OCTOBER 2010 b2bincanberra.com.au $4.95 inc. GST
53
Canberra’s
Young Lawyers Gun PROFILE
LINDY BRYANT
Spearheading executive coaching into the private sector
CULTURE
ISSN 1833-8232
PATRICK MALONE
A chief executive lobbying for the future of the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector
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CONTENTS
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B2B IN CANBERRA BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010 ISSUE 53
FEATURES
EVERY MONTH
20 ACT EXPORT AWARD WINNERS ASI takes out top award as ACT Chief Minister’s Exporter of the Year
06 UPFRONT Read about local business success Kate Sykes: 2010 Telstra ACT Business Woman of the Year Snap Printing Canberra City takes away the risk An invitation to ‘see inside’ some of the best world cinema APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit 10 OPINION Hear from people in the know Jeff House, ClubsACT, on poker machines Juliette Ford, Consensus Family Lawyers on valuing property when separating 14 PROFILE Lindy Bryant, Director, Yellow Edge
ISSN 1833-8232 LEGAL NOTICE Man Bites Dog Public Relations (‘MBD’) owns the copyright in this publication. Except for any fair dealing as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwth), no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of MBD. MBD has been careful in preparing this publication, however: it is not able to, and does not warrant that the publication is free from errors and omissions; and it is not able to verify, and has not verified the accuracy of the information and opinions contained or expressed in, or which may be conveyed to readers by any advertisement or other publication content. MBD advises that it accepts all contributed material and advertisements contained in this publication in good faith, and relies on various warranties and permissions provided to it by the persons who contribute material and/or place advertisements. Those warranties and permissions include that neither the material and/or advertisements are misleading, deceptive or defamatory, and that their use, adaptation or publication does not infringe the rights of any third party, or any relevant laws. Further, MBD notifies readers that it does not, nor should it be understood to endorse, adopt, approve or otherwise associate MBD with any representations made in contributions and/or advertisements contained in the publication. MBD makes no representation or warranty as to the qualifications of any contributor or advertiser or persons associated with them, and advises readers that they must rely solely on their own enquiries in relation to such qualifications, and be satisfied from those enquiries that persons with whom they deal as a result of reading any material or advertisement have the necessary licences and professional qualifications relating to the goods and services offered. To the maximum extent permitted by law, MBD excludes all liabilities in contract, tort (including negligence) and/or statute for loss, damage, costs and expenses of any kind to any person arising directly or indirectly from any material or advertisement contained in this publication, whether arising from an error, omission, misrepresentation or any other cause.
22 CULTURE Patrick Malone, Australian Indigenous Communications Association
12 BUSINESS PLANNING SERIES Part Two: Andrew Sykes explains the DVP formula
16 COVER STORY Meet six of Canberra’s young gun lawyers from three of Canberra’s leading legal practices
2BUSINESS 36 G2B: Government to Business ACT Government 37 A2B: Associations to Business Canberra Business Council ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry CollaBIT Chamber of Women in Business ACT Exporters’ Network 43 U2B: Universities to Business The University of Canberra
26 ADVICE Advice from business experts Accounting Accounting services Business coaching Commercial law Corporate governance Estate planning Fleet leasing Information security Information technology Interior plantscaping Management consulting Performance architects 34 HOT TOPIC Our political leaders views on population policy 42 BUSINESS NETWORKING Lots of photos to check out
Cover photo: L-R Stephanie Lynch, John Larkings, Sarah Keenan, Adam Bak, Kellie Johnston and Ben Fuller Photography: Andrew Sikorski
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Kate Sykes: 2010 Telstra ACT Business Woman of the Year
T
UPFRONT
he owner of an online job network that seeks to help parents re-enter the workforce has been awarded 2010 Telstra ACT Business Woman of
the Year. Kate Sykes is owner and managing director of CareerMums, a national jobs board and careers centre that advertises job opportunities for working parents and provides employers - including some of Australia’s leading companies - with a pool of specialist candidates, typically aged between 30 and 50. Ms Sykes, who also won the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award, established her business venture www.careermums.com.au in 2006 after a career in marketing and business development with an IT start-up in Boston and at the Australian Stock Exchange. While managing CareerMums’ database of 18,000 candidates and employers, Ms Sykes also launched two innovative human resources “toolkits” that assist employers with retention strategies for parents on leave and advise working parents and parents on leave on work flexibility issues. Telstra Chief Marketing Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador Kate
McKenzie said the winners of the ACT Awards were successful business women whose leadership qualities and achievements would provide inspiration for women across the ACT. “The judges said Kate Sykes masterminded a concept that she converted into a business, using her knowledge of IT to good effect to develop and streamline online processes,” Ms McKenzie said. “Through Kate’s vision and innovative business, she assists companies to meet legislated workplace changes and helps them provide flexible working conditions. Ms Karen James, General Manager of Affiliate Business Banking Commonwealth Bank, congratulated Kate Sykes for winning the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award. “I am impressed and inspired by the calibre of this year’s finalists. Each of them has demonstrated how a strong vision and smart management can turn an idea into a viable and competitive business. These are the skills we hope to foster as we continue to support and nurture women in business,” Ms James said. Winners of the 2010 Telstra ACT Business Women’s Awards are: Telstra ACT Business Woman of the Year Kate Sykes, CareerMums Pty Ltd, Mawson.
Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award Kate Sykes, CareerMums Pty Ltd, Mawson. Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award Carol Sawyer, Canberra Southern Cross Club Ltd, Woden. White Pages Community and Government Award Catherine Carter, Property Council of Australia (ACT), Canberra. Nokia Business Innovation Award Brenda Ainsworth, ACT Health, Canberra. marie claire Young Business Women’s Award Carly-Jane Tozer, CJ’s Style, Florey.
Kate Sykes receiving her award from last year’s winner Veronica Wensing
Snap Printing Canberra City takes away the risk
W
ith a new approach to printing, Ian Barrass of Snap Printing Canberra City has removed the risk of being disappointed with your printed product or receiving printing that does not meet your needs. “The important features of printed material go beyond its appearance; it is about the document’s feel, how well it meets its purpose and how it represents the document’s owner,” Ian said. All staff at Snap Printing Canberra City are trained to find out what a customer is trying to achieve with a printed product and, where appropriate, suggest alternatives that will result in a product that meets the customer’s needs and also impresses the end user. Ian, who recently completed an MBA focusing on business development and marketing, emphasizes that “Snap Printing Canberra City delivers a unique printing package that is aimed at suitability and quality and this represents good marketing for our customers that also rubs off on my business”. Ian says printing is a technology focused and rapidly developing business. Even graphic designers find it difficult to stay current with the latest developments and opportunities that
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October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
modern printing equipment can provide. “Because these new technologies are the business of Snap Printing Canberra City they do many of the simple things that are often forgotten like stopping to ask questions, listening to customers, providing advice on what is available and what can be achieved and suggesting improvements and savings that allow customers to enjoy greater value for their money,” Ian said. Like all business decisions, decisions about printing and printing products are about managing risk and that is where Snap Printing Canberra City can be a valuable business partner. “We see ourselves as part of a customer’s team, all working together towards the same end. If our customers succeed we succeed,” Ian said. Snap is Australia’s oldest franchise. It was established more than 100 years ago when one of its founders brought back the concept of franchising after studying in the United States and then established a network of offset based printing businesses around Australia. Snap Printing Canberra City 1 University Avenue 6175 0800 or Canberra@snap.com.au .
Ian Barrass, Owner, Snap Printing Canberra City
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An invitation to ‘see inside’
T
UPFRONT
he Canberra International Film Festival (CIFF) is back this year, bigger and stronger than ever. This year Canberrans are challenged to come up-close and ‘see inside’ some of the best world cinema that is on offer. B2B yet again proud to be a sponsor of the CIFF. B2B publisher, Tim Benson, said, “Canberra is one of the richest cultural communities in Australia due to the hard work and perseverance of all involved in festivals such as the CIFF.” Now in its 14th year the CIFF has pulled off a stunning coup. With a solid selection of 53 films from 26 nations across the globe, the opening night film ‘Fair Game’ has made us the envy of film festivals around the world. This hotly anticipated political thriller based on the real life drama of CIA agent Valerie Plame will be screened at CIFF before being released in the USA. The 2010 program is the Festival’s most impressive yet, with a record number of Australian premiers and diverse range of Masterclasses; Q&As with film director’s; and expert panel discussions that will follow select screenings.
Simon Weaving, CIFF director, says he expects this year’s festival to pack a punch with film lovers. “If there was a single word to describe this year’s program it is ‘inspirational’. The diversity and richness of story, plot and human experience is deeply reflected in this selection,” he said.
L-R: Simon Weaving, Virginia Haussegger and CIFF major sponsor TransACT’s CEO Ivan Slavich
“The program includes award-winning films from Turkey, Russia, some challenging offerings from Mexico, even Chad. Additionally we have particularly strong documentaries from
Indonesia, North Korea, Ethiopia and one shot on location in Afghanistan.” “The program has seven strands so there is something for everyone, from wicked comedy, to personal biopics, to war and conflict. I’m particularly excited about this year’s new ‘Horror’ strand. If you love the rush that comes with a great thriller, you’ll love these films,” Simon said. Virginia Haussegger, CIFF President, added, “We are extremely fortunate to live in a town that embraces the challenge of new and penetrating ideas. This year’s CIFF program provides ample food for thought and nurture for the soul.” “We had a tremendous increase in audience attendances last year and we anticipate even greater numbers this year. It’s great to see the international film festival circuit beginning to take note of the CIFF program and eye off our films. Simon has done a superb job in selecting such a broad and fascinating range of world film.” “Grab a program and get booking! Many films will sell out quickly. And most of all, sit back, relax and ‘see inside’” Virginia said. More info: see the back cover of this issue of B2B or go to www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au
APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit
L
indy Bryant*, Executive Director and Mentor Coach at Canberra based Yellow Edge–Performance Architects, was one of only five Australian women to be invited to attend the APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit in Gifu, Japan, on October 1st. Before leaving for the summit Lindy said, “I feel enormously privileged to be selected to attend and I look forward to being in a room with 150 women entrepreneurs.” The APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit (WES) was co-hosted by the United States and Japan under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and on the margins of the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting. APEC WES aimed to galvanise the AsiaPacific community to unleash the potential of women entrepreneurs and business leaders to boost economic growth and development in this region. WES brought together 150 women from the 21 APEC economies. The summit was compromised of several panel discussions and interviews featuring high level political and business leaders, as well as break out sessions tailored for women entrepreneurs to enhance
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October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
their understanding and practical skills to gain better access to markets, networks financial services, technologies, and training. Lindy said the summit was a great opportunity to build networks with women from other APEC countries. “I want to establish contacts with the other Australian women that are attending and also build networks with women throughout the other 20 APEC countries,” Lindy said. Another aspect of the summit was to catalyse private sector efforts to support women entrepreneurs and to forge public-private partnerships to step up corporate investments in women entrepreneurs in the region. Part of the accepting the invitation to participating in the summit was a commitment to participating in future APEC and US government programs to prmote women’s entrepreneurship, including programs related to the US hosting of APEC in Hawaii in 2011. “This was an extremely beneficial experience for me and I would like to be able to encourage women entrrepreneurs in all industries,” Lindy said. Lindy Bryant is one of four directors at
Canberra based Yellow Edge–Performance Architects, and Executive Director of Executive Coaching, introduced executive coaching to the public sector in Australia in 2002. In 2010 Lindy manages the leading public sector executive coaching practice in Australia, having personally delivered over 2000 hours of executive coaching and managed a team of more than 30 coaches across the country to deliver more than 15,000 individual executive coaching sessions. *Read the full profile of Lindy Bryant on pg 14
Lindy Bryant, Yellow Edge Director
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OPINION
OPINION: CLUBSACT Keeping a level head when it comes to the public debate on poker machines Poker machines have become a national issue as a result of a small number of individuals who have a personal dislike for them.
By Jeff House, Chief Executive Officer, ClubsACT
T
he way we conduct public discourse in this country is at least as important as the subject of that debate. This is a principle I have always firmly believed in. History is replete with examples of public debates which have done no honour to those who have participated in them. Indeed we don’t have to look too far to find an example of where the facts of the matter rarely see the light of day let alone take centre stage in the public realm. The public debate over asylum seekers has been a thoroughly depressing example of popular mythology and misconception winning out over fact and reason. This is not only an injustice of those seeking asylum but ultimately, to us all. The problem is that the zealots or those at the extreme ends of the debate, always get the attention from the media simply because more ‘interesting’ or ‘news-worthy’ than a debate amongst those more reasonable people who occupy the middle ground. And so it is with poker machines. Tim Costello, for example, describes poker machines as the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’ – hardly a level-headed, reasonable assessment. It has become fashionable to be concerned about the number of poker machines in Australia. And whenever something becomes fashionable, particularly for the media and politicians, facts are forgotten and perspective disappears. Kevin Rudd didn’t like poker machines so he got the Productivity Commission to conduct a review. Nick Xenophon and now Andrew Wilkie have catapulted the debate into the headlines yet again. Every time the issue is raised and the zealots get the air time and column inches it goes to paint a picture of poker machines and the venues that they’re in which is simply inaccurate and unfair. More disturbingly, the
10 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
picture that’s being painted is a thoroughly uninformed one. The emerging popular myth is that venues with poker machines create a trail of human destruction in their wake and the owners of said venues have little to no concern for anything other than making money.
