the end of November we revealed the Brand Canberra project publicly for the first time. A three month community consultation program is now under way to determine how the brand program will be brought to life. The full brand program will be revealed in March 2014. The essence of the Brand Canberra project is that we’re a city with brilliant possibilities. We’re confident, we’re bold and we’re ready to take on our second century. Confident Bold and Ready are three words which frame a new way of thinking about Canberra.

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It’s not a tagline or positioning statement – they are simply three words we used in the brand development process to frame the thinking and we encourage everyone to think in a similar manner – to be confident, to be bold and to be ready for Canberra’s future, because collectively, we can grasp the opportunities on offer in all walks of life in the Territory. Having a strong brand makes good business sense. If we can attract more people and more money to Canberra it means more skills, more jobs, more services, greater prosperity and a better way of life. It has the potential to attract and retain talent, bring new business to Canberra, stimulate investment in new infrastructure, create public private partnership opportunities and position Canberra as a place for big ideas and major initiatives. For the past 15 months, there has been a brand development project running in parallel with the Centenary that has been driven by public and private sector collaboration. For the brand to succeed in achieving its aims we must continue to engage with all our stakeholders. I’d like to acknowledge the important role that the Canberra Business Council, Chamber of Commerce as well as a number of business leaders in contributing to the development of the brand. This is crucial in ensuring that the brand is something that business feel a connection to and are able to use to promote themselves and this city. The Brand is important because it unites the various unique elements of our local and regional story in a consistent, single story and builds on the success and momentum of the Centenary. The result is a new city brand for Canberra and the region that captures our unique attributes, values and personality. I encourage you all to visit www.brandcanberra. com.au and see how you can work with it, and be a part of the story.

A S S O C I AT I O N S T O B U S I N E S S

A2B

Changes to the Fair Work Act: Get it right before you get it wrong

mployers should be aware that a number of amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 will take effect from January 2014. First among these is a requirement for Modern Awards to contain greater obligations for employers to consult with workers about changes to rostered hours of duty. The new clause in Modern Awards will require employers to provide information to affected employees about the proposed change to hours of work, to invite the affected employees to give their views about the proposed change, and to give prompt consideration to those views before finalising the arrangements. Modern Awards will also require employers to commence the consultation as early as practicable, and recognise the role of any representatives who may be appointed by the affected employees. Regrettably, this more stringent consultation requirement is likely to limit the flexibility in staffing that many modern businesses currently rely upon. Another change to the Fair Work Act that takes effect from January will provide an avenue for a worker who “reasonably believes” that he or she has been bullied at work to apply to the Fair Work Commission (FWC). If FWC upholds the complaint, it may make any order it considers appropriate for

the protection of the complainant – which could include orders requiring an employer to keep certain employees separate, to provide training, or review the employer’s bullying policy. Bullying will be defined as repeated, unreasonable behaviour towards a worker that creates a risk to health and safety. However, “reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable manner” will be specifically exempted from being considered as bullying behaviour. Interestingly, the protection from bullying will be extended to contractors, volunteers and labour-hire employees as well as direct employees – provided that the worker works in a constitutionally-covered business. This potentially excludes employees of non-incorporated businesses in New South Wales and other States, although all Australian Capital Territory workers will be covered by the new provisions. In addition to the new role for the Fair Work Commission to intervene in cases of alleged bullying, a worker will still have an option to initiate a range of other claims in relation to the matter. These include raising the allegations as adverse action, unfair dismissal, discrimination, or through the WorkSafe authority.

‘TIS THE SEASON It’s that time of year again… Christmas parties and end of year functions are a great opportunity for everyone to relax, unwind, mingle in a social environment and celebrate the year that was. However, they can also be cause for scenes of alcohol-related embarrassment and harm. Are you aware of your duty-of-care and WHS obligations as an employer when it comes to end of year functions? There are some simple steps employers can take to ensure these events are fun and safe for all attendees - staff, clients and guests. As an employer, you should: • Lead by example • Communicate with staff prior to the event about what is acceptable behaviour • Confirm employees and guests have planned a safe way home • Ensure there is substantial food available • Discourage excessive alcohol consumption • Advise a clear “ending time” of the function The Chamber’s experienced Workplace Relations team can assist you as an employer, to reduce potential liability and minimise risks involved around end of year functions. For more information on your obligations as an employer, contact the Chamber today on 02 6283 5200 or visit www.actchamber.com.au.

