https:// 2019-11-14T00:12:48Z 2019-11-14T00:12:48Z new-art-installation-uses-brainwaves-to-create-personalised-artwork

Dexus has launched its ‘Brainwaves’ art installation at 100 Mount Street, North Sydney. To demonstrate the benefit of an inspiring physical environment to employee wellbeing, the ‘Brainwaves’ installation is open to the public in the lobby of 100 Mount Street. Users are encouraged to enter the installation and focus on a moment of mindfulness. Using cutting edge wearables, brain activity is detected and transformed into pulsing and undulating unique artworks on the 16-metre lobby video wall. “An inspirational work environment can be a positive catalyst for organisational and cultural innovation and change, and has a direct impact on employee wellbeing,” says Su Lim, Principal – Workplace Consulting at Six Ideas by Dexus which specialises in workplace strategy and solutions. According to research undertaken by Dexus, more than 70% of office decision makers[1] recognise a great workspace has a positive impact on productivity, job satisfaction, team engagement and culture. “As organisations are increasingly focused on the importance of employee wellbeing to business success, they are understanding the benefits to be gained by improving their workspace. The presence of art can be one change an organisation can make,” says Lim. Other improvements include improved access to natural light and aspect, choice of spaces in which to work, plants, sleep/relaxation pods, sit/stand desks and personal workspace temperature control. “However, it’s important the investments you make reflect the purpose, values and culture of your organisation,” Lim says. “It’s not about following trends or doing what others are doing, but taking a strategic approach to providing the workplace that is appropriate for the future of your organisation.” Find out what your brainwaves look like and visit 100 Mount Street, North Sydney. 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday from now until 22 November 2019. For more information on improving your workspace for productivity, visit: www.dexus.com/brainwaves.  Images are available for download, here or you can view and embed this video.  [1] Dexus Report: Back to Work Insights January 2018

2019-11-12T20:00:37Z introducing-boutique-lifestyle-photography-in-auckland-plus-a-great-booking-special

Boutique Lifestyle Photography are award-winning portrait photographers based in Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 2007, the team have formed and further developed their signature style of portraiture; timeless images of your loved ones that artistically tell your story. Since their inception, Boutique Lifestyle Photography have continued to expand their professional photography services. From stunning family photography to beautiful maternity portraits and graduation photography, all photo shoot bookings are held in their upmarket Auckland studio location. More recently, a range of commercial photography services have been introduced including professional product photography as well as professional head shots. As part of their services, all portraits receive the team’s acclaimed professional portrait retouching. From scars to scratches, any imperfections or blemishes that you may have can be removed at your request. The team are also pleased to announce a fantastic $79 photo shoot sitting special. Included in this package is your in-studio photo shoot with your Auckland photographer, valid for our portrait services (excluding glamour), as well as a bonus $50 studio credit towards your chosen portraits. If you’ve been considering a professional photo shoot, then now is the perfect time. You are encouraged to contact the friendly team to discuss your requirements. In-studio consultations are available to discuss in advance your photo shoot aspirations and begin planning your session. Bookings are available Monday to Saturday by appointment. The Boutique Lifestyle Photography Philosophy As a family owned and operated business, the team at Boutique Lifestyle Photography go to great lengths to ensure your satisfaction. From your initial contact with the team, throughout your photo shoot to the final delivery of your treasured images, you are sure to be impressed. Having worked with countless families and individuals over the years, we are proud to have worked closely with people from all walks of life. Irrespective of your requirements, we offer you an in-studio portrait service that is both relaxed and professional with amazing results. We also offer a great range of flexible gift voucher options, perfect for any occasion or milestone. In addition, we also encourage charities or fundraising groups to contact us regarding any upcoming events or promotions we can assist with. Please visit our website and contact us with any queries relating to your event and how we can help. We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us with any booking enquiries or general questions and we will be happy to assist. Boutique Lifestyle Photography(09) 522 5123https://www.boutiquelifestylephotography.co.nz

2019-11-11T04:27:30Z how-much-does-a-professional-business-website-cost

To succeed as a business online, a virtual shop front that merely describes your company will no longer cut it; your business website should be constantly working to attract customers and generate revenue. A professionally designed small business website in Australia, depending on size and complexity, can range anywhere from $5,000- $20,000. Yes, there are cheaper website options out there, however: end of the day, as the good old saying goes “you get what you pay for”. Cheap web design can say more about your business as a first impression that you’re willing to admit. Sure, the website may function and list your services, but with no marketing, lead generation, email nurturing or conversion strategies in place – you simply have wasted money on an ‘online brochure’ and left crossing your fingers, hoping someone will call you, or fill out an online enquiry. Read the full article: https://www.lethal.com.au/how-much-does-a-professional-business-website-cost/