There will be a debate in this country about poker machines. But let that debate be informed by the facts and not be influenced only by those who can scream the loudest. In a recent editorial in The Canberra Times, the following appeared: “It involves a concerted effort to reduce net number of machines. With the pest most prolific in the ACT, this is the logical place to start”. Describing poker machines as a ‘pest’? There’s that level headed, factually based argument again. Shouldn’t we expect more from a major daily newspaper? One can only assume that the concern, whether it is real or contrived, is based on the view that if the pokie numbers are reduced in the ACT, then we’ll strike a blow for problem gambling. Does the Canberra Times really believe that problem gamblers will struggle to find a way to gamble if there are a few hundred fewer poker machines? Watching the first AFL Grand Final I can’t remember how many commercials appeared for various sports bookmaking companies but there were quite a few. If I was a problem gambler, I don’t think I’d have any trouble at all finding ways to have a punt.
As a point of interest – there are very strict restrictions on clubs advertising poker machines – you basically are forbidden to do it. But the double standards don’t end there. Perhaps Senator Xenophon and Mr Wilkie should be more concerned about the money that was wagered on the outcome of the federal election. With an internet connection, I could have lost thousands on betting against Mr Wilkie winning through Centrebet or the like – using a credit card at 19% interest. The Productivity Commission’s report into Gambling is held up as the authoritative document on gambling. Despite the fact that the amount of money being gambled through the internet is growing exponentially, the Productivity Commission recommended that internet gaming should be further liberalized. The deal that the PM struck with Mr Wilkie to secure his support is instructive about the nature of the debate about poker machines. Mr Wilkie doesn’t like poker machines and he secured the government’s agreement to limit the amount of money that can be withdrawn from ATMs in venues that have poker machines to $250 per day except casinos which were specifically excluded from the deal. So for Mr Wilkie, poker machines are bad, except if they’re in casinos. The Productivity Commission seems to share this view for in their report which spent hundreds of pages describing how poker machines create tremendous harm in our community, they recommended that the Canberra Casino should get access to poker machines. There will be a debate in this country about poker machines. But let that debate be informed by the facts and not be influenced only by those who can scream the loudest. Irrespective of your position on the issue, we should all be concerned if that turns out to be too much to ask for.
OPINION: CONSENSUS FAMILY LAWYERS Valuing property when you separate When the time comes for a separating couple to decide how to divide their assets and negotiate, the division this can feel like an overwhelming challenge. By Juliette Ford, Director, Consensus Family Lawyers
A
s well as the emotional issues surrounding how to negotiate the split, there are many other practical considerations that need to be discussed in regard to how the assets are divided. One of these considerations is to decide how to value different items of property and whether some items need to be valued professionally. This is important to ensure that both parties are negotiating a division of their assets adopting an informed and real value of each asset. There is no one rule governing how to value property for family law purposes, as different types of property require different valuation approaches. For some classes of assets there are clear understandings as to the appropriate method to be adopted. However, no matter what method is used—market value, auction value, replacement value or insurance value—the objective is usually the same: to assign a dollar value to each item of property. This is often where some difficulties arise. The usual commercial methods of ‘market value’ or ‘hypothetical purchaser’ assume that the ultimate benefit of the asset is derived from the proceeds of its sale and that those benefits will pass to a prospective buyer when sold. This is not always the case. For that reason the concept of ‘value to the owner’ has become important to separating couples when valuing assets such as minority shareholdings in family owned companies. In many family owned companies the shares held give the shareholder additional benefits that are based on the owner’s specific attributes or give advantages to the owner which may not pass on to a third party purchaser. These advantages often do not increase the market value of the shares. A common example is where a minority interest is held by a spouse in a family company. The spouse’s parents are the
majority shareholders and the spouse stands to inherit the majority of the shares in the future. In this case in can be argued that as the company is owned by the parents of the spouse, the full benefit of the shares can not be sold or passed on to a third party, as those benefits are attached to the particular shareholder spouse. The valuation of these shares at ‘market value’ does not reflect their potential or ‘real’ value to the spouse who holds them. For this reason, valuation methods developed for commercial purposes are not always appropriate or helpful for separating couples who need to know the asset’s value in terms of what it means to them individually. When considering the value to be placed on minority shareholdings, the Family Court has made some relevant comments. It has said that it is not appropriate to value shares on what a hypothetical purchaser may pay for them as this is not realistic and is only applicable where there is an available market. Similarly, the present commercial capital value of shares in a company may not reflect the value to the spouse who will maintain control after a property settlement or who ultimately stands to benefit from the shares in the future. When faced with a situation such as this, a judge must look at the reality of the situation in each case and the value of the shares on the basis of their worth to the shareholder. This approach looks more realistically at each of the parties’ position and gives a value to the shares based on the worth of the shares to the individual spouse. This is a valuable approach for separating couples to have when discussing a property settlement. Practitioners have received some further guidance in relation to this concept from Family Court judges who have commented that experts who are valuing minority shareholdings should avoid reaching conclusions or speculating on future events that are better left
for the Court to decide. This includes whether shares are likely to be sold by the spouse in the future or the likelihood of a spouse gaining a majority shareholding in the future. The ‘value to the owner’ concept provides an important distinction in family law and to separating couples where the ownership of a business and the associated benefits are likely to continue for one party after the separation. The concept is not exclusive of other commonly used valuation methods, they are often used collectively to ascertain the most appropriate means of valuing property. There are no clear cut rules about how to approach this issue but it can have a very real effect on the outcome of a property
The ‘value to the owner’ concept provides an important distinction in family law and to separating couples where the ownership of a business and the associated benefits are likely to continue for one party after the separation. settlement. It is important to obtain a valuation in a way that addresses both parties concerns about that item of property. This can be crucial to obtaining agreement at the end of the day which addresses each of the separating couple’s respective goals and concerns ensuring a financial settlement which recognizes the true value of the assets of their relationship. For an Out of Court Solution contact Consensus Family Lawyers.
FEATURE
Business Planning Series
Part Two: DVP Want to move your business forward but not sure where to begin? Use the DVP formula as a planning tool for implementing change in your business and reap the results. Andrew Sykes explains.
U
nderstanding what drives change in an business can be difficult – sometimes change will work and sometimes, despite best efforts it fails. The DVP formula for change is a great, quick tool which can help you plan change efforts by identifying several key factors which must be present in sufficient degree, to initiate and sustain a change effort. DVP is an important planning tool, allowing you to develop an understanding of what it will take to implement change and where you must increase your efforts to succeed. It is also a diagnostic tool that can help you quickly access what’s missing or what’s going wrong.
The DVP formula for change is a great, quick tool which can help you plan change efforts by identifying several key factors which must be present in sufficient degree, to initiate and sustain a change effort. Dissatisfaction: This is the ‘Why’ or the motivational factor in the formula. In most cases the level of dissatisfaction needed to support significant change efforts must be quite high. Most organisations do not take on change unless there is a very strong reason to do so. Often this is because of fear that by doing things differently they won’t work – sales will drop and competitors will get an advantage. If the ‘Dissatisfaction’ in your formula is missing or insufficient then great ‘Vision’ or ‘Plan’ will not save you, it will fail.
12 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
Vision: ‘Dissatisfaction’ pushes individuals to change but does not provide a direction. They know that they are not happy but don’t know how to make it better. The ‘Vision’ pulls the individuals towards change by providing a direction for change. This is the ‘What’ factor of the formula. If you do not know where you are going then the chances are you will go nowhere. Plan: This is the ‘How’ factor of the formula. A high level project plan with major activities, deliverables, and benefits can help increase your motivation to change. People often underestimate resistance to change and it is also common to misjudge the amount of time, barriers, money, effort, training, communication and planning needed. Tip: The three DVP variables must form a believable package that is fully supported. A vision and a plan without resources will not work. If your change formula stalls, the chances are one or more of the variables in this formula are the problem. You can apply the DVP formula by rating each area out of 10. The higher the score the more likely it is that change will be successful.
D
x
V
x
P
= Potential Change
Dissatisfaction
Vision
Plan
5/10
2/10
1/10 = =
10/100 1%
For information on business improvements contact our experienced team, 103–105 Northbourne Ave, Canberra. T: 02 6247 5988, www.rsmi.com.au
PROFILE
Lindy Bryant
Director, Yellow Edge Lindy believes the need for executive coaching in Australia will continue to grow.
T
here weren’t any other kids that travelled ‘home’, during the holidays, to Zambia from her Catholic boarding school in Wagga Wagga, let alone four times in two years* – but then again there aren’t many women like Lindy Bryant. Lindy, one of four directors at Canberra based Yellow Edge – Performance Architects, and Executive Director of Executive Coaching, introduced executive coaching to the public sector in Australia in 2002. In 2010 Lindy manages the leading public sector executive coaching practice in Australia, having personally delivered over 2000 hours of executive coaching and managed a team of more than 30 coaches across the country to deliver more than 15,000 individual executive coaching sessions. Never one to sit still, Lindy is about to extend Yellow Edge’s executive coaching to the private sector. “We can provide skills to SMEs and multinational firms, particularly those doing business with government in Canberra and throughout the country, that will enable them to increase their capacity to deliver successful business outcomes,” Lindy explained. In addition to this Lindy says that after Yellow Edge’s eight years as a successful private sector business in the Canberra marketplace, they have a considerable amount to offer the private sector in terms of management, leadership development and human resources consulting. So where did Lindy’s drive for excellence and entrepreneurial spirit originate? The second eldest of five children, and the daughter of a principal and a deputy principal, Lindy was destined for a role in adult education. Lindy completed a degree in education at Macquarie University. During the degree she got married and had her first child Sarah. Eighteen months later in 1979, along came her second child Melanie and a move to Canberra where her then husband took up a graduate position in the Australian Bureau of Statistics. After five years of bringing up her children, and aged 26, Lindy got a part-time job
14 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
processing parking infringements with three other women who also had university degrees. “I thought the only skills I had were in raising children, being well organized and the ability to get on with people,” Lindy said. At 28 she got a job as base grade clerk at the Public Service board. Within three months she was an APS 6. Next, Lindy was seconded to the Premier’s Department in Tasmania where she implemented the first Tasmanian Senior Executive Service (SES) leadership whole of government program. Then Lindy was appointed head of human resources in the Department of Community Services Then back to Canberra as the Manager responsible for Government Purchasing at the Australian Information Industry Association – then seconded to the Office of Government IT, as an SES officer, to coordinate the Commonwealth’s Y2K response. “During that time I spoke with two types of people: the converted or those that believed Y2K was like the ‘emperors new clothes’ – in the end, after spending an enormous amount of money on legacy systems it was both resolved and a welcome anti–climax” Lindy reflected. Lindy then worked for a multinational company, Compuware, selling human resources system Aurion for 18 months. In 2002 whilst contracting to Spherion Lindy met, fellow Yellow Edge directors, Andy Gregory, Andrew Simon and Kerry Martin. “In a kitchen in Aranda, in 2002, we decided to set up Yellow Edge. We called our business Yellow Edge because yellow is the colour of creativity and innovation,” Lindy said. “We each decided to have a business arm. Andrew Simon was heading Leadership and Performance, Kerry Martin was heading the Consulting arm, and Andy Gregory was Managing Director Business Development and shaping the way forward and my area was to build an executive coaching business.” Lindy’s goal was to have the best possible coaches delivering the best possible executive coaching to the public sector.
All of Yellow Edge’s executive coaches belong to the International Coach Federation and adhere to a strict code of ethics. So what in a nutshell is this executive coaching caper all about? According to Lindy: ‘Executive coaching is about enabling executives to clarify and realise their individual strengths and potential through a confidential, supportive and dynamic coaching conversation; understanding the complex context in which they work and assisting them in developing strategies that work productively for them – in their life and work.’ It is the individualization, the tailored conversation, that is the key to executive coaching. The coach has to comprehensively understand the context in which the executive works and understand the challenges and the constraints of the public sector,” Lindy explained. Lindy says the same goes when choosing an executive coach in the private sector, “In choosing a coach for your business, or yourself, it is important the coach understands your business context, has had training as a business or executive coach, and that you see coaching as an investment in your business.” Lindy believes the need for executive coaching in Australia will continue to grow. “Because there is evidence of return on investment in terms of changed behaviour and increased motivation and productivity, the desire for executive coaching will continue to grow for those public and private sector executives that need a supportive and confidential coach to assist them to become what they need to be,” Lindy said. In recognition of her achievements Lindy was sponsored by the US Department of State, as one of five Australian women entrepreneurs, to attend the APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit in Gifu Japan in early October (read article on page 8). *Lindy’s parents were in Zambia for two years as education advisors.