GREG SCHMIDT

DIRECTOR, WORKPLACE RELATIONS

Corporate Sponsors ActewAGL TransACT The Canberra Times The Good Guys Tuggeranong Synapse Chamber Networks Women in Business Young Business Network Business after Business Foundation Member Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry

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A S S O C I AT I O N S T O B U S I N E S S

The importance of a strong

Indonesia-Australia relationship for the 21st century BRENT J U R AT O W I T C H

PRESIDENT, ACT EXPORTERS’ NETWORK

For more information on the ACT Exporters’ Network visit actexportersnetwork.com.au or call 02 6247 4199 The ACT Exporters’ Network is proudly sponsored by the ACT Government, Canberra Business Council, the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies and AusIndustry.

otwithstanding the recent deterioration in the relationship between Australia and Indonesia, over allegations of spying, building and maintaining an strong Indonesia-Australia relationship is critical for Australia in the 21st Century. Within two weeks of being sworn in as prime minister, Tony Abbott was in Jakarta. Why? because of the importance of the relationship between Australia and Indonesia - two great neighbours and two major economies. Here are some facts about Indonesia: • Indonesia’s 17,508 islands have a population of over 250 million people (238m at 2010 census), making it the world’s fourth most populous country. • It is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. • It is the world’s third largest democracy. • It is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies. • The Indonesian economy is the world’s 16th largest by nominal GDP. • Along with India, it is the emerging democratic superpower of Asia. • Currently, Indonesia’s annual GDP per person is less than $4000 – or a tenth of Australia’s – but it is growing at about 6 per cent a year. The minimum wage rose by 44 per cent in the past year. • 50% of Indonesians are aged under 30. They are a technologically literate workforce ready to drive economic development. • Within two decades there will be 135 million middle class Indonesians whose demand for goods and services – including financial services, health services, educational services, infrastructure and food – will be backed by purchasing power. • It probably won’t be very long before Indonesia’s total GDP dwarfs Australia’s. Yet, despite the fact that there has been trade between Australia and Indonesia at least since the 17th century; that hundreds of thousands of Australian tourists travel to Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia every year; and tens of thousands of Indonesian students attend Australian universities and colleges every year, the annual two-way trade between Australia and Indonesia is still only about $15 billion. Even our two way trade with New Zealand, with a population of just four million people, is greater

than our current two way trade with Indonesia with its 250 million people. Two new initiatives - a New Colombo Plan and the Australia-Indonesia Centre (launched Nov 2013) - aim to ensure that we are a more Asia literate country, more able to play our part in the Asian Century. The new Colombo Plan will bring the best and the brightest students from the wider Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia, to Australia and take Australia’s best and brightest students to the region acknowledging how much the region can teach us as well as how much we can offer our region. As well, within a decade, the aim is to have 40 per cent of high school students studying a foreign language with an emphasis on Asian languages. The Australia-Indonesia Centre’s function is to strengthen Australians’ knowledge and understanding of this vitally important neighbour and build business, cultural, educational, research and community links to promote a greater understanding of Indonesia and its growing importance to Australia. There are real opportunities for ACT businesses to engage with Indonesia. Canberra Business Council and the ACT Exporters’ Network have recognised this potential for some time. We have worked closely with the ACT Government throughout the year, including assisting with organizing a very successful first Trade Mission from the ACT to Indonesia earlier this year. The Network will continue to work with its members and the ACT Government in 2014, to build on the achievements of 2013 and to assist exporters in the ACT to take advantage of trade opportunities with Indonesia throughout 2014. EVENTS ACT Exporters’ Network members are invited to join Canberra Business Council for Christmas drinks to celebrate the year’s achievements. DATE: Thursday 5 December TIME: 5.30pm – 7.30pm VENUE: National Film & Sound Archives, Acton COST: Exporters’ Network Members: FREE CBC Members: FREE | Non-Members: $40 To register go to www.canberrabusinesscouncil. com.au or phone 6247 4199

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Book your staff end of year function at the Captains Flat Hotel by speaking to proprietor Gary Green on 02 6236 6201 or 0422 710 800 or visit the website at: www.ﬂathotel.com.au

Book now for your staff and clients end of year function Great value food, accommodation and service with a smile – A pub with one of the longest bars in the Southern Hemisphere. A place to relax and enjoy old fashioned country hospitality so close to Canberra yet still in the heart of the country. 'I would recommend the Hotel as a wonderful place to get away from it all and focus on important issues.' 'We held a workshop at the Captains Flat Hotel and are pleased to say we thoroughly enjoyed our time there and met all our objectives.'

B2B Mal_PM_Half Pagev3_Layout 1 7/05/13 2:19 PM Page 1

Give your property investments…

the Maloney’s touch! We tailor-make property managements to suit your property investments 5. Our property inspection reports are thoroughly completed and supported by photographic evidence of the inspection’s assessment. These reports and photos are available to you on our website. 6. Flexible property income options allow you to decide when and how your rental income will be paid to you. 7. Direct debit arrangements take care of your tenants' payments and minimise rental arrears. 8. Our dedicated management team ensure that each property and tenant receives maximum attention which gives you the freedom of continuous leasing. 9. Tenants can apply quickly for your property on-line with easy, no-fuss applications.

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1. We are a company that is big enough to be systemised, organised, structured and well resourced, however, small enough to care about all their clients. 2. Our website has a major focus on property management* and is a very powerful and time saving tool for both you, and your tenants. 3. Exclusive on-line portal provides investors with convenient 24/7 access to all your properties details. This service gives you the technological edge, and the peace of mind that everything, including ledgers are in order. 4. We contract only professional photographers to deliver better representations of your property that are showcased on a range of marketing media to maximise your returns.

B2B @ CANBERRA BUSINESSPOINT AWARDS NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

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B2B @ ACT CHAMBER MELBOURNE CUP DAY THE DECK, REGATTA POINT

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