2019-11-08T00:02:58Z australia-s-oldest-online-pet-supply-retailer-turns-20

The year was 1999. The world was worried about Y2K, eBay had just launched in Australia and brothers Mark and Steven Perissinotto were preparing to launch Australia’s first online pet supplies business. Now twenty years and over 2.5 million orders later, VetShop Australia will celebrate over 100 dog years of business on the 17th of November. Like many great businesses, Steven says it all started over the table at a big family lunch. “We came up with the idea over lunch and were able to launch VetShopAustralia three months later,” Mr.Perissinotto said.  The brothers saw the huge opportunity the internet provided, and started the business part-time out of the back of veterinarian Mark’s Nambour clinic.  “We were working fifty hours a week at our original jobs and then putting in another twenty or so hours to only be getting ten orders per day,” Mark Perissinotto said.  “Success didn’t come to us overnight, running your own business is always ninety percent perspiration, ten percent inspiration” said Steven.  The breakthrough came in 2001 when, recognising high levels of interest from US buyers, the international website changed its currency to USD and sales instantly grew around 10-12% month-on-month between 2001-2006. This success enabled Mark to leave his veterinary practice in 2005 and saw Steven leave law in 2007 to allow them to concentrate on the business full time. In 2009, the business moved from Image Flat to a larger premises at Forest Glen where it remains today, shipping orders to over 1 million customers in over 70 countries. Over the years, the business has picked up a number of awards including a Telstra Business People’s Choice Award in 2011, Power Retail Top 100 Retailer in 2017 and the Top 150 in 2018. Both Mark and Steven have also been nominated for a variety of awards. Mark was a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards in 2015 and Steven was recently named as one of the Top 50 People in E-Commerce by Internet Retailing. VetShop Australia has also been the sponsor of the Surfing Dog Championships, held as part of the Noosa Festival of Surfing, since 2012. About VetShopAustralia VetShopAustralia is an online pet retailer that has been proudly serving Australian pet owners since 1999.  With its head office and distribution centre located in Forest Glen, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, VetShop Australia stock a huge range of over 1000 pet-related products; including international brand name animal health products such as NexGard, Bravecto, Revolution, Advocate, Hills and Royal Canin.  Awards 2009 – AIMIA Online Retailer of The Year 2011 – QLD Telstra Business Award People’s Choice 2013, 2014, 2016 & 2017 – Word of Mouth Service Award - Queensland 2015 – EY Entrepreneur of The Year Finalist (Mark) 2016 – St. George Business Champion 2017 – Power Retail Top 100 Retailer 2017 – Golden Brontos Most Successful Campaign Finalist 2017 – Google Regional Online Heroes (Steven) 2018 – Power Retail Top 150 Retailers 2019 – Internet Retailing Top 50 in e-Commerce (Steven) Sponsorship 2012 - 2020 -Sponsor of the largest Surfing Dog Competition in the world, VetShopAustralia Surfing Dog Championships, part of the Noosa Festival of Surfing  

2019-11-07T23:55:16Z pitt-amp-sherry-is-delighted-to-announce-that-it-has-appointed-benita-husband-to-be-the-new-ceo

pitt&sherry is delighted to welcome Benita Husband as its new CEO. Benita has enjoyed a successful career as a consultant engineer, working in many sectors and multiple countries and took over the reins this week. With 20 years experience working in professional services and the construction industry, Benita is recognised for her engaging leadership style, client focused outcomes, and guidance on aligning strategy with commercial success. Benita was attracted to the pitt&sherry CEO role as she knows and understands the brand and story and believes pitt&sherry has a unique value proposition.  Chairman Paul Hardy said, “We are excited to have Benita on board. She is a huge asset to the company, bringing a vast amount of experience, passion, strategic thinking and positive energy and will lead us on the next phase of our journey.” Benita has complemented her engineering degree with an MBA and holds other company director and governance qualifications. She has extensive involvement in professional organisations and networks. Here’s a link to her LinkedIn profile for information http://linkedin.com/in/benitahusband1.

2019-11-06T22:55:03Z tasmanet-is-accelerating-aussie-expansion-through-partners

TasmaNet is attracting partners around Australia keen to take advantage of the potential of the new nbnTM Enterprise Ethernet service for their business, enterprise and government customers. TasmaNet connected the first nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet service in Australia and continues to lead the market with this transformational product, utilising superfast symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps over dedicated fibre to deliver dependable high-speed data, voice, and networking services to schools, business, and government customers around Australia – often at vastly more affordable prices than available from legacy telco’s. In addition to large and multi-site businesses, nbnTM Enterprise Ethernet is helping small and medium sized businesses to unlock their potential with high bandwidth applications like video conferencing, e-commerce, and business-critical cloud services like Office 365 and online backup. More information about nbnTM Enterprise Ethernet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkciAwpcTPg) and about TasmaNet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8iNd3icCyQ) is available here. Hobart-based web development business MyTyreSite were early adopters of nbnTM Enterprise Ethernet. With 15 developers managing websites and sales tools for the tyre and wheel industry, MyTyreSite need dependable fast Internet to grow their Australian business and underpin their expansion into the huge US market, bringing millions of dollars into the Tasmanian economy. To view the video click here. The dedicated fibre connectivity of nbnTM Enterprise Ethernet enables MyTyreSite to now download video in seconds instead of the 10-minute wait on their previous connection. TasmaNet partners can be the first to make this transformational technology available to their customers, backed by TasmaNet’s direct relationship with NBN Co, expert 100 percent Australian service desk team, and enhanced service level agreement (SLA) options. The company’s Key Channel program features generous trailing commissions on business grade nbn products; a ServiceNow portal to manage leads, quotes, orders and support tickets; dedicated pre-sales support to help nurture and close deals; marketing resources including brochures and case studies; plus sales and technical training for the partner’s team, backed by ongoing partner support. Access to TasmaNet’s data lake allows partners to identify sales opportunities, particularly in locations where Enterprise Ethernet can be delivered with no fibre installation cost. The data lake links customer locations and nbnTM capability, enabling partners to access near real time site qualification of nbnTM technology available to their customers, and allowing decision makers to quickly assess service options and associated price points. Partners sought TasmaNet is accelerating expansion around Australia through on-boarding capable partners servicing customers in key industry verticals that need fast, reliable Internet. These include medical centres, dentists, lawyers, accountants, retail and architects, amongst others. Channel partners also have the option to sell a full stack of enterprise solutions including managed private networks, next-generation Firewall-as-a-Service, backup for Office 365, cloud connect, Backup-as-a-Service and expert cyber threat assessments, private/public cloud and data centre services. Alternatively, if partners choose simply to refer opportunities to TasmaNet, the company has a referral partner agreement that includes a one-off commission payment where TasmaNet successfully converts opportunities to a sale. In a recent channel success story, Orkestra was on-boarded as a TasmaNet partner to help address demand from schools, businesses and enterprise customers in regional Victoria for fast, reliable Internet over dedicated nbnTM fibre to facilitate their digitisation journey and dramatically improve business outcomes. Already they have been successful in signing up customers in the commercial real estate and education sectors. https://www.orkestra.com.au/blogs/TasmaNet-partners-with-orkestra-to-bridge-the-gap-for-regional-communities Prospective TasmaNet partners can learn more here: https://www.TasmaNet.com.au/about-us/become-a-partner ###