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COVER STORY
Canberra’s
YoungLawyers Gun Ben Fuller
Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers / Partner
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en Fuller’s path to Canberra has been an exciting progression of careers and experiences, leading to his appointment in February 2010 as a partner in Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers, where he specialises in property and construction law. “I started out surfing waves in Wollongong and now find myself regularly riding up Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain on my bike – it has been a big change of scenery, but after 10 years here, I feel like Canberra is home,” Ben says. “In between, I have been a mechanical engineerng trainee with BHP, an aerospace engineer in the RAAF with postings in Canberra (ADFA), Melbourne (RMIT), Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, and also an engineering consultant. After I finished my law degree at ANU I worked for nearly eight years in the Canberra office of one of Australia’s large law firms. Now I am really enjoying the great atmosphere and new opportunities of Partnership at Meyer Vandenberg.” Outside the law, Ben has become hooked on cycling and over the last four years combined that interest with his passion to generate support for children in difficult circumstances. Ben founded the Coast 2 Kosci 4 Kids (‘C2K4K’) charity bicycle ride in 2006, which is a one-day event that starts
16 October September 2010 2010 | B2B | B2B in in Canberra Canberra
Sarah Keenan
Consensus Family Lawyers / Solicitor
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arah Keenan is very fond of tractors and well-cut worksuits, and does not like any foods that ‘taste’ orange. She is a keen skier, an emerging real estate tycoon having just bought an apartment, and appreciates a slow cooked meal. Sarah grew up in Melbourne before moving to Canberra to study law at ANU. She was involved in the set-up of Consensus Family Lawyers in mid 2008 and has refined her skills in all fields of family law since that time.
pre-dawn at the beach at Tathra and ends some 17 hours later as the sun goes down on the top of Mount Kosciuzsko. Over four years the participants of the gruelling ride have raised approximately $60,000 for charities such as the Starlight Foundation, the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, and more recently the Olivia Lambert Foundation, of which Ben is a trustee. “Raising support for kids through the C2K4K has been one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences I could hope for. The suffering that the riders experience during the event is trivial compared to what many children go through on a daily basis,” Ben says. “It is a real honour to be able to help out. At the moment, Olivia Lambert and her family are over in Germany for some very advanced treatment for Olivia’s neuroblastoma and it is the generosity of the Canberra community that has really made the difference.” Ben is looking forward to introducing some industry leading ideas to further enhance his growing property and construction practice at Meyer Vandenberg. “In the very near future we hope to unveil some significant innovations in the way our legal services are delivered, which will really add value for our clients – it is an exciting time for the firm!” www.meyervandenberg.com.au
As a young lawyer, she stands apart. She is clever, confident and ambitious. As an employee of Consensus Family Lawyers, her specialty is assisting clients find out-of-court solutions in family law disputes, using a variety of non-litigation processes. Her clients love her innovative and positive approach to their family law issues. Professionally, Sarah’s goal is to assist clients find creative and clever ways to resolve areas of disagreement and expedite the resolution of a dispute, without the adversarial backdrop of ‘going to court’. She has developed a particular forté in the complex field of binding financial agreements, aka ‘pre-nups’, used to formalise arrangements made pre-, during- and post-relationship. They are very complicated and difficult, and Sarah is very good at drafting them, explaining them, and helping her clients through the process expeditiously. Sarah is respected by her colleagues and admired by her employers as a tenacious and meticulous lawyer with a commanding understanding of complex legal issues. In some ways she is a legal ‘nerd’ and enjoys reading new cases and publications, but in other senses she finds the traditional methods of dispute resolution outdated and unhelpful. Director of Consensus Family Lawyers, Olivia Gesini, is Sarah’s boss. Olivia understands she is lucky to have a young solicitor with Sarah’s ability and dedication to her work. “Sarah relishes any kind of intellectual challenge,” Olivia said. “She is very good at tackling difficult and detailed legal issues and stands her ground with far more senior people, including me, and does the preparation to back it up. Sarah shows a level of practice well beyond her years,” Olivia says with a wry smile and a proud nod. Within the firm Sarah is the name that first springs to mind when an answer to a difficult legal question is needed, or complex cases and agreements need to be prepared. She speaks common sense and negotiates great results for clients while maintaining her infectious laugh and immaculate dress sense. Sarah is also an integral member of the firm’s soccer team, responsible for advising on wine purchases, and keeps stress levels down by letting colleagues play with her Babushka dolls on request. When asked what she is passionate about on a personal level, Sarah says, “I’m passionate about good things—good food, good wine, good books, and good company. My aim is to be a great skier and a great cook.” www.cflaw.com.au
Adam’s real passion professionally is litigation. To hear him on his feet in court you would think that he had at least 20 years experience. It is this confidence and clarity when putting his client’s case forward that makes him such a great tough litigator for those cases that really need it. As Jim Dunn says, “I love that he loves to appear in court.” And the Family Court is not the only court he dominates – Adam is a could-have-been pro-basketball player and the star of his mixed netball team. Because playing sport three times a week is just not enough for Adam, he also runs every week and is aiming for a marathon. Some have speculated that it’s the opportunity to wear short shorts that really drives Adam to sporting prowess, but when questioned about that Adam only says, “AFL players wear them, so it’s got to be a good thing.” Adam is known around the office as the one to always put a smile on your face – his hilarious firm emails and witty repartee with the directors and other lawyers around town are a constant source of amusement. Somehow, Adam finds time to be incredibly hard working and available for his clients when they need him. Often the one to answer the phone after-hours and go above and beyond, Adam’s clients trust him because they know that he will do whatever he can to help their case, and to make it as easy for them as possible. He is passionate about learning things, seeing places, and meeting people. “I love all kinds of sport, and staying fit. I’m also a big believer in nice suits and men’s skincare,” Adam says. www.fgd.com.au
Adam Bak
Farrar Gesini & Dunn Family Lawyers / Solicitor
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ore front than Myers is a phrase that springs to mind when thinking about Adam Bak, but behind that front is a very capable, talented and courageous lawyer, who is not afraid of difficult cases or hard work. Jim Dunn, CEO of the FGD Group says, “Adam is not your usual Gen Y, indeed he could have been a baby boomer: he works very long hours, is career-focused, wants to be part of the business and understands networking.” Adam also boasts an impressive tie collection and a dapper wardrobe that goes from well-cut suits to fluoro t-shirts. B2B in Canberra | October 2010
17
COVER STORY
Canberra’s
YoungLawyers Gun
Kellie Johnston
Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers / Associate
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ellie first came to Canberra ten years ago from Queensland to study. She started working as a graduate lawyer in commercial litigation more than four years ago after completing a science/law degree at ANU and working as a lab technician. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn’t want to kill any more mice,” Kellie laughed. Leaving the laboratories and mice behind her, Kellie has worked in litigation in Canberra ever since. “I like litigation because every matter is different. You get exposed to a large number of different types of clients and industries. It’s always challenging. A lot of my work involves commercial and retail leasing disputes,” she says. The law in the ACT in this area is unique and there isn’t a lot of precedent
18 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
John Larkings A Williams Love & Nicol Lawyers / Senior Associate
chieving the best commercial outcome as quickly as possible is fundamental to John Larkings’ approach to commercial disputes and litigation matters. It is an approach that, when combined with John’s straightforward manner and unflappable style, has produced an outstanding record of success as well as a strong client base across business, industry associations and government. A senior associate at the Canberra-focused business law firm, Williams Love & Nicol, John advises on dispute resolution and acts in litigation arising from contract law, corporations law and trade practices issues. Recently, the highly-regarded litigator has been actively involved in a number of large and complex litigation matters including acting on behalf of the Queanbeyan City Council in Federal Court constitutional proceedings against ACTEW Corporation and the ACT Government regarding the Water Abstraction Charge and the Utilities Networks Facilities Tax. John completed his studies at Macquarie University and started his legal career in Sydney working for a boutique legal firm where he acted in a range of matters for property development and entertainment industry clients. Seeking a better quality of life which combined excellent professional opportunities with a great environment to start a family, John made the move to Canberra in 2006 and joined Williams Love & Nicol as a solicitor in the commercial law area. However, during the course of a number of insolvency and debt recovery matters, John’s aptitude for litigation became clear. John moved into the firm’s litigation area, was appointed a Senior Associate in 2008 and is now a leading member of the firm’s commercial dispute and litigation area. John sees that a personal and practical approach to contentious situations is the key benefit that clients gain from dealing with Williams Love & Nicol. “A commercial dispute, and particularly the decision to litigate, needs to be approached as carefully as any other major investment or strategic business decision,” John says. “The element of risk and uncertainty associated with every litigation matter can place the client under considerable stress, whether this is personal, professional or financial. A matter that drags on can distract from a proper focus on critical day-to-day activities,” he said.
so it can be very difficult to give clients certainty about the outcome of litigation,“ Kellie explained. “This means we really have to take into account our clients’ financial and commercial positions when helping them decide how to resolve a dispute.” “I also do quite a bit of administrative law, challenging government decisions in areas such as town planning and heritage listing. Sometimes we act for developers who have had their development applications rejected and other times we act for individual people who are concerned about the impact of a large development on the block next door or of their house being listed on the heritage register.” “That’s the great thing about litigation – you can be on either side of the argument in any given case and you have to find a way to get the best result for your client.” Outside of the office Kellie likes to play sport and to travel. She plays netball with some friends from uni a couple of nights a week and likes to run. “I’m a very slow runner but it is a nice way to relax, especially if work is a little stressful. Running through winter is a little hard though. I’m aiming to run a marathon back home on the Gold Coast next year,” Kellie said. Over the last two years Kellie has been hiking in Nepal and Peru and she is just home from hiking in the French Alps. www.meyervandenberg.com.au
“At Williams Love & Nicol, we manage this uncertainty by ensuring that the facts of the case are well understood early in the matter. Our advice will reflect the strength of the legal arguments and the evidence available to support the facts.” “Often, the best possible commercial outcome for our client may not involve litigation and other approaches to resolving the dispute at an earlier stage may achieve a better result, faster and more cost-effectively.” Outside of court, John enjoys spending time with his family, keeping active and enjoying life.
at home, or do a bit of both. Meyer Vandenberg is a great choice for young female lawyers. We have recognised that a work-life balance means different things for different people.” Stephanie attributes her ability to juggle work and family to the support of her extended family. Stephanie is a Canberra girl who obtains a lot of help from her mum, Jo, sister, Sarah and her father Phil Lynch (former sports presenter and basketball commentator). Apart from the impending birth of her child, Stephanie is focused on continuing to develop a government practice at Meyer Vandenberg. Stephanie presently provides legal and probity advice to Commonwealth and Territory agencies concerning various property, planning and commercial matters and oversees Meyer Vandenberg’s government conveyancing practice. On being a young Partner at Meyer Vandenberg, Stephanie says, “I am excited about being part of the partnership. The partnership consists of a great mix. There are five men and four women. Two of the women are mothers and three of the Partners are under 40. I think that the recent injection of ‘young blood’ into the partnership has reinvigorated it, with new energy and fresh ideas being brought to the table. It is an exciting time to be part of the business.” www.meyervandenberg.com.au
www.wln.com.au
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Stephanie Lynch Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers / Partner
tephanie has always had a busy life. While studying economics/law at ANU she played for the Canberra Capitals. Instead of juggling sport and the law, she now juggles two children Ellie (8) and Zoe (5) together with full-time work as a Partner of Canberra’s largest independent law firm, Meyer Vandenberg. Stephanie became a Partner of Meyer Vandenberg in 2010 while pregnant with her third child with John Cattle, the Chief Financial Officer of the ACT Brumbies. On being pregnant and a partner of a law firm she says: “I sometimes think that I might be crazy – as it is impossible to have it all. However, I know that this is what I want to do. I think mothers should have a right to choose whether they want to work full-time, stay Photography by Andrew Sikorski
B2B in Canberra | October 2010
19
FEATURE
Australian Scientific Instruments named ACT Chief Minister’s Exporter of the Year
The ACT Chief Minister’s Export Award winners celebrated their success recently at a gala luncheon attended by 200 guests. Dr Ian Williams (left) Australian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd receiving the ACT Chief Minister’s Exporter of the Year 2010 Award from ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope MLA
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ustralian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd (ASI), a world leader in the supply of high precision geochronology instruments took out the ACT’s top award as the Chief Minister’s Exporter of the Year at the 2010 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards presentation ceremony held recently at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. In presenting the award, Jon Stanhope paid tribute to ASI as a worldleading exporter of instruments for geochemistry and geomechanics. ASI was also the winner of the Small Medium Manufacturer Award.
“All the finalists here have demonstrated marketing innovation, a commitment to international business and outstanding export achievement within their industry over the past year. They have shown us that they have what it takes to compete on the world stage and win.” Chris Faulks, CEO Canberra Business Council. “ASI exemplifies the ACT’s knowledge-based exporting community and is a deserving winner of this year’s top ACT export award,” Mr Stanhope said. Formed in 1992 as a subsidiary of ANU Enterprise Pty Ltd (ANUE), the commercial arm of the Australian National University (ANU), ASI has grown to become a highly successful exporting business which commercialises and markets a range of scientific technologies. ASI’s flagship product, the Sensitive High Resolution Ion MicroProbe
20 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
II (SHRIMP II), was originally developed for the accurate dating of rocks on a microscopic scale. The ASI team travels to customers all around the world to install and commission the instruments, and to provide hands-on training and post-sales support. “All the finalists here have demonstrated marketing innovation, a commitment to international business and outstanding export achievement within their industry over the past year. They have shown us that they have what it takes to compete on the world stage and win” Chris Faulks, CEO, Canberra Business Council said. The ACT’s Emerging Exporter Award was presented to Shaw Vineyard Estate, a family owned and operated boutique winery. Since commencing export operations in 2008, Shaw has established distribution channels and partnerships in China and the Netherlands, with key markets being China, Netherlands, Vietnam and Brazil. Other notable category winners include Inland Trading Co (Aust) Pty Ltd, a supplier of premium quality wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Austria to the global market; Funnelback Pty Ltd, a search engine technology and services company providing web and enterprise search engine solutions and GPSports Systems Pty Ltd, developer and supplier of sophisticated performance monitoring devices to the global elite team sport analysis industry. Lucy Media Pty Ltd and stratsec, both category winners at last year’s ACT Export Awards continued to demonstrate strong export performance taking out the Arts and Entertainment and Small to Medium Services Awards respectively in 2010. Recruitment Systems a continually strong performer at the Awards was highly commended by the judging panel. Mr Stanhope also presented a special Hall of Fame Award to the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies, which he described as an outstanding role model for the ACT’s exporting community.
And the winners are ....
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5
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“From its humble beginnings in 2001 as an area of academic interest within the University of Canberra, the Centre has grown into a worldleading provider of customs research, consultancy and educational programs in over 180 countries,” Mr Stanhope said. The Centre for Customs and Excise Studies is only the second ACT company in the history of the Australian Export Awards to win a national category award. “The Centre for Customs & Excise Studies is leading the development of the ACT’s export community and supporting local exporters in entering international markets. Professor David Widdowson and his team have been incredible supporters of the ACT Exporters’ Network and the Export Awards Program,” said Chris Faulks. All ACT Award winners now progress as national finalists to the 48th Australian Export Awards. The national winners will be announced at a
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dinner hosted in Sydney on 17 November 2010. One winner will receive the Prime Minister’s Australian Exporter of the Year Award. The ACT Government, Canberra Business Council and ACT Award sponsors wish our ACT winners every success at the National Awards. The Canberra Business Council manages the ACT Exporters Network on behalf of the ACT Government.
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1. Graeme Shaw (left), Shaw Vineyard Estate receiving the Emerging Exporter Award from David Barnard, CEA Technologies. 2. Dr Ian Williams (left) Australian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd receiving the Small to Medium Manufacturer Award from Professor David Widdowson, Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at the University of Canberra. 3. Neil Bolton (left), Recruitment Systems receiving the Highly Commended Award for the Information & Communication Technology Award from Peter Yuile, Austrade. 4. Adrian Faccioni, GPSports (left) with Craig Sloan, Canberra Business Council receiving the Small Business Award. 5. Karsten Reichart (left), Staging Connections presenting the Arts & Entertainment Award to Alex Mair, Lucy Media Pty Ltd. 6. Professor David Widdowson (left), Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at the University of Canberra, receiving the 2010 Hall of Fame Award from David Gaul, CEA Technologies. 7. Andy Castle (left), representing the ACT Exporters’ Network, presenting the Agribusiness Award to Greg Corra, Inland Trading Co (Aust) Pty Ltd.
THE 2010 ACT CHIEF MINISTER’S EXPORT AWARDS CATEGORY WINNERS
Award Category
Category Winner
2010 ACT Chief Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award
Australian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd
Agribusiness Award
Inland Trading Co (Aust) Pty Ltd
Arts and Entertainment Award
Lucy Media Pty Ltd
Emerging Exporter Award
Shaw Vineyard Estate
Information and Communication Technology Award
Funnelback Pty Ltd
Small Business Award
GPSports Systems Pty Ltd
Small to Medium Manufacturer Award
Australian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd
Small to Medium Services Award
stratsec.net Pty Ltd
Highly Commended
Recruitment Systems
B2B in Canberra | October 2010
21
CULTURE
Patrick MAlone
CEO, Australian Indigenous Communications Association by Liz Lang, B2B Editor
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review of the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector is currently underway. The review’s expert panel will deliver its final report to the federal government by 31 December this year. As the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Communications Association (AICA), Patrick Malone is understandably highly motivated to ensure that the federal government recognises the unique role and challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait media and communications which are distinct from mainstream media. “A significant impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media and broadcast funding has been a misconception that our sector is a mirror of the community broadcasting sector and has been funded on a similar basis. While both sectors have their own unique cultural and linguistic factors, the structure and function of the sectors are significantly different,” Patrick said. “The licensed mainstream community broadcasting sector has historically been built around the concept of volunteerism but the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector is different. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait broadcasting and media sector is an education tool, a resource agency, a community governance tool, a key local employer as well as the emergency service mechanism.” Patrick further explained that the Australian Government signed on to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007 which states in article 16.1 that ‘Indigenous Peoples have the right to establish their own media in their own languages and to have access to all forms of non-Indigenous media without discrimination.’ Through AICA, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media and broadcasting sector has been lobbying to have a third public broadcaster which would sit alongside the ABC and SBS and provide programming, messages, and information which are culturally relevant to communities and delivered in their own languages. With its national secretariat located above the Ainslie shops, AICA represents 158 member organisations including remote broadcasters, community television groups, licensed community radio stations in regional and urban centres, national newspapers, independent technology producers, the Indigenous Remote Communications Association and independent film producers. AICA is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national peak elected representative body for all aspects of the broadcasting and media sector in Australia and is governed by a nine-person board. Prior to being CEO at AICA, Patrick worked at the ABC in Canberra where he was manager of Indigenous broadcasting – a national role he held for 16 years. “I had some programming responsibilities as well as being responsible for the national training of Aboriginal people to help them get into the ABC. My other national role there was assisting Aboriginal people to set-up radio stations. A lot of the organisations that I now work with at AICA, I was involved with at the ABC,” Patrick said.
22 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
Patrick was the first Indigenous person to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at the University of Canberra in 1990. His life prior to coming to Canberra wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination and after a major incident in Queensland, he made a promise to himself that he would get an education. Patrick grew up in Cherbourg, Queensland on an Aboriginal reserve, which like all Aboriginal reserves in that state, was controlled by government officials until 1985. He recounts that when he was going to high school, if he wanted to go down-town and meet up with his parents after school to do some shopping, he had to have a permit signed by the Superintendent of the reserve. “If you were caught in town without a permit, you were punished. I started thinking, no, this isn’t right and I ran away to Brisbane. I was fifteen.” “They caught me the first time and took me back to the reserve. The second time, I had worked out which mistakes I had made and then started cruising around as a street kid. In those days, there was 100 per cent employment – you could walk out of one job into another.” Patrick’s first job was in the steam room of the Arnott’s Biscuit Factory where he had to steam out the big vats after they had been used to mix the biscuit creams. He tried his hand as a ringer on a cattle station and then joined the Army at age eighteen. In 1971, the Springbok’s, the South African rugby union team toured Queensland amid great controversy. “After the student demonstrations against the Springbok tour, a couple of coppers decided to come down to a pub on a Saturday night where Aboriginal people drank. I didn’t know what they wanted but I think they were looking for an Aboriginal person to bash – and that was me.” “My army 2IC kicked up quite a fuss about the bashing and things rolled on from there. The police union got two of the best barristers at the time in Queensland,” Patrick recounts. “I felt the powerlessness of the situation, me who was twenty against a couple of top-line barristers, who were hammering me with long convoluted words. The police officers got off and I made a promise to myself that I would never be in that situation again and that I needed an education.” Patrick subsequently left the Army and became involved in Aboriginal affairs. He was elected to the National Aboriginal Conference which was a national representative body that advised the federal government prior to ATSIC. After attending a summer school in communications at Central Queensland CIAE, Patrick moved to Canberra to study. Patrick Malone’s passion for advocacy was activated early at an early age. As CEO of AICA, he will be lobbying hard to ensure that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander broadcasting and media sector is well positioned for the future.
Photography by Andrew Sikorski
ACCOUNTING
When the unforeseen happens… ADVICE
by Nathan Nash
W
hen I ask business owners what the most valuable assets of their business are, they generally respond that it is their physical assets such as buildings and equipment. While these assets can have a high dollar value—it’s your staff and the intellectual capital that they generate which is critical to your business and its future success. Let me ask you these key questions: What would be the impact if you lost a key person, temporarily or permanently, from your business? How would your business run if your business partner couldn’t come into work for 12 months and the personal guarantees they had made for the business debt was called into question by creditors? What would happen in this scenario? Your business may have trouble meeting debt payments with reduced revenue, creditors may claim personal guarantees or assets, your business partner may wish to have their personal assets released, and you may need to increase debt facilities to assist with the restructuring of the business. To avoid this happening, take time to make an assessment of what would happen to your business if you lost a key person. Ask yourself the following questions? • Who does the success and profits of the business depend on? • On the death or disablement of a key person, could the business meet its loan or credit repayments? • Would the key person want their personal assets held as security on business loans released?
• Would you want to avoid selling or encumbering business and personal assets? • Would you have to, or be able to, borrow more money? The solution—asset protection Asset protection is a type of business risk management insurance that would ensure that your business has enough cash to address the issues already identified in this article. In the event of a claim, the proceeds of the insurance are paid directly to the business (not the key person). It is important to note that as the insurance is to protect assets (not revenue) and to pay down debts, it is not a tax deductible expense to the business. RSM Bird Cameron can provide expertise that will help you ensure that your business has the appropriate level of cover and that the insurance policies are correctly established to meet business needs.
Nathan Nash is a certified financial planner with RSM Bird Cameron Financial Services Pty Ltd. For information on business improvements, contact our experienced team, 103-105 Northbourne Ave Canberra, T.6247 5988, www.rsmi.com.au
ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Are your clients ‘binding death benefit nominations’ valid? by Brett Billington
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death benefit nomination is a notice from a member to the trustee of a superannuation fund requesting that death benefits be paid to either the member’s estate or dependants specified in the notice. This notice can be either binding or non-binding. The trustee must comply with a binding nomination, however the trustee can exercise their discretion where the nomination is non binding. A binding death benefit nomination (‘BDBN’) will ensure members intentions are carried out rather than the trustee of the superannuation fund deciding how and to whom benefits are paid following death. There are conditions to be met that ensure the death benefit nomination is binding. Often generic trust deed templates are used, however without careful interpretation there may be unintended consequences of non compliance or contravention of the deed rules, particularly for SMSFs. While there are many considerations, it is important to critically review the implementation process set out in each funds deed and ask: • Does the trust deed allow and or require an approved BDBN form? • Has the BBDN form been approved by the trustee and the approval minuted? • SMSFs are excluded from the three year BDBN term, but does the trust deed reflect this or is the three year rule still incorporated? The trust deed forms the basis of rules for a valid BDBN form. Where templates have been used without consideration given to the client’s
24 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
needs and the trust deed, particularly with SMSFs, the forms used may be invalid and the nomination non-binding. There is then no certainty death benefits will be paid as intended—whether that be flowing benefits into an estate or even directed away from an estate. There is also personal risk associated with a contravention of the deed rules arising from section 55 (3) of the SIS Act 1993. We recommend using a professional administrator and adviser to steer you around some of these risks. Clients rely on their professional advisers to ensure their financial strategies achieve the outcomes intended. This can be achieved with the right advice, particularly when the client’s accountant and adviser work closely together integrating taxation and wealth management advice.
Hillross Wealth Management Centre Canberra – providing professional wealth management services to clients of our alliance partners. Brett Billington is a financial adviser at Hillross Wealth Management Centre Canberra. Level 7, AMP Building 1 Hobart Place, Canberra City, T: 02 6263 9200, info.wmcc@hillross.com.au, www.hillross.com.au
fabulous christmas show let us do the entertaining!
book a
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If you’re after a simple, stress-free solution for boosting staff morale and raising your profile amongst clients and suppliers this Christmas, our Christmas Shows are the perfect solution. Guaranteed to provide everyone with a fun night out, all you have to do is book and turn up. Choose from:
Vegas Fever
Abba’s Back
Friday 3 December
Friday 10 December
70’s & 80’s Retro Night Charismatic showman Vince Gelonese celebrates the good times with hits such as ‘Saturday night Fever’, ‘Footloose’ and all your retro favourites. Dinner and Show $77 – 6.30pm Show only $35 – 8.30pm
Second Movement Saturday 4 December Rock ‘n’ Roll Shake, rattle and roll your Christmas party with all the hits you know so well - from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones! Dinner and Show $72 – 6.30pm Show only $30 – 8.30pm
See the next best thing to ABBA live with multiple costumes, huge musical arrangements, great moves and stunning vocal performances. Dinner and Show $72 – 6.30pm Show only $30 – 8.30pm
Swing and Sway Saturday 11 December Big Band Dance night! The award–winning Jive Bombers’ Swing & Sway celebrates the 1940s and 50s: that Technicolor moment in music when anything was possible. Dinner and Show $72 – 6.30pm Show only $30 – 8.30pm
BOOK NOW! 6283 7288 www.cscc.com.au For the information of members and guests
BUSINESS COACHING
Your missing piece of the productivity puzzle ADVICE
by Wayne Bolin
W
ould you like to see more real output for the effort you’re inputting? What about the sense of achievement at the end of the week when you look back and realise you’ve set a new personal best for the amount you’ve achieved – would you like to experience that too? You can — by using just one little secret, that’s actually super, super simple. Don’t be deceived by its simplicity though — this technique is used by the world’s most successful business people on a daily basis and in fact, for many industries it’s a way of working that’s actually at the crux of everything they produce. Here it is…set a deadline. It sounds blindingly obvious. But how often do you set mini-deadlines for yourself throughout the day? — Or, do you just find one task morphing into another, mixing with a few more and becoming a big unproductive mess of several things being ‘on the go’ at once? Try this, next time you have a task to complete — set yourself a deadline — no matter what the task is. For example, if you have an article to write, give yourself an hour to complete it. You’ll be amazed at how powerful your focus becomes once you know you have a set time to complete something. This one simple trick alone has the power to double or even triple your productivity and will do wonders for your efficiency and clarity of mind. Then, when you’ve set your deadline, focus on your task 100%, close your email programs and take the phone off the hook while you commit wholeheartedly to meeting your deadline.