2019-11-06T22:53:58Z taking-the-digital-marketing-and-tech-industry-by-storm

Connecting business around the world is how digital marketing company WeBOOST operates. The company aims to build a communication bridge between Australian companies and the wider Chinese demographic - whether they live in Australia, China, Malaysia or Singapore - just to name a few. WeChat marketing is the main service of WeBoost where they help with the registration processes on an official account and the designing and development of the WeChat Mini Program - along with H5 Pages. WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app. Now as a very young and small business, WeBOOST are currently celebrating the new successes of the business.   “We have recently undergone some great structural changes within the business including a new website - weboost.com.au, a new office and an expansion of our team, which will help us serve our clients at a more comprehensive way,” said Nick, Marketing Manager at WeBOOST. WeBOOST's digital marketing and IT solutions allow businesses to directly connect with their customers who don't speak English as their first language. "Our aim is to help both the customer and the business. We want them to both feel connected to each other, and with a language barrier amongst the Chinese speaking community, we want to create a sense of trust and support. Our WeChat, search engine optimisation and social media marketing allow businesses to break down the communication barrier," added Nick. The business was founded in 2016 by YJ who led the team in WeBOOST to its current success with notable clients including Chadstone, Longriver, D1 Store and more. With the team’s recent success and developments, they are still constantly looking for talented individuals while offering opportunities to students and recent graduates to achieve as a whole. To complement the entire digital marketing campaign, WeBOOST also provides services on website development, application development, social media marketing and search engine optimisation. Learn more about WeBOOST by visiting their new and improved website here. -END-   For more information, please contact: Nick | Marketing Manager E: marketing@weboost.com.au   About WeBOOST The ultimate goal of WeBoost is to make IT services affordable and available to everyone. To achieve that goal, we endeavour to connect your business directly onto the Internet and bolster your business appearance in the online market. Founded in Melbourne, WeBOOST strategically positioned between local corporations and the online audience for brands to advocate themselves through the digital space. Our expertise in WeChat marketing, including Mini Program and Official Account, builds a pathway for Australian companies in reaching the wider Chinese-speaking population in China, Malaysia, Singapore and more. With website design and; development, mobile application development, search engine optimisation (SEO), search engine and social media marketing and system development, WeBOOST brings a holistic digital marketing solution to the table for the ultimate online brand resonance.

2019-11-06T05:24:36Z findex-targets-talent-growth-in-2020-with-appointment-of-chief-people-officer-jane-betts