Also, don’t think that just because you’ve limited the amount of time you’ve given yourself to finish the task, you’ll be restricted in any other way (for example, diminished creativity). In fact, many artists and creative people believe they work better with a deadline looming, than when they have unlimited time up their sleeves. A team exercise. Don’t believe me? Why not test it out for yourself. Next time you’ve got an operational conundrum, put it to your staff as a problem to solve and give them 15 to 25 minutes to come up with as many creative solutions as possible. Giving yourself deadlines forces you to quit procrastinating, ditch your excuses and just jump right in and DO IT! What could be more productive than that? For other tips on productivity and getting results, I suggest signing up to the results ezine: www.10x.com.au/results-ezine
Wayne Bolin is the principal at Bolin Accountants and the 10X Canberra South owner. For more information, please visit Unit 3/71 Leichhardt Street Kingston or visit www.10x.com.au/canberrasouth
COMMERCIAL LAW
Traps in selling a unit in Canberra... by Michael James
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n March 2009, a number of amendments to the Unit Titles Act 2001 came into effect. One set of those details ‘implied warranties’ that included in all Contracts for Sale in relation to ACT units. The warranties are very broad, and include a Seller stating: 1. …at the date of the Contract: a. to the Seller’s knowledge, there are no unfunded latent or patent defects in the common property; b. to the Seller’s knowledge, there are no actual, contingent or expected unfunded liabilities of the owners corporation that are not part of the corporation’s normal operating expenses, other than liabilities disclosed in the contract. 2. …at the completion of the contract, to the seller’s knowledge, there are no circumstances (other than circumstances disclosed in the contract) in relation to the affairs of the owners corporation likely to materially prejudice the buyer. These warranties cannot be contracted out of, and if breached by a Seller gives a Buyer the right, within certain time limits, to ‘cancel’ a contract or to make a claim for compensation. These provisions can be a minefield to a Seller as they are taken to have knowledge of a thing if they ‘have actual knowledge or ought reasonably to have knowledge, of the thing’. Sellers of units are now on notice that they must disclose those matters of which they ought reasonably to have knowledge of. As to what one ‘reasonably’ ought to know, fact sheets from the Department of Justice and Community Services indicate that
26 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
matters in the Owner’s Corporation records for the period of the Seller’s ownership are likely to be matters that a Seller is ‘reasonably’ expected to know. Accordingly, a Seller’s capacity to say that they are not aware of any pressing issues and that the Buyer should satisfy themselves as to what they are buying, or the long standing principle of ‘Buyer Beware’, is no longer available in relation to unit sales. So where does that leave a Seller? There is no case law or any firm guidance available to clarify the interpretation of this amendment. While full, detailed and frank disclosure as to actual knowledge, minutes of the Owner’s Corporation AGMs & executive committee meetings, and Independent legal advice from the Seller’s solicitor are an excellent start, there is still an uncertainty that Sellers must consider and manage. It would seem that until further notice, a cautious approach is the one to be adopted.
Michael James is a partner at Trinity Law. Trinity Law is a boutique firm which is focused on providing business and corporate legal services and is motivated by long term business relationships. www.trinitylaw.com.au
“The concrete business is one of the toughest in town. We need the best advisors, equipment, people and products. We rely on RSM Bird Cameron for our financial strength.” Barry Innes, Manager, Monaro Mix Specified Concrete
Since 1971 Monaro Mix Specified Concrete has provided quality concrete solutions to the Canberra region. Rock solid business advice is the key to long term business success and competitive advantage. When Monaro Mix Specified Concrete needs sound and objective business advice, RSM Bird Cameron is there to help them achieve exceptional results. RSM Bird Cameron Ph: (02) 6247 5988 103-105 Northbourne Avenue Canberra, ACT
Exceptional service, Exceptional
www.rsmi.com.au
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Minority government and the SME ADVICE
by Phil Butler
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cliffhanger federal election has finally provided Australia with a new minority government. The unique mixture of ALP, Green and Independent members forming government has not been seen at federal level since 1940. However, there have been several examples of minority state and territory governments with effective parliamentary systems. In the ACT, minority governments have almost been the ‘norm’ since 1998. SMEs in the ACT are often concerned at the impact that election campaign periods have on their business. The ‘caretaker’ period is often very quiet within government, being business as usual but with no new policies undertaken. Elections also bring uncertainty for business. The drawn-out 2010 election decision added an extra few weeks of business uncertainty for SMEs in the capital region. There was a discernible negative impact for many organisations anxious at how the new government would respond to small business concerns. In the UK earlier in the year there were similar worries over the prospects of a hung parliament. A poll conducted by consulting firm YouGov within the SME community there found that more than a third feared a hung parliament would be negative for their business. So for Australia, what will the new government decision-making process be like? Many are grappling with the prospect that extra consultation will mean longer delays in getting key policies through. Will there be back-flips on policies once they are introduced? Only time will tell.
Hopefully, reform agendas that positively benefit SMEs can piggy-back onto the renewed policy attention that regional Australia is now likely (hopefully) to see. The Australian Institute of Company Directors would like to see a reduction in the volume of state, territory and federal legislation that affects directors and business owners. There are more than 750 pieces of state and territory legislation alone that impose personal liability on Australian directors, some of which defy laws of natural justice such as being innocent until proven guilty. A new minority government which focused on some of these basic constraints on business would be most welcome.
Phil Butler is state manager of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ ACT Division. For more information about AICD ‘s course programs and events, T: 02 6248 5954.
ESTATE PLANNING
When is a marriage not a marriage? by Stephen Bourke
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o you, Gavin, take Lisa to be your lawful wedded wife?” “I do.” “Do you, Lisa, take Gavin to be your lawful wedded husband?” “I do.” This phrase is heard during many marriage ceremonies. If that is the content and the form in which the vow of marriage is put, then it is likely that the marriage would be considered invalid and the couple may not actually be married at all. The rules for marriage ceremonies are set out in The Marriage Act 1961. Until 2007 the authorities were fairly lenient in how those words were enforced but anecdotally that has changed. Since amendments were made to the Act in 2004 to rule out the possibility of gay unions, the Department has increasingly taken a more legalistic view of the form of ceremony. For example, the celebrant must say pursuant to Section 46: “Marriage, according to law in Australia, is a union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” Some people may wish to remove those words from the service as they do not wish to offend friends and family who may be in a same sex relationship however they run the risk of their marriage being declared invalid. So what is the big deal? Fortunately, there have been significant changes to the legislative environment over the last few years and those in same sex relationships and de factos have almost the same rights as married couples. This means that, even if the couple were deemed not to be married, they would likely be considered in a de facto relationship provided that they had been living together in a genuine relationship.
28 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
There are still some consequences if it turns out the marriage is declared invalid such as: 1. There may also be an impact if you move to another county where de facto relationships are not recognised or even illegal. 2. A spouse is entitled to a reversionary interest to the superannuation entitlements of the deceased however there is a different test applied if you are in a de facto relationship than if you are married. There are a number of other aspects to this which we can’t cover in this column. 3. When you die there are different tests to establish entitlement similar to that above if you die intestate. There may be some benefit in renewing your vows if not just to be hopelessly romantic. In any event this is another reason to review your will and binding death nomination for your super fund to avoid the possibility of the above happening to you.
Stephen Bourke is a director of the boutique firm, Certus Law, which specialises in superannuation, trusts and estate planning. Visit Cetus Law at Level 5, 28 University Avenue, T: 6268 9090, www.certuslaw.com.au
chipped teeth?
BEFORE
Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry
Suite 1, 2 King Street Deakin Tel 6281 4666 www.topgum.com.au | www.dentalartistry.com.au
AFTER
FLEET LEASING
Is LPG good for you and your car? ADVICE
by Scott Iriks
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ou can usually spot the owner of an LPG vehicle a mile off. You pump a week’s supply of petrol into your vehicle and receive a $90 shock. They enjoy the hiss of their tank filling up, knowing it will cost them only half that amount. But is LPG good for you and your car? LPG has been in use in Australia for almost a century. First imported in cylinders from America in the 1920s, it was extracted from Australian oil refineries from the 1950s onwards and initially considered a waste product. However, some people began to see its cooking and heating benefits, and soon the usefulness of LPG became widely known. Today, more than half a million Australians run their vehicles on LPG. And they do so for two very good reasons: the environmental impact of running a vehicle on LPG is significant and the economic benefits are huge. With an LPG vehicle, both the damaging effects on the ozone and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 20 per cent. LPG-run cars are also much cleaner than petrol engines when the engine is cold. Given that most urban drivers use their cars mainly for short distances, this means a significant reduction in real emissions. If your vehicle is currently set up to run on petrol, you are looking at a conversion charge of between $2,000 and $4,500 to fit an LPG tank. You may even be eligible for a subsidy from the Government for converting your vehicle to a combination of Petrol and LPG. From a driving pleasure point of view, there are a few downsides. When you convert a vehicle to LPG, you could lose some boot space
to accommodate the gas tank. This will not be the case with factory fitted tanks. There will most certainly be some impact on the power of your vehicle. And while LPG is now readily available throughout Australia, you may need to pay closer attention to planning your refuelling stops in regional areas. Petrol LPG Distance Travelled 30,000 30,000 Ave Fuel Consumption 13L/100kms 17L/100kms Annual Fuel Consumption 3,900L 5,100L Cost Per Litre 1.21L 0.65 Annual Fuel Cost $4,719.00 $3,315.00 Weekly Fuel Cost $90.75 $63.75
Scott Iriks is Easifleet’s general manager, leasing. For more information or to discuss novated leasing contact Easifleet on T: 1300 266 828 or F: 1300 655 568
INFORMATION SECURITY
Social media new attack vector of choice by Boaz Fischer
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ustralians spent an average time of 7 hours on social media sites in December 2009. This was more than the United States and United Kingdom which logged average times around 6 hours and 9 minutes and 6 hours and 8 minutes, respectively. There were 9.9 million unique Australian visitors recorded during this month. Did you know that social media is the new attack vector of choice? Cyber criminals are leveraging social media web sites for malicious attacks. According to Facebook, they now have over 50,000 third party applications available and any could potentially infect or contain malicious code. Last year out of 500 worldwide companies surveyed there was a 70% increase of attacks reported generating from social media and 60% of those interviewed were most concerned over social media security vulnerabilities from an IT perspective. Twitter is now taking measures to block malicious URLs on their service to address this growing concern. Can social media providers protect you from malware and other online threats like key loggers? A rogue key logger worm named Koobface (Facebook spelled backwards) spread throughout the community collecting saleable information. Several variations of this key logger have emerged since. In fact, malware distributed via social media is 10 times more effective than malware distributed via email. The business benefits social media provides are obvious. These sites have proven instrumental in networking, market research, community development and targeted campaigns.
30 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
So what can we do to protect staff when leveraging this important medium? How would you like to eliminate 100% of spyware, block 100% of known viruses, protect your mobile users and provide URL filtering and content-based web filtering? Backed by industry leading service and technology, CommsNet Group is offering you the opportunity to experience real time web and email protection.CommsNet Group can increase your budget by saving you money on your existing security strategy. Simply register your interest to myinterest@commsnet.com.au by end of November and mention ‘Social Network Protection’ and we will offer you a no obligation 14 day trial evaluation, up to 40% discount on our security services. In addition, we will send you out the 7 Essential Steps to Social Network Peace of Mind whitepaper.
Boaz Fischer is the managing director of the CommsNet Group. For more information, contact T: 02 6282 5554 or visit Level 1, 67-69 Dundas Court Phillip, mail@commsnet.com.au, www.commsnet.com.au
INTERIOR PLANTSCAPING DESIGN • INSTALLATION • SERVICE
Ambius offer a superior selection of plants, containers and artwork. Legendary service to keep your plants healthy & looking great!
Greener on the inside Phone: (02) 6241 1451 www.ambiusindoorplants.com.au AMB919 - B2B 1-2 page ad.indd 1
29/3/10 3:31:32 PM
companydirectors.com.au
Directors Briefing The GFC and beyond The recent global financial crisis presented not only significant challenges for Australian businesses but also plenty of new opportunities. Exercising good business practices and having strategies in place to cope with the economic downturn is imperative to any size business but more so for SME’s. Business leaders must be prepared to manage risk, maximise efficiency and be well placed to seize emerging opportunities. Our panel of local business leaders will touch on these, and a range of other issues and provide you with insights from their experiences and the lessons learnt.
Date:
Tuesday 16 November 2010
Time:
5.15pm Registration 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Venue:
Canberra Business Events Centre Regatta Point Canberra
Cost:
Members $40.00 Non-Members $56.00
For more information t: 1300 764 633 or visit companydirectors.com.au
00734_10
Weathering the storm, lessons learnt and opportunities identified
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Backing up your servers: why it’s essential ADVICE
by Allan King
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usinesses of all sizes depend on their computer data for their very existence. Whether it’s a large enterprise with transactional data or a 15-person law office, business data represents valuable and irreplaceable business assets. Traditional backup or online backup? Traditional backup – today’s usual approach to protecting vital business data has limitations that are well recognised. Some of these are: • Tape media integrity causes errors during both the backup process and the restore process • Tapes are vulnerable to loss and damage • Tape media management is time consuming (rotation, refresh, cost to regularly store tapes off-site) • Data on tape is unprotected and can easily be read. Anecdotal evidence as well as industry analysts report that restoring from tape fails as much as 50% of the time. This leads many companies to keep several copies of tape backup sets which only serves to exacerbate the management issue of keeping so many tapes. Can your company afford to lose any data? The truth is that virtually all of your company’s information is critical to ongoing operations and must not be placed in jeopardy. Online Backup – backing up data to a remote online data store is not new but the availability and reliability of high speed internet coupled with new backup technologies are making this more affordable.
Online backup addresses the short comings of traditional tape backups by: • Using encryption to secure your data • Using de-duplication techniques to backup all your data fast • Not using tapes, thereby removing the risk associated with tape media integrity and tape management • Automatically provides off-site storage of your data at no additional cost. The BusinessONE rmProtect solution provides the market-leading, automated, end-to-end, data protection solution for businesses. With rmProtect small and medium-sized businesses have a complete solution that addresses the numerous deficiencies of traditional backup for distributed servers. Using rmProtect, organisations can achieve lower total cost of ownership, higher reliability, better protection with more data restore points, and significant ease-of-use with less maintenance.
Allan King is managing director of Infront Systems. For further information contact Infront, 1/10-12 Franklin St, Manuka T: 02 6239 8400, admin@infront.net.au, www.infront.net.au
INTERIOR PLANTSCAPING
Relax...indoor plants are good for you by Jon Elphick
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f you’re sitting near an indoor plant, go up and take a closer look. If you can, touch the leaves, smell its scent and listen to the sound as you rustle its leaves with your hands. You’ll probably agree — plants make you feel good. But did you know that plants go even further? Studies have shown that indoor plants are effective in cleaning the air by helping to absorb volatile organic compounds. They can also help reduce the physical symptoms of sick building syndrome and help reduce negative mood states like anger, hostility and depression. There is a wide body of research that clearly shows the contribution that indoor plants make to improve air quality. At the University of Technology Sydney, researchers have produced positive results which show that different varieties of indoor plants really improve air quality. The plant system–leaves, roots and potting media–take volatile organic compounds from the air such as benzene and formaldehyde released by furnishings, carpets, photocopiers, printers and many modern building materials. They then contribute oxygen back into the environment. Scientific reports from universities in the US, the UK, Norway, and the Netherlands have concluded that interior plants may help reduce stress levels and engender feelings of wellbeing. This overseas research is backed up by a new study released earlier this year, from the University of Technology Sydney which showed reductions
32 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
in negative mood states and feelings of stress by up to 60% among people with plants in their offices. According to the head of the study, Adjunct Professor Margaret Burchett, the research confirms the benefits of indoor plants extend well beyond their contribution to air quality. Across a series of tests conducted before and after plants were placed in offices, people showed 58% reduction in depression, 44% reduction in anger or hostility, 37% reduction in tension or anxiety and 38% reduction in fatigue. These sizable declines in negative mood states can only have a positive impact on workplace productivity and job satisfaction. And the reason for these benefits? Apparently, it may have something to do with the fact that man’s survival has always been linked to nature.
The Ambius Canberra office is headed by Jon Elphick who has a team of seven staff. The business has been in operation for 20 years and was formerly Rentokil Tropical Plants. Unit 5/ 67-71 Vicars St Mitchel T: 02 6241 1451 www.ambiusindoorplants.com.au
MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
Good corporate governance — an essential investment by Ken Moore
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clear sign of an organisation under stress is a chief executive regularly addressing governance risks or failures. The more time spent on putting out bush fires, the less time available for focusing on results. Good corporate governance has a number of key features that need to be tailored to the individual organisation’s needs. You can just as easily spend too much time and resources on governance as too little. Good corporate governance includes: • an organisational structure appropriate to deliver results • right people in the right positions with the right training and with up-to-date job descriptions • clearly articulated policies, such as Chief Executive Instructions. It also includes well documented accountability arrangements, well documented business processes, robust internal controls, established audit arrangements with no material findings outstanding, key risks mitigated to the lowest practicable level, and key compliance requirements managed with no material breaches. Legislation usually applicable to most organisations includes corporation legislation such as the Corporations Act and the Trade Practices Act, government legislation such as the Public Service Act and the Financial Management and Accountability Act, employment legislation such as the Fair Work Act, Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act, Tax Act, and the Environment Protection Act.
Many compliance checks against legislation occur as a normal part of doing business. Others, however, will not be specifically reviewed unless a process is established to do so. One way of ensuring a complete 360° compliance view is through an Annual Compliance Program which identifies the applicable legislation and assigns responsibility for compliance checks and reporting. The best approach is to start with the key requirements of core legislation where a breach could have a serious impact on the organisation, its people or its customers. Importantly, good corporate governance requires leadership and firm commitment from the top. The chief executive has to have an open and honest relationship with staff where the hard questions can and will be asked and answers given with confidence.
Ken Moore is executive director, consulting at MAXimusSolutions. MAXimusSolutions offers a range of strategic consulting and support services. T: (02) 6295 9044 or visit Ground Floor, 27 Murray Crescent, Griffith www.maximussolutions.com.au
PERFORMANCE ARCHITECTS
What is executive coaching? by Lindy Bryant
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xecutive coaching is a relatively new industry within the private and public sectors that has developed into a highly credible and valued learning intervention for CEOs, senior executives, emerging leaders, managers and staff. What is discussed in coaching conversations? Discussions are wide-ranging and focused on the issues that matter to the client at the time. Topics of conversations have included: clarifying one’s own style and stretching situationally, cultivating productive working relationships with staff, peers, superiors, clients or stakeholders, and career and work/life balance. For private sector clients the sessions may be more ‘bottom line’ or sales focused. How to choose a coach – for private and public sector Before choosing a coach (often by word of mouth due to the growth of ‘coach-envy’ amongst executives!) ask for their CV and rates and check the following: • Their experience and that they understand the context in which you work (small business, senior executive in the public sector, manufacturing, retail etc). • They have been trained as a coach and are a member of a coaching professional body such as the International Coach Federation. • Have referees that you may ring. • Are open to having a phone conversation about what they offer. If you are considering a 6-12 month program then it is appropriate to meet face-to-face to gauge your rapport with them.
It is not necessary for the coach to be a subject matter expert in your job. The ‘process’ of the job (business outcomes, delegation, managing staff, managing upwards, relationship management, time management, strategic thinking) is actually more important than the ‘knowledge content’ of specific jobs. How much will it cost? Coaching fees are generally paid by the organisation or the individual and can also be negotiated as part of employment contracts. Coaching fees range quite widely and are typically between $300 and $800 per session depending on the coach, the market and the industry. Check with your accountant if it is tax deductible!
Lindy is a founding director of Yellow Edge and manages their national coaching practice based in Canberra which has delivered in excess of 15,000 individual coaching sessions over the past eight years. lindy.bryant@yellowedge.com.au.
B2B in Canberra | October 2010
33
A POPULATION POLICY?
TOPIC: DO WE NEED
HOT TOPIC
34 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
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he issue of population growth has generated significant community interest and debate. For many, the question of population growth gives rise to the question of a population policy and inevitably a population target. The ACT Government does not have an official population target, but it compiles population projections. These are developed on a policy neutral basis which incorporates reasonable expectations around fertility, mortality and migration that are broadly consistent with our long term average. Stepping beyond the notion of a population target then begs the question of what we mean when we refer to a population policy. The ACT Government has not adopted a formal population policy, and it is questionable whether such a policy would be of value or have currency. The Government has tended to favour a mildly pro-growth approach, using levers such as the Live in Canberra campaign and the skilled migration program to attract new residents to the ACT to meet demonstrable workforce demand. Underpinning this approach is a firm commitment to sustainable growth. This is reflected in the Government’s adoption of a ‘triple bottom line’ philosophy, taking into account the economic, environmental and social aspects of all government decisions as highlighted in People Place Prosperity, the
O
ften debates around population growth focus solely on the numbers of people in a territory, when the real focus for government should be on delivering quality infrastructure necessary to meet the future needs of the people in the territory. For example, under ACT Labor’s flawed policies we have seen significant strain placed on the housing market in particular. Without quality infrastructure delivery and a growth in housing stock, the ACT will most certainly struggle with an increased population no matter how large or small that growth is. Planning policy is therefore about the right growth in the right places. This is why the Canberra Liberals currently have before the Assembly–the Infrastructure Canberra Bill. The Bill will enable the introduction of a detailed and strategic infrastructure plan, to provide a deliberate long-term roll-out of major projects. This will be backedup by an Infrastructure Commissioner and a board of experts who will provide professional advice and knowledge for significant developments. We believe this will provide many of the necessary reforms required to improve delivery of quality infrastructure in the Territory and improve the responsiveness to
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ll of a sudden the once slightly fringe question of population has become a mainstream debate. Traditional economic thinking says that we needed population growth to maintain economic growth and so to a large extent the status quo, growth is good, has been slavishly followed for many decades. There are pros and cons of growing our population in Australia, and we are all more aware of the impacts of population growth in our cities and regional centres. Locally, this debate has found a voice through concerns raised about urban density, loss of green space, public transport, water resources, and the encroachment of greenfield suburbs into our valued natural city fringe. Stereotypically it is business that puts the case for increasing population, arguing that we need more people and more skills, to deliver business outputs and improve prosperity, while environmentalists argue that fewer people, fewer greenfield developments, less water use, and lower greenhouse emissions will deliver long term sustainability and ultimately better outcomes. The reality is that population and resource management is a complex and layered issue, and, like all complex issues, it is not served well by overly simplistic solutions.
Government’s key sustainability document. While the ACT has not adopted a population target, there is a growing recognition that population growth is necessary to maintain economic stability. As the ACT population ages, new workers will be needed to replace retirees and support an older demographic. While promoting labour force participation may reduce future fiscal pressures caused by an ageing population, the ACT already has a high labour force participation rate which may be difficult to maintain or increase. The current ACT Government population projections are based on ABS Census data from 2006. These projections show that the total ACT labour force is anticipated to grow from 182,490 in 2006 to 225,581 in 2030 – a total increase of 43,091. This includes steady growth of around 7,000 every five years between 2010 and 2030. At the same time, the Baby Boomer labour force is anticipated to decline from 66,371 in 2006, to 6,181 in 2030. However, the projections show this will be countered by steady growth in almost all other age cohorts in our labour force through to 2030. We are working to increase the productive capacity of the ACT economy through a record capital expenditure program, and continued investment in education and skills. We have
infrastructure demands like residential housing, and enable the Territory to cope with population demands. There is no doubt there is scope for a greater population along major transport corridors and major centres. Greater density in the right places underpins infrastructure development and better public transport. Greater density in and around major centres and transport corridors will also allow us to protect the unique character of our suburbs from the threat of overdevelopment. Canberrans should have a choice about what style of housing they choose to live in. Some will prefer to live on a larger block, particularly families. Others will increasingly choose apartments and townhouses. If we do not look to increase housing density in the key areas of major centres and transport corridors, the demand for more cost effective housing like units and townhouses will see developers looking for more and more parcels of land in already developed suburbs. This is a phenomenon which we are already seeing. This in itself can create tensions with existing residents, and the Canberra Liberals believe the focus of future planning should be to encourage density along major transport corridors and close to major
There is a growing need to overlay population and resource management on many policies issues, including urban development, transport, climate change, food, agriculture and water. The Greens called for the Assembly inquiry into ecological carrying capacity that has just opened for public submissions. We know that the ACT has one of the largest consumption footprints in Australia; the inquiry will give some insight and direction to policy makers about how the ACT should approach the issue and the particular factors that are most relevant to the ACT. One thing does seem clear from here – as a community we must work hard to reduce our impact on the environment through building better houses and suburbs, better commercial buildings and better transport systems. Planning will be the key. We need urban planning that sets limits on the urban footprint and encourages development within that footprint. Urban density doesn’t have to be a bad thing – many people enjoy living in denser urban environments, enjoying a more vibrant feel than Canberra currently offers. At the same time many Canberrans have settled here because they prefer something different; spacious urban living against the bush backdrop. We
committed to develop and release an annual long term ACT Government Infrastructure Plan to ensure public infrastructure spending continues to support Canberra’s future needs. The ACT is at the centre of a rapidly growing region, which brings significant benefits, but also imposes costs on the Territory. Developing the concept of a regional demography is one of the key projects for ACT Chief Minister’s Department over the next 12 months. The Government recently announced Time to Talk 2030, which will be an open conversation with the community on the future of Canberra. This consultation will provide an opportunity for Canberrans to contribute to how they want to see the city – as it grows – in twenty years time.
Jon Stanhope ACT Chief Minister
centres, thereby limiting those potential tensions and protecting the current lifestyle many residents in existing Canberra suburbs cherish. One of the concerns with moves to artificially limit growth in Canberra is that an expensive housing market will become even more expensive, therefore pricing out more young families. The end result of this would be that more and more people will choose to live just over the border – meaning the ACT picks up the tab for infrastructure and services without the tax base to go with it, putting more pressure on existing residents. We therefore need to ensure that our infrastructure and our planning system allows Canberrans to enjoy the benefits and not just the burden of growth. Without a plan that will provide the strategic roll-out of infrastructure, the ACT will continue to struggle to meet the current demands let alone future pressures that may arise.
Zed Seselja
ACT Opposition Leader
cannot ignore the concerns of those who sense that their suburbs are irrevocably changing. Urban densification needs to be undertaken cognisant of the inherent values of our city. We must also acknowledge that the ACT’s population will always be subject to national policies and that we cannot act in isolation. Rather than being overly focused on a ‘magic number’ our community should be focusing on resource use, ensuring that we live as efficiently as possible so that we are a truly sustainable city.
Meredith Hunter Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens
B2B in Canberra | October 2010
35
GOVERNMENT TO BUSINESS ACT GOVERNMENT
G2B
Human resources focus at business-government conversation
Canberra’s tight labour market was the backdrop to the second Small and Micro Business Forum, hosted by the Business and Industry Development arm of the ACT Chief Minister’s Department.
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he year’s focus was on people and skills – finding, developing and retaining staff. With the ACT enjoying virtually full employment and the highest labour participation rate in the country, many businesses find it difficult to take full advantage of existing market opportunities let alone explore new ones. Some 60 people from small and micro businesses attended the open forum, part of Business In Focus Month, at the National Portrait Gallery on 14 September.
If there was a single message, it’s put yourself in situations to learn from others and don’t try to do everything yourself. The annual forum provides an opportunity for all small and micro businesses, particularly those who may not be involved in business associations, to share their concerns with their peers and government agencies. Participants could access information on government support and regulation. Participants heard from successful local business people with a range of experiences in managing their human resources, as well as representatives of the education and government sectors. Ian Cox, General Manager of Business and Industry Development, said that one of the key themes to emerge from the discussion was the value of business networking and informal mentoring in helping businesses recruit, develop and retain staff. “If there was a single message, it’s put yourself in situations to learn from others and don’t try to do everything yourself. Mix with your business peers, and take advantage of the support available,” he said.