Melbourne, VIC — Wednesday 6 November 2019 — Findex, one of Australasia’s leading integrated advisory firms, today announces the appointment of Jane Betts in its newly created role of Chief People Officer (CPO). Designed to supercharge Findex’s people strategy, this newly created role will sit in the executive management team and be responsible for the driving the group’s employee engagement, retention and acquisition strategies. Findex employs over 3,000 staff in regional and metropolitan Australia and New Zealand, delivering accountancy and advisory services to a client base of more than 250,000 individuals, over 80,000 businesses and over $17bn funds under advice. With plans to continue its merger and acquisition strategy in 2020, (having already completed 6 acquisitions in 2019 and 5 in 2018), Ms Betts is a welcome leadership appointment in this space.  Speaking about her appointment, Ms Betts said, “I am delighted to be joining Findex as Chief People Officer and am excited by the focus a newly created role brings to the group. Findex is at an exciting point in its talent evolution and I’m looking forward to building on Findex’s existing strengths, as well as looking at our talent development strategies as the team grows in 2020.” Spiro Paule, Findex CEO, also commented on Ms Betts’ appointment saying, “Elevating the Chief People Officer role to an executive level is a demonstration of our commitment to nurturing, developing and growing our people. We believe that our ability to retain and attract industry leading talent is what enables us to deliver best in class solutions to our clients and the broader market place. We’ve experienced growth in a number of key areas for us in 2019 and look forward to what 2020 and beyond holds for our people.” Across 2019, Findex announced 57 new partners and invested strongly in its regional expansion, positioning it as regional powerhouse in the advisory space through its 110 office network. Ms Betts brings to the group over two decades of experience in senior HR leadership positions across major financial services organisations. She most recently joins from AGL, where she was GM for People Partnering, Strategy and Transformation, supporting the transition and benefits realisation following its major investment into the business model last year. Prior to this, Ms Betts was Group Executive for Human Resources at Australian Unity, which experienced a 200% growth in headcount during her three years in post. Ms Betts starts in post from 6 November 2019. NOTES TO MEDIA Media inquiries: Sophia Pellatt, Icon Agency sophia.pellatt@iconagency.com.au +61 3 9907 5012 Jane Betts is available for comment on request. Please submit questions to findex@iconagency.com.au. ABOUT FINDEX What we do We provide uniquely tailored, integrated solutions for people, businesses, government organisations and institutions that transform and grow as their needs do. Our story began over thirty years ago with a vision to provide a holistic offering to help clients achieve their financial and lifestyle goals, in one place. Now, as one of Australasia’s leading integrated advisory firms, we pride ourselves on a high-touch, personalised approach to help our clients achieve their financial, professional and life goals. Through our 110 locations across New Zealand and Australia, we provide you with a single point of contact to oversee all your financial affairs, working collaboratively with others from within Findex and broader marketplace. Our scale allows us to offer competitive solutions from a location convenient to you, respond to international and national issues, while understanding and supporting local communities.  Supporting local communities Since 2017, we’ve contributed over $1 million to support community health, education and entrepreneurial initiatives through the Findex Community Fund. Our community support also extends to empowering regional entrepreneurship through the FoundX program, connecting communities of regionally based start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Findex is also the proud founder of the SproutX Accelerator program for agtech start-ups, an Australian first, which focuses on solving tomorrow’s problems, today.  Growing with Australia and New Zealand We have 3,000+ staff, 250,000+ individual, 80,000+ business clients and over $17bn funds under advice. Almost 95% of our Partner group are equity holders in our business across Australia and New Zealand. Our team of 3,000 have demonstrated expertise in the business advisory, wealth management, audit, performance consulting, accounting and tax space. We have the 5th largest accounting offering in Australia. We work with agribusiness, Not-For-Profits, Education, Government, SME and individuals and are committed to them. Global network Findex operates the Australasian arm of Crowe Global, ranked eighth largest accounting network in the world. We’re proud to be a member of this network, and celebrate that for over 100 years, members of Crowe have made smart decisions for multinational clients working across borders.  These global ties are crucial for our work with governments, regulatory bodies and industry groups to shape the future of the profession worldwide. With exceptional knowledge of business, local laws and customs we provide lasting value to clients.

2019-11-06T03:31:27Z john-mcafee-to-speak-at-startcon-com-in-sydney-on-november-23-2019

UNITED STATES 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FAMED COMPUTER SECURITY ENTREPRENEUR AND LIBERTARIAN JOHN MCAFEE TO SPEAK AT STARTCON ON NOVEMBER 23 John McAfee to speak live via video on freedom, privacy and technology including cryptocurrency, computer security, blockchain and his new decentralised currency exchange McAfeeDex.  Freelancer CEO Matt Barrie to interview McAfee on his political campaign and how innovation can win back privacy and freedom.    United States 2020 Presidential Candidate John McAfee will be a keynote speaker at StartCon, Australia’s leading technology, startup, corporate innovation & growth conference to be held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November 2019.  At StartCon, McAfee will discuss topics of freedom, privacy and technology including cryptocurrency, computer security, blockchain and his new decentralised currency exchange McAfeeDex. He will join over 55 global leaders in technology including Australia’s 29th Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and experts from eBay, Lyft, Airbnb, Airwallex, Uber, The Iconic, and more, during the two day event, with 4000+ attendees, 160 exhibitors and hundreds of startups in attendance. A lifelong advocate of personal freedom, McAfee now applies his passion, energy and vision to evangelising blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption. He uses his reach to encourage individuals to look beyond investing at all of the positive social change made possible by the blockchain.  In 2016 McAfee ran for President of the United States on a platform of Freedom, Privacy and Technology. He is running again in 2020, this time to draw public attention to the blockchain and cryptocurrency revolution."  "Cryptocurrencies will either free us or further enslave us depending on the choices that we make now," he says.  Matt Barrie, Chief Executive and Founder of Freelancer.com says, “John McAfee is a world renowned technology entrepreneur, having founded McAfee Antivirus. His fame has only grown since then, running as a US Presidential Candidate and he is now universally known as a vocal activist for privacy and freedom through technology. John’s tweets constantly hit global headlines and move entire markets.  I look forward to debating the escalating battlefield for privacy and freedom as technology facilitates both a creeping infringement and increasing ability to protect one’s rights, and new missions including his presidential campaign and McAfeeDex, with John at StartCon.”  StartCon brings together the world’s best experts to provide actionable insights into how to start and growing world class technology driven businesses. Whether you are an entrepreneur, corporate innovator, working at a startup or are thinking about starting a business - if there is one event you must attend this year - it’s StartCon.  StartCon 2019 will feature expert workshops, a tech expo, hackathon, masterclasses, a FinTech stage, a Disruption stage, VIP lounge and an artificial intelligence (AI) stage. Guests can also attend networking events, experience live gaming and visit a startup alley that includes some of the most innovative businesses in the local market and across Asia.  You can follow John McAfee on Twitter at https://t.co/hmSjOeLAry.  Joining John McAfee at StartCon 2019 on November 22-23 will be speakers including: International Speakers   Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia Jenny Arden, Director of Design @ Lyft, formerly AirBnb Joe Fahed, Global Products Operations Manager @ Uber Tony Aug, CTO & VP, Technology & Strategy, Digital @ Arrow Petra Hofer, Technology Leadership Advisor, fmr eBay Director of Technology Dan Lok, Founder, Influencer @ Closers.com Eric Siu, Owner and CEO @ Single Grain Alberto Antinucci, Digital Innovation Strategist & China Expert @ Antinucci Consulting Katie Burke, Chief People Officer @ Hubspot Amy Peck, Senior Director of Enterprise Content @ Vive Studios and more!   Local Speakers include Fred Schebesta, CEO & Co-founder @ Finder Ashik Ahmed, CEO, CTO & Co-founder @ Deputy Vivek Bharadwaj, Marketing Science @ THE ICONIC Dr Jemma Green, Executive Chairman & Co-founder @ Power Ledger Chris Smith, Founder & Director @ BIG Esports Craig Rees, VP & Head of Engineering @ AirWallex Taryn Williams, CEO & Founder @ theright.fit James Spencely, VC Investor & Mentor @ Jamesspencely.com Greg Cross, Serial Entrepreneur @ Soul Machines Alex Moss, CEO & Head Designer @ Canaria Daniel Wearne, Head of Design @ Up Banking Alex McCauley, CEO @ StartupAus Sarah Tang, VP, Enterprise @ Freelancer.com Helen Souness, CEO @ RMIT Online Randall Noble, COO @ Hive Gaming Dr Michelle Perugini, CEO & Co-founder @ Presagen Simon Banks, Managing Director & SVP @ HyperWallet  Ali Anderson, Manager of Outreach Programs @ Australian Institute for Machine Learning and more!   More StartCon 2019 speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.   StartCon 2019 features multiple tracks for startups, marketing and growth professionals, designers, engineers, tech experts and corporate innovators and is jam-packed with:   Expert workshops Tech expo Hackathon Masterclasses FinTech stage  Disruption stage  Artificial intelligence stage VIP lounge  Multiple networking events Live gaming  Kids coding camp Startup alley that includes some of the most innovative businesses across Asia   ENDS   About StartCon  StartCon (formerly SydStart) is the largest Australian startup and growth conference, expo and entrepreneur community, established in 2009. Thousands of technology startup professionals, investors and ecosystem participants have already experienced StartCon events. This year’s conference will be held on November 22nd & 23rd at Royal Randwick Racecourse, with world-class international speakers in entrepreneurship and growth marketing, high quality workshops and an expo showcasing the biggest tech names and high-growth startups in Asia Pacific. http://www.startcon.com   Submissions for Pitch for $1 Million - Submissions can be made online with entries encouraged from startups in all sectors including, but not limited to, Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, Blockchain, AI, Big Data, Adtech, Digital Media, Edtech and more.  

2019-11-06T00:10:53Z ethics-is-good-for-business-at-last-the-message-is-getting-through-says-dr-zivit-inbar

The message that ethical behaviour and making decisions based on what is best in the long-term for an organisation’s reputation, financial welfare and sustainability is getting through said Dr Zivit Inbar founder and CEO of DifferenThinking a boutique consulting firm specialising in strategic people, culture, ethics, leadership and performance services.   Commenting further Dr Inbar said recent high-profile cases of unethical behaviour together with changes in community expectations makes every business vulnerable and it jeopardises their financial viability when they are exposed.  This means that culture, ethics, innovation and decision making – the core pillars of leadership are more important than ever.   As a general observation, people and businesses are not unethical – however, problems arise if ethical behaviour is not ingrained in an organisation’s DNA and decisions made at all levels are unable to ask the fundamental questions ‘what is the right thing to do and by whom’ affirmed Dr Inbar.   “Companies love to extol the merits of their corporate culture and virtuousness of managers and staff that are collectively dedicated to maximising shareholder returns, the environment, inclusiveness, equality, etc.”, said Dr Inbar.   “But the word ‘ethics’ is very different with a far deeper meaning and implications.  Even a business that adheres steadfastly to the rule of law can still be operating unethically”.   Warren Buffett once said “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it”.    Dr Inbar continued, “Once unethical practices and behaviours are exposed and trust is lost – the momentum of the irrevocably damaged reputation accelerates the decline and ultimate destruction of the business”.   “This very sobering realisation is why organisations can no longer rely on the mantra that ‘this is how we do things here’ as a shield or excuse for unethical behaviour.  They need to keep improving from within and the key to strengthening processes and behaviour can only come from the top”.   Hence the primary theme and purpose of DifferenThinking workshops ‘Culture Ethics & Innovation – are led from the top’ that provide practical tools for managers to develop ethic-first cultures within their businesses.   These tools, coupled with Dr Inbar’s own research about the role of boards in corporate ethics, provide a unique resource and service for the business community.    Dr Inbar concluded, “It is heartening to observe that business leaders in growing numbers appreciate that a reputation for ethical behaviour builds trust both internally and externally with organisation’s stakeholders who rely on the business to conduct itself ethically in all dealings.    “I’m also confident DifferenThinking workshops and programs will continue to be supported by organisations keen to reduce risks and empower their human capital”.   Issued by DifferenThinking      www.differenthinking.com.au           Media Enquiries:     Mr. Joe Perri, Joe Perri & Associates Pty Ltd                               Mob:  +61 412 112 545     Email:  jperri@joeperri.com.au       About Dr Zivit Inbar    Dr Zivit Inbar is the founder and CEO of DifferenThinking, a consulting practice that specialises in people, culture, leadership & ethics.   Dr Inbar has over 17 years of experience and expertise with building high-performance teams, driving high-level strategies and processes at the board and executive levels, spanning private and listed local and global organisations (China, APAC, Europe and the US).    Her Board portfolio includes roles as a Chairwoman, Non-Executive-Director, Company Secretary and Advisory Board Member. Zivit is a member of Standards Australia AI trustworthiness and governance committees. She is also the founder of WELeaders.ai, a unique program that aims at developing and growing a community of women leading AI.   Dr Inbar is an Adjunct Professor at Deakin University’s MBA program, a Graduate of Harvard Kennedy School Executive Program, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow Certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.    Her PhD is focused on Strategic Thinking and Strategy Implementation by Western companies operating in China and she is the author of "The Ethical Kaleidoscope: Values, Ethics and Corporate Governance" (with Doug Long), 2017, Routledge Publishing, UK.        

2019-11-05T22:27:17Z bitglass-global-report-finds-66pc-of-companies-omit-key-security-tool

SYDNEY, November 6, 2019 – Bitglass, the Next-Gen CASB company, has just released “A for Adoption,” its 2019 Cloud Adoption report. The study examines the rate of cloud adoption in more than 138,000 companies worldwide. Results indicate that although 86% of enterprises have deployed cloud-based tools, only 34% have implemented single sign-on (SSO), one of the most basic and critically important cloud security tools. For the past five years, Bitglass has conducted research on the rate of enterprise cloud adoption in order to uncover deployment trends. This year, the report found that the use of cloud applications has grown extensively over the past 12 months, with Salesforce and Slack increasing by 55% and 44%, respectively. As more companies deploy cloud applications and modernise the way their employees perform their work, they must also implement effective security tools and strategies tailored to a cloud-first environment. “Cloud adoption has grown at a staggering rate, allowing organisations to evolve and keep pace with the market’s ever-growing productivity and flexibility demands,” said Rich Campagna, CMO, Bitglass. “The significant gap between the adoption of cloud-based tools and cloud security technologies indicates that most companies are at serious risk of suffering a data breach. Enterprises must understand that operating in the cloud is fundamentally different from the traditional way of conducting business, and that on-premises methods of protecting data are no longer sufficient.” In addition to tracking SSO usage, Bitglass uncovered adoption rates for a host of different cloud-based tools, including Microsoft Office 365, Google’s G Suite, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Slack, Salesforce, Box, and ServiceNow. Key findings: Despite an early lead in the cloud productivity market, the adoption of Google’s G Suite has reached only 33%, up from 25% in 2018. Microsoft Office 365 still reigns as the cloud productivity suite of choice with a 79% adoption rate. Deployment of AWS has increased by 43% since 2018, reaching an average of 20% this year. At 82%, financial services organisations are the fourth largest adopters of Office 365. Additionally, their adoption of SSO grew nearly 41% since last year, indicating that the financial services sector is recognising the criticality of cloud security tools. While 79% of healthcare organisations have adopted Office 365, only 30% have adopted SSO. This disparity is particularly concerning in light of the vast amount of sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) that they collect and store. Technology remains the leading vertical in terms of AWS adoption (32%) and is the top user of Slack (79%). However, the industry lagged in SSO, reaching only 33% adoption. Education is a major user of cloud-based tools, adopting Salesforce (30%) and Okta (18%) more than any other industry. Larger organisations are the leading adopters of cloud applications and single sign-on. 64% of large firms utilise SSO, which is nearly 50% more than medium-sized companies, and more than twice that of small organisations. Methodology Using internally developed technologies, the Bitglass research team scanned the cloud to identify which cloud services were in use across a sample of more than 138,000 companies. The analysis included productivity suites such as Office 365 and G Suite, messaging apps like Slack, file-sharing apps like Box, as well as single sign-on (SSO), a basic cloud security tool. To learn more about how cloud adoption has developed over the past year, download the full report here: https://pages.bitglass.com/CD-FY19Q4theCloudAdoptionReportof2019_LP.html?&utm_source=pr About Bitglass Bitglass, the Next-Gen CASB company, is based in Silicon Valley with offices worldwide. The company's cloud security solutions deliver zero-day, agentless, data and threat protection for any app, any device, anywhere. Bitglass is backed by Tier 1 investors and was founded in 2013 by a team of industry veterans with a proven track record of innovation and execution. Media Contact David Frost, Touchdown Austrsalia, for Bitglass dfrost@touchdownpr.com 612.79039567

2019-11-04T23:32:43Z first-ever-asia-edition-of-the-cvent-planner-sourcing-report-highlights-unique-mice-opportunities

November 05, 2019 - Cvent, a market leader in events and hospitality technology, today released the first-ever Asia edition of the Cvent Planner Sourcing Report today, which outlines the results of a survey, conducted among more than 500 event planners in Asia, that explores how meeting planners source venues and what influences their decision-making. The survey offers MICE professionals in Asia the data and insights they need to win more business and ensures that their sales and marketing teams are focusing on the areas that make the most impact to help them drive more profitable business. “Asia continues to grow in popularity as a leading MICE destination, which is also reflected in the 2019 Cvent Top Meeting Destinations list,” said Chris McAndrews, vice president of marketing for Cvent Hospitality Cloud. “In response to growing sourcing volume and MICE activity in the region, we’re excited to offer hoteliers a deeper look at event planner preferences so they can attract more MICE business to their venues. The annual Cvent Planner Sourcing Report has become an important sales and marketing resource for our North American and European MICE customers and we’re proud to bring similarly compelling insights to the Asian market.” This year’s study shows that companies continue to invest in their meeting and event programme. More than 80 percent of respondents said that their budgets have increased for events, including corporate parties, galas, trade shows, conferences, seminars, and conventions. Interestingly, 84 percent said that budgets for non-revenue generating events such as trainings and milestone meetings have also increased – highlighting the important role live events plays in supporting both internal and external corporate goals. This increase in budgets indicates higher executive expectations and added pressure on event planners to deliver more compelling experiential events for their attendees. Additional findings from the study include: Event Professionals are planning more events than ever before – meaning additional MICE business opportunities for hoteliers and destinations. 94 percent of planners said that they manage 11 or more events each year, while 75 percent are organising more than 50. More than 80 percent of respondents said that their overall event attendance has increased. Increasing budgets means higher expectations and more internal influencers. With the increase in event spend, planners must work with others in their organisation, such as IT and finance managers, who also have influence over event budget decisions. Top four areas of expected budget increase include: ground transportation (92%), venue (88%), food & beverage (88%), and client entertainment (87%), pointing to a growing desire to create a strong event experience. Respondents identified additional budget stakeholders including information technology and finance departments. Venues need to be aware of how these stakeholders can influence final budget approval. Planners analyse a number of different factors when sourcing event venues or deciding to submit a request for proposal (RFP). Less than half of respondents (47%) cite venue cost as an influencing factor. Other factors including space layout, location, and brand reputation are increasingly important. Top features influencing booking decisions include: Ease of networking activities (44%), availability of preferred dates (35%), and unique atmosphere and existing relationship with the venue (both 33%). 49 percent of planners surveyed highlighted the venue’s brand and reputation as a key consideration for RFP submission. 50 percent said they were influenced by positive reviews of the venues they were sourcing. 78 percent of planners said they would expect a cost savings of at least 6 percent before considering a switch to their second-choice venue – demonstrating that planners are willing to invest more if they believe a venue can provide a memorable event experience. Communication, transparency, and attention to detail throughout the RFP process can make a venue stand out. By providing proactive solutions, offering a digital presence that caters to the event planners’ needs, and delivering a quick, thorough response to RFPs, hoteliers can win more group business. Nearly half (46%) of planners cite communication problems as the reason for choosing to not submit an RFP to a venue. 23 percent want better attention to detail in RFP responses. 38 percent said that trustworthiness in a venue’s RFP responses is a primary area of improvement. To download the Asia Edition of Cvent’s 2019 Planner Sourcing Report, click here. About Cvent, Inc. Cvent is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider with more than 4,300 employees, 27,000 customers, and 300,000 users worldwide. The Cvent Event Cloud offers software solutions to event planners and marketers for online event registration, venue selection, event management and marketing, onsite solutions, and attendee engagement. Cvent’s suite of products automate and simplify the planning process to maximize the impact of events. The Cvent Hospitality Cloud partners with hotels and venues to help them drive group and corporate travel business. Hotels use the Cvent Hospitality Cloud’s digital marketing tools and software solutions to win business through Cvent’s sourcing platforms and to service their customers directly, efficiently and profitably – helping them grow and own their business. Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage millions of meetings and events. For more information, please visit Cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. About Cvent Hospitality Cloud The Cvent Hospitality Cloud partners with hotels and venues to help them drive profitable group and corporate travel business. Event planners and corporate travel managers source more than $16 billion dollars in business through Cvent’s online platforms each year, and the Cvent Hospitality Cloud offers clients direct access to these buyers. Using Cvent digital marketing tools and software solutions, hoteliers attract valuable leads to grow their business, maximize the value of that business, and strengthen direct customer relationships. By connecting hotels with buyers and providing technology for winning and servicing customers, Cvent Hospitality Cloud helps hoteliers grow and own their group and corporate travel business. For more information regarding the Cvent Hospitality Cloud, visit https://www.cvent.com/sg/hospitality-cloud/. Media Contact: Debbie Bradley, Group Account Director, Zadro | debbie@zadroagency.com.au +61 2 9212 7867 | +61 420 761 189 Yvette Schlegelmilch, Account Manager, Zadro | yvette@zadroagency.com.au +61 2 9212 7867

2019-11-03T22:29:19Z tat-capital-releases-comprehensive-india-australia-economic-trade-report-for-mid-market-investors

Following the success of their bi-lateral TATXPO forums, financial advisory and investment firm Tat Capital have released their India Australia Industry Report. This +140-page document is the ‘go to’ handbook for ANZ businesses wanting to better understand, engage and access the AUD$4.2T [EoFY2020] Indian economy. Employing Tat Capital’s unique sub-continental insights and experience, this report translates findings from the Indian Economic Strategy 2035 [IES 2035] - published by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Australia – into highly informative and value resource for mid-market investment groups and individuals.   “There has been much chatter in Australia about doing business with the fastest-growing major economy in the world; but businesses struggle to comprehend the optimal sectors and true potential of the opportunities”, explains Ram Gorlamandala, Director and Founding Partner of Tat Capital. “In our view, a major knowledge gap exists in Australia’s understanding of the changing mindset of the Young India, which is thinking ‘global’ more often than ever before, both in scaling business and attracting global investment to their growing companies. “As such, until now, there has been a dearth of clear, concise and practical information on how our mid-market businesses across India and ANZ can truly capitalise on these developments,” he concludes.   Using the Economic Strategy as a core narrative the report delivers an informed commentary on the relationship and economic activities of both players; delving into the start-up ecosystems and opportunities presented by each.  The report then provides in-depth analysis of seven specific sectors, which Tat Capital identifies as especially potent for mid-market players: Agriculture – the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population. Education – already outstripping China at some leading universities. Healthcare – rising incomes, greater health awareness & increasing access to insurance will see significant growth in this space. Finance – being one of the most vibrant global economies, investments FPIs in Indian capital markets have been substantial of late. Tourism - a portfolio of niche geographical & culturally diverse products. IT & ITeS industry - exports from the industry increased to AUD $195B in FY19. Retail - Indian retail is expected to grow to AUD $ 1.8T by 2020.   The full report is available as a free downloadable pdf available via: Tat Capital - India Australia Industry Report 2019   ----- EDITORIAL INFORMATION ----- BACKGROUND Tat Capital is a holistic, highly networked corporate advisory, creating mid-market opportunities that others can’t match.    TAT Corporate Finance executes deals for both private and institutional clients encompassing capital markets, cross-border transactions and M&A opportunities, and has a strong Indian Subcontinental focus and long-standing contacts in all countries. TAT FX division aggregates the most competitive deals specific to client needs and provides advice on how to best optimise trade opportunities. All areas of the business are underpinned by the deep knowledge base which is embedded in TAT’s specialised research team.’   FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Including images or video assets and interviews with an expert from the Tat Capital team, please contact Ram Gorlamadala +61 [0]430-114-905 | rg@tat.capital or Michael Locke +61 [0]438-076-904 | michael@locke.com.au              

2019-11-03T05:01:12Z more-lenders-go-under-3

More lenders have trimmed variable and fixed home loan rates to under three per cent. “There are now 18 variable home loan rates for owner-occupiers starting with a 2,” said Vadim Taube, CEO of leading Australian financial comparison site InfoChoice.com.au, “If your loan is charging you three and half or four per cent per annum, you are not getting anywhere near the lowest rate deal now available. “Borrowers can now lock in sub-3 per cent home loan rates until 2024 with more long fixed-rate deals now coming down into the 2 per cent zone,” said Vadim Taube.   Low fixed-rate home loan rates now listed on InfoChoice 3/11/19 Lender Fixed Term Rate % pa Comparison rate % pa UBank 1 year UHomeLoan Fixed (OO, P&I) 2.74 3.33 Well Home Loans 2 year Well Balanced Fixed 2.68 2.84 UBank 3 years UHomeLoan Fixed (OO, P&I) 2.69 3.19 St George / Bank of Melb 4 years Fixed rate Advantage (LVR< 60%, OO, P&I) 2.84 3.63 Citibank 5 years Fixed Rate Loan OOC 2.74 3.26   Ten low-rate variable (P&I,OO) home loans now listed on InfoChoice 3/11/19 Lender Loan Type Rate Comparison rate Reduce Home Loans Rate Slasher Variable 2.69 2.7 Reduce Home Loans Low Rider Variable Variable 2.69 2.71 Reduce Home Loans Rate Lovers Variable 2.77 2.79 Reduce Home Loans Rate Buster Variable 2.77 2.78 Freedom Lend Owner Occupied Variable P&I 80% Variable 2.79 2.79 G&C Mutual Bank First Home Premium Package - Owner Occupied (P&I) Variable 2.79 2.79 Athena Home Loans Owner Occupier Principal & Interest Variable 2.84 2.8 UBank Discount Offer for Owner Occupied Variable P&I Rate (>$700,000) Variable 2.84 2.84 UBank Discount Offer for Owner Occupied Variable P&I Rate over $200,000 Variable 2.84 2.84 loans.com.au Smart Home Loan Variable 2.88 2.9   “Currently, savers can’t get an ongoing rate significantly above inflation from the big four banks, in either at-call accounts or term deposits.” “Savers really need to be looking at some of the easy-to-open, online accounts to get the most competitive rates in the market,” said Vadim Taube, CEO of leading