36 October 2010 | B2B in Canberra
“Another strategy that may help overcome skill shortages is to better utilise the potential of people who have been out of the workforce for a while, such as parents returning to work. “We heard from Angela Powell that many employers have been slow to appreciate the value that these employees can bring to the workplace – they tend to be very focused, have efficient work methods and are highly productive employees.” “There may also be some learnings here for Canberra BusinessPoint in both its services suite and also opportunities to formalise mentoring type programs.” Canberra BusinessPoint is a free, ACT Government-funded business mentoring and advisory service, designed to bridge the knowledge gap for those new to business. It provides business operators in the ACT and region with advice and support in setting up, operating and developing their businesses. The outcomes of the 2009 Forum were also briefly discussed in Mr Cox’s opening remarks,
reflecting on the strong focus on government procurement issues in 2009. It was reported that the issues raised in the 2009 Forum had been included in deliberations of the Procurement Business Roundtable and this had led to a number of reforms including the development of an ACT Government Tendering Guide for small and micro businesses, increases in contract purchasing thresholds to simplify tendering and documentation processes for smaller value procurements, a commitment to faster turnaround times for government purchasing decisions, and forward forecasting and promotion of contracts to give more information to SMEs and more time to submit proposals. Participants will get updates on the Government’s consideration of issues raised at the Forum. “We took extensive notes of the issues raised, and will be getting back to people with a summary of the discussions and the follow-up,” he said.
ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS CANBERRA BUSINESS COUNCIL
Punching above our weight A2B
Chris Faulks Chief Executive Officer, Canberra Business Council
This month I’d like to share with you a small sample of Canberra Business Council’s key achievements over the past year.
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anberra Business Council’s mission is to provide business leadership in the promotion of economic and business development in Canberra and the Capital Region. As part of this rather broad mission statement, we undertake a wide variety of activities. The Australia Forum Observing the need for a world class venue for significant meetings, dialogue, cultural events and other occasions of national importance in the Capital, in 2009 CBC established a Steering Committee, headed by Prof Peter Shergold AC, to oversee the development of a Scoping Study and Business Case for The Australia Forum. In 2009 the ACT Government committed $250,000–to be matched by the private sector - to undertake the study for the Australia Forum. A tender was advertised in late 2009 and in March 2010 a Scoping Study Team was appointed by the Steering Committee with the study to be completed by the end of 2010. High Speed Rail Development of a High Speed Rail network along Australia’s east coast, with priority given to the Canberra-Sydney link, is an inevitability and one for which the Council has vigorously lobbied over many years. This past year has seen both the Federal Government and Opposition support funding for a HSR cost-benefit study of the Sydney-Newcastle route while the Greens have indicated such a study must include the Capital Region. National Arboretum Canberra The Council has been a strong supporter of the Arboretum since its inception and during 2009 in successive submissions to Government called for the fast-tracking of infrastructure on the site. When the ACT Government announced $22m funding over three years in the recent ACT Budget, the Council again provided very strong support. The Arboretum initiatives announced in the Budget–a Visitor Centre, Bonsai Pavilion and Children’s Garden and the Central Valley Ceremonial Gardens–will allow it to be showcased during the Centenary of Canberra celebrations in 2013. ICT Information Infrastructure for the ACT and Region The Council developed a Discussion Paper which argues that an efficient regional ICT Information Infrastructure Plan (I3P) should be developed for the ACT, rather than allowing the implementation of critical information infrastructure in an ad-hoc manner. The Paper presented a case for
the ACT Government to collaborate with CBC, the Australian Information Industry Association and other stakeholders, to proceed with the urgent development of I3P for the ACT. The ACT Government responded favourably and a Working Group has been established. ACT Taxi Industry Review The Council carefully reviewed recent research reports and overseas reforms as well as the ACT Government Discussion Paper when preparing its submission to the ACT Taxi Industry Review. We concluded that the ACT is under-serviced and is facing a major and inevitable shift to a less regulated environment for the taxi industry. The ACT Government must work also with the industry to address what they see as structural impediments to increased efficiency, including those regulations which act to prevent innovation. ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards The Council through the ACT Exporters’ Network successfully tendered for the delivery of the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards - a six-month long program which culminated in a very successful Presentation Lunch on 8 September with record attendance. ScreenACT The Council also successfully tendered to continue to manage ScreenACT on behalf of the ACT Government. ScreenACT differs from the film offices in other States and Territories as the only outsourced model of government film bodies. Over the past year, ScreenACT and CBC have partnered with the ACT Government to deliver a $1.8 million ACT Screen Investment Fund which will attract screen production to the ACT as well as support local productions. Just like Canberra itself, the Council is relatively small but punches well above its weight. I invite you to join us in celebrating these and many other achievements at the Canberra Business Council Annual Gala Dinner on 28 October 2010.
Just like Canberra itself, the Council is relatively small but punches well above its weight. I invite you to join us in celebrating these and many other achievements at the Canberra Business Council Annual Gala Dinner 2010 Principal Members Actew Corporation, ActewAGL, Bank West, Bega Cheese, Bluestar Printing Group, Clayton Utz, Cre8ive, Ernst & Young, Elite, eWay, Medibank Health Solutions, Hindmarsh, Holistech, KPMG, MBA, National Australia Bank, National Museum of Australia, NEC Australia, Staging Connections, The Village Building Co, Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems Australia
Affiliated with 28 OCTOBER HOTEL REALM BARTON
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ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS ACT AND REGION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
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Making the time to mentor
Nola Shoring Partnership Broker, ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Have you ever thought of mentoring a student? Would it be possible for members of your staff to become volunteer mentors? The benefits for your business and for the young person involved are significant.
Your contribution as a mentor can make a difference in students’ lives through positive interaction and being a role model.
The Workplace Relations team of the Chamber has a long history of supporting members to navigate through the complexities of the Workplace Relations environment. To become a member of the Chamber please call 6283 5200 or visit www.actchamber.com.au.
Corporate Sponsors ACTEWAGL, 104.7 / Mix 106.3, Prime TV, The Canberra Times, The Good Guys Tuggeranong, Duesburys Nexia, Synapse Worldwide, B2B in Canberra.
Associates and Affiliates Retail Traders Association, Australian Industry Defence Network
Foundation Member Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
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onsider these scenarios... Jack is in Year 9. He has poor skills in literacy and numeracy despite attending school regularly for the past nineyears. Fortunately, through the Students Participating in Community Enterprises (SPICE) program, Jack has met Jill, who works for the taxation department in Canberra. Jill spends one hour per week with Jack at the local library helping him to improve his literacy and numeracy. Jill is Jack’s mentor. On the other side of town Peter is in Year 10 and is fascinated with motorbikes. Peter found school difficult in Years 7, 8 and 9 but this year he is motivated and engaged because Frank is now his mentor. Frank has a business selling motor bikes. Two days per week Peter is in Frank’s store learning as much as he can. On the other three days Peter is at school working hard as he now has a goal – an apprenticeship as a motor bike mechanic. Peter’s class is involved in the Big Picture program that aims to promote and create personalised education programs that are unique for each student. Jack and Peter are typical of many students in our schools. They are struggling to see the relevance of the education that they are involved in. We need to stimulate students’ interest in school by making it relevant to them. A mentor can do this. More ACT businesses need to follow the lead of the National Australia Bank (NAB) and the NRMA. NAB gives their staff time-release to become involved as mentors. Since 1998 National Australia Bank employees have received two days leave per year to volunteer and give something back to the community. Last year this equated to 6,000 employee volunteer days. Some of the NAB staff act as mentors, like Jill, working in schools for one hour per week helping a child to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. Others are like Cody who is mentoring a group of Year 11 international students studying accounting at college. NRMA staff are involved in the Australian Business and Community Network. Through this program thirty employees volunteered their time each week for a school term at primary schools to assist with student literacy and another twenty mentored Year 9 students considered to be at risk of disengaging from school, aiming to widen their life choices.
What do you need to be a successful mentor? The main skills required to be a successful mentor are: Patience Mentors demonstrate patience to help the student progress at their own pace. Patience is required to build positive relationships based on trust. Empathy Mentors are encouraged to develop a friendly, unbiased understanding towards the challenges students may be faced with in their young lives. Life Experience Mentors have the opportunity to share their life experiences. Wisdom and tolerance have proven to be essential ingredients in the success of the School Volunteer Program. Your contribution as a mentor can make a difference in students’ lives through positive interaction and being a role model. You are not replacing the teacher nor the teacher aides. You do not need to have a degree or special training. The Chamber’s Employment, Education and Training Team delivers the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations’ School Business Community Partnership Brokers program. This program is part of the National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions, and will see the Chamber at the coalface of the ACT’s work to improve transition outcomes for young people as they move from school into the workforce.
ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS COLLABIT
AIIA —‘the voice of the digital economy’ A2B
Nanette Richert ACT Branch Manager, Australian Information Industry Association
AIIA’s Board of Directors recently announced the repositioning of AIIA as the peak industry association for the ICT sector by committing it to becoming ‘the voice of the digital economy’.
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IIA is developing new strategies that will provide a collective voice for members with government, media and the public to promote a genuine digital economy in which all Australians benefit from the productivity growth, economic diversity and community development offered by modern techanology innovation. “We must put in place new policy, incentive and investment levers to drive much higher levels of innovation through the adoption of technology by all businesses, large and small if we are to realise the real benefits on offer,” said AIIA CEO Ian Birks. “To deliver these benefits, both a broad community and business awareness campaign promoting the value of digital economy applications and services must be established, but more significantly, a significant policy investment must be made in order to realise a return on the investment being made in infrastructure,” Mr Birks said. “The continuity provided by an ongoing Labor Government will deliver stability to the technology industry and its role in the future of a digital economy in Australia. The lively nature of debate in the lower house as a result of the close contest in this election will yield carefully debated policy that we believe will greatly benefit the Australian public. We look forward to working closely with both the government and the opposition in these areas.” Nanette Richert: New Manager for CollabIT With 82 per cent of the Australian Information industry Association’s (AIIA) members small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), developing a thriving local ICT industry that grows rapidly into the future is a priority for the association and its members. One key vehicle through which this growth is achieved is CollabIT, a networking and business development program which helps like-minded companies form collaborative networks, pool resources, source new markets and increase sales. The AIIA welcomes Nanette Richert as the new manager of CollabIT ACT. Nanette is committed to assisting local ICT businesses to work together, creating a supportive environment fostering growth and the delivery of innovative solutions. In addition to core CollabIT activities such as conducting networking
and partnering activities, Nanette will also focus on capability and capacity building in both technical and business forums. Through her collaboration with industry and government stakeholders, she will work towards the provision of SME skills training, the maximisation of opportunities for home-grown ICT businesses to gain access to government services panels, and the showcasing of local SME solutions to government. Canberra’s NICTA to compete in the Asia-Pacific ICT Awards NICTA’s Canberra Research Lab is one of 19 nominees Australia has competing in the upcoming 2010 APICTA Awards in Kuala Lumpur 12-16 October. As a merit certificate winner for the 2010 iAward for Research and Development for its InterfereX project, NICTA has been recognised as one of the top technology innovators of the year. The AIIA’s iAwards is the only truly international ICT awards ceremony in Australia. It showcases the important contribution the ICT industry makes to national productivity and is critical to positioning Australia in the global economy. NICTA’s InterfereX project has developed technology to reduce the effect of interference in mobile communications. This technology will lead to cheaper and improved mobile communication systems, benefiting both mobile broadband users and wireless operators.
CollabIT is an engagement and business development initiative that links small and medium sized companies with multinational corporations and other stakeholders in the ICT sector. CollabIT is a joint initiative of the ACT Government and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and is delivered under contract by the
To learn more about CollabIT’s activities visit the website: http://aiia.com.au/ pages/collabitact.aspx Grnd Floor, 39 Torrens St Braddon ACT 2612 T: (02) 6281 9400 B2B in Canberra | October 2010
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ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS CHAMBER OF WOMEN IN BUSIINESS
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How to become an amazing networker CHAMBER OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Dianne Nockels, Promotions Officer Chamber of Women in Business
Does the prospect of attending a networking event fill you with dread? Does the thought of walking into a room full of strangers bring you out into a cold sweat? Fear not. Read on for top tips on networking from CWB members.
UPCOMING EVENTS 9 November 6-8pm: AGM and Networking Event Ivy Cafe, Lennox Crossing 10 December Christmas Party Library Bar, Diamant Hotel Cost for all events: Members: $25 Non-Members: $35
For more information: www.cwb.org.au
Or call 6282 6255 Find us on Facebook
For more information: T 6282 6255 F 6282 7191 E office@cwb.org.au www.cwb.org.au
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he impression you make in the first 10 seconds of meeting someone for the first time is crucial. A number of judgements will be made on you in that time, based largely on the way you look. Your appearance has the greatest impact on the impression you make, accounting for about 65%, both short and long term. Next is how you sound – the tone and volume of your voice and your accent – and body language. The content of what you say trails in last at a mere 10%, by most estimates. Before setting off to your networking event, therefore, make sure you are well groomed and appropriately dressed. Pay attention to detail – for example, are your shoes polished? Relax and smile Walk into the room looking relaxed, even if you don’t feel it, and as you make eye contact with people give them a smile (try to avoid walking in with an inane grin on your face). Have a 30-second blurb on your business prepared, but be happy to discuss non-business topics. If the topic under discussion is one you know nothing about, show an interest by asking questions. Building relationships Make a commitment to talk to at least five new people at every event. Focus more on being a good listener than a good talker. Of course you need to contribute to the conversation, but remember to keep passing it back to the other person. Rosalie Maggio, author of ‘The Art of Talking to Anyone’, says conversation should be like a tennis match rather than a game of golf, with each participant taking a swing before sending it back instead of hitting their own ball over and over again. Avoid hanging out with your friends every time, but do make contact with people you have met before to reinforce the relationship. Let them know you remember them and, if possible, what you talked about last time. It helps if you re-read any notes you made after the previous meeting. Follow-up When you’ve exchanged business cards with someone, follow-up rapidly with a brief email saying how much you enjoyed meeting them and ask if there’s anything you can do for them. Invite them to any event
you might be having and add their email address to your database. Business cards Professionally printed business cards are essential, and should be carried at all times. At the CWB’s June networking event President Laurie McDonald shared with us some useful tips on business card etiquette. When someone gives you their card, do them the courtesy of looking at it and even commenting on it (perhaps on the design) or asking a question about the content. If you are particularly keen to follow-up with that person, fold down a corner of the card as a reminder. As soon as possible after the event write notes about each person of interest. Laurie also advises against being a “card chucker”. I encountered one at a networking breakfast last year, as I stood around at the end talking with a group of people. Someone broke in, thrust a card into each of our hands then marched off. I threw the card away, but now know I should have invited this gentleman to my next event and added his name to my database! Be yourself, be sincere Everyone can spot a phoney, so do not try to be anything other than yourself. If you don’t gel with someone, or you don’t like them, move on. If you read my June article you will have chosen carefully which networking organisation to join, and you will be more likely to meet like-minded people. Have fun!
How do you keep your staff motivated at work?
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Capital Region BEC
No matter what business you are in, keeping good employees is a vital ingredient of success. Investing in training for your employees shows that you value them, their future and the future of your business. CIT offers a range of courses in Business Administration, Management (including a postgraduate qualification from Charles Sturt University), Accounting, Recordkeeping, HR and Marketing, that will improve staff morale and ability. CIT offers part-time and flexible study options so both staff and employer can work around other priorities. CIT also recognises your employees’ current experience. For more information call the CIT Student Services Hub on (02) 6207 3188 or email: infoline@cit.act.edu.au > Developing a skilled community
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How to Create or Build Your Business with Colin Emerson This excellent three hour workshop is for business intenders and those who are in the early stages of their business plans. Dates: Wednesday 8th September - Queanbeyan 9.30 am to 12.30 pm Tuesday 26th October - Canberra 9.30 am to 12.30 pm Tuesday 26th October - Moss Vale 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm Wednesday 27th October - Jindabyne 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm Monday 1st November - Harden 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm Wednesday 3th November - Tumut 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm Tuesday 9th November - Queanbeyan 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm
Cost Free
To secure your place call: (02) 6297 3121 for details visit www.crbec.com.au ‘The services provided by Capital Region BEC are partially funded by the Australian Government.’
....Our team puts in tireless efforts to give you a website that can best serve your business needs & make life easy. Call 1300 785 230 for a free one hour consultation and find out how you can get more out of your website.
y s a E SynapseWorldwide.com www.art-atelier.com.au I info@art-atelier.com.au I t. 6288 3626 corporate I events I editorial I portrait I product I architecture I fashion
ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS ACT EXPORTERS’ NETWORK
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Strong Australian dollar an extra challenge for exporters Brent Juratowitch President, ACT Exporters’ Network
While many Australians are celebrating the Australian dollar by enjoying holidays, for exporters the strong Australian dollar presents new challenges. The Network is pleased to welcome Dr Pam Faulks to the position of Manager, ACT Exporters’ Network. Pam is keen to devote the same enthusiasm and energy to the role as we saw in our previous Manager, Brooke Anderson, and is looking forward to developing and coordinating the activities of the Network, including organising exporter networking events and delivering a mentoring program for emerging exporters. Before joining the Canberra Business Council Pam worked at the University of Canberra as a tourism lecturer and researcher, and more recently worked in a policy role with the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Pam can be contacted at pam.faulks@ canberrabusinesscouncil.com. au or on 0400 090 452.
The ACT Exporters’ Network is proudly sponsored by the ACT Government, Canberra Business Council, the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies and AusIndustry.
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he Australian dollar is nearly its strongest level in two years, with September likely to reflect the biggest monthly gain since May 2009. While exporters may already have strategies in place to deal with uncertainty of regular currency fluctuations, the continued strengthening of the Australian dollar is more likely to mean that profits are reduced over the longer-term and that exported goods and services become less competitive as prices, in foreign currency terms, increase. But all is not lost – while ACT exporters may be tempted to become despondent as they face yet another challenge, there are strategies that can assist exporters to cope with the current situation and even turn an apparent-negative into a positive, making the ride just that little bit smoother. Banks and other financial institutions offer a range of products and risk management strategies that assist exporters to cope with dealing with foreign exchange, including hedging and offshore trade accounts. However, as exporters we need to be looking for other options as well. For instance, while hedging foreign exchange needs has been a practice that has traditionally helped exporters cope with currency fluctuations, as the current situation is more about the near-parity of the Australian dollar with the US dollar, using forward exchange contracts as a strategy might not be as effective as in times when there is greater fluctuation and uncertainty. Similarly, running offshore trade accounts is a strategy that allows businesses to avoid exchanging money into Australian dollars by receiving income and paying expenses in US dollars, or other denominated foreign currency. However, the currency will eventually need to be converted, so trade accounts might in effect only be delaying the impact of the strong Australian dollar. As exporters, we may need to look a bit harder than the holiday-makers to find the benefits of a strong Australian dollar – but they are there. For example, if you are an exporter that imports some of your materials, you’ll be benefitting from those transactions, which will hopefully offset the losses you may have made when selling your goods and services overseas. Exporters might also look to other markets where the strong Australian dollar does not negatively impact on
their competitiveness or erode export profits. Exporters that diversify their customer base at this time might not only be able to lessen the negative impacts of the strong Australian dollar, but enjoy longer term benefits arising from expanding into new markets. We should also not ignore existing resources available to exporters, such as the Export Market Development Grant scheme. Despite the recent reduction in funding for this scheme, it is still a valuable resource that assists ACT exporters to develop export markets by reimbursing a percentage of promotional expenses. And this may be one area where the strong Australian dollar works to the advantage of exporters as advertising ininternational markets can be more affordable at this time. And like the holiday-makers taking advantage of current exchange rates, exporters travelling internationally to maintain business and build new relationships should also notice the benefits from the strong Australian dollar while they are overseas. So while it is true that the Australian dollar nearing its strongest level in two years presents a number of difficulties for ACT exporters, it is a challenge that we can overcome.
UNIVERSITIES TO BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
Engagement in Chinese education U2B
Lewis Jones Office of Development, University of Canberra
The time is fast approaching when universities much like international businesses will need to engage with China ‘on the ground’.
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he education market mirrors that of wider business, China is now becoming one of the largest consumers having been the world’s largest producer for some time. As a result, the forward-thinking university must look to new ways of developing and maintaining links to the Chinese market and leveraging positive outcomes both in terms of student numbers as well as innovation in curriculum development and research output. Representatives from Canberra’s key educational institutions recently accompanied Andrew Barr MLA, ACT Minister for Education, and his staff on a delegation to Shanghai for ‘Canberra Week’ in the Australia Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. The Expo allowed the University of Canberra to invite representatives from its partner institutions to a uniquely Australian experience in the centre of Shanghai. The University also invited Minister Barr to celebrate a ten year collaborative relationship with the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), at which the Shanghai UC Alumni Chapter was officially launched. Representatives of Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce were also there to help celebrate this now flourishing relationship. Shortly after, delegates from the University of Canberra’s Development Office were briefed by Austrade in Shanghai on the Chinese higher education climate. A key point of discussion was that the number of Chinese students heading to Australia are diminishing whilst maintained growth or increases in students moving to other parts of the world has occurred, in particular the USA and Canada. This can be attributed to a couple of key factors: • Australia’s relative resilience to the Global Financial Crisis has meant that the Australian Dollar’s exchange rate with the Chinese Yuan has remained high, making studying in Australia a much less attractive option in comparison to places which have been hit hard by the GFC and therefore lost value in their currency. • Tightening of immigration laws means that Australia represents a more difficult place to stay and work once studies are completed. Whilst most Chinese families intend to have their children return immediately from overseas studies, the ossibility of being able to stay on, gaining further professional experience or migrating permanently can be decisive.
These two points only explain why there has been a relative drop in Chinese students coming to Australia; the overall picture suggests that the desire to study anywhere overseas will diminish proportionately as China develops and becomes a place where non-Chinese students want to study. Just as the ability to speak English has represented status, learning and acumen in nonEnglish speaking countries, the ability to speak Chinese will become a symbol of learning and status internationally. Engaging directly in the Chinese education market is the next logical step for universities that harbour aspirations of gaining international renown. It was thus with great pride that the University of Canberra received praise from Trade Commissioner, Jane Wallis, for establishing strong relationships with multiple Chinese universities and especially for its efforts to deliver courses ‘on the ground’. The University has endeavoured to share physical and intellectual resources with Chinese partner universities, strengthening ties to the region and facilitating collaboration and open dialogue. In April the University of Canberra will also celebrate ten years of collaboration with Ningbo University. The Austrade briefing recommended utilising any opportunities for transnational development as they are quickly evaporating, so existing relationships serve as the best platform for further establishment of Australian universities on Chinese soil. There is still great value in Canberra’s tertiary institutions working to maintain their Chinese student numbers. In 2009 Chinese students represented 24% (154,000) of all international students in Australia. With collaboration, Canberra has the ability to break the trend or even increase its share of these students by establishing itself as an international education hub, thus serving to increase opportunities to partner with high profile Chinese institutions and tap into this growing resource. This collaboration would supplement existing features and make Canberra attractive for overseas studies; in that it represents a safe, tranquil and uniquely Australian place for parents to send their children for study. If the link between industry and education grows in Canberra, so too will the opportunities for local industry to thrive from increasing international collaboration.
Engaging directly in the Chinese education market is the next logical step for universities that harbour aspirations of gaining international renown.
For further information, please contact Lewis Jones at the University of Canberra on (02) 6201 5567.
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GRADUATE COOKS AWARDS @ CANBERRA SOUTHERN CROSS CLUB 1. Matthew Wawryk, Ged and Jacqui Stenhouse, and Duncan Smith 2. Jessica Dykes, Andrew Snaidero, Rodney Miller, Simon and Helen Barton and Will Farrell 3. Paul Simms Thomas Eauow, and Anurag Gautin 4. Jo Matters, John McIntyre, Lizzie Wagner, and Colin McIntyre 5. Rebecca Mitchell, Jen Morris, Eve Burnes, and Katrina Pawley
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B2B BUSINESS SEMINAR 5 PROFESSIONALS GUIDE TO PROPERTY @ NGA JAMES FAIRFAX THEATRE
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1. Geoffrey Bird, Holly Komorowski and David Kimmorley 2. Tony Muckle, Ross McGrath, Jason Goy, David Jones and Brendan Tink 3. Garry and Cathy Lee, Ron Pedley, Jim Dunn and Tim Benson 4. Sam Gupta, Trevor Tsiouris and Smriti Gupta 5. Presenters Andrew Sykes, RSM Bird Cameron and Neil Loveday, Director, Ray White Canberra 6. Rachel Hennessy, Leo Dallas and Matt Cagyiano 7. Kasey Fox, Sarah Keenan, Jim Dunn, Stephen Bourke and Kerry White
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ACT CHIEF MINISTER’S EXPORT AWARDS @ HYATT HOTEL CANBERRA 1. Stephen Muller, David Widdowson, Glenn White and Steve Holloway 2. Graeme and Ann Shaw, Stuart Hancock, Lynette Murray and Robert Holgate 3. Victor Pantano, Mark Knackstedt, Peter Lauchlin, Ian Williams and Patrick Mooney 4.Steve Kartsonas, Carrie Shao, Ian Blaydon and Daniel Wood 5. Andrew Marshall, Allison Guy-Ritchie, Kristine Huynh 6. Brent Juratowitch, Mark Mitchell, David Mitchell, David Barnard, Geoff Patch, Hugh Petty, Hans Sommer and David Gaul 8. Amy Kominek, Lorraine O’Brien, Lorri McClelland and Biljana Kearney 9. Avi Rebera, Jason Guy, Brooke Anderson and Andy Castle
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ICAA AND HILLROSS DINNER - POST ELECTION: THE ECONOMY, MARKETS AND THE HEALTH OF SMALL BUSINESS @ THE REALM HOTEL 1. Mark King, James Prior, Pat Pangallo and Angus Sherlock 2. Shiva Dev, Kim Hanna, Kerri Dickman and Peter Irving 3. David Robert, Aaron Froud and Kerry Jacobs 4. Tareq Rahman, John Begley, Sudee Acharya, Renee LeGrande, Greta Evans 5. John De Ridder, James Watt, Sharron Jasprizza, Andrew Nesbitt
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10X BUSINESS COACHING SPECIAL EVENT @ THE HELLENIC CLUB OF CANBERRA 1. Julie King, Deb Matthews, Denise O’Leary and Wayne Bolin 2. Gaye Green and Gina and Andy Hutchings Broso 3. John Irvine, Simon Farrell, Andrew Fisher and Andrew Caudle 4. Harry Armytage, Craig Wisdom, Jennifer Nagy, Leonie Keogh and Paul Dyer 5. Renu Katheklakis, Michael Cassimatis, Irene Cassimatis, Annette Taylor, Diane Guy and Wayne Bolin
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TransACT proudly presents the …
14th C A N B E R R A I N T E R N A T I O N A L
FILM FESTIVAL Wednesday 27 October – Sunday 7 November 2010
SEE INSIDE @ DENDY CINEMA & NFSA
Embassy of the United States of America
With special thanks to: | Canadian High Commission | Hola Mexico Film Festival | Royal Norwegian Embassy | Royal Danish Embassy | Embassy of the Czech Republic | Embassy of the Republic of Turkey | Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany | Mirrabooka Marketing & Design | Intrinsic Digital
www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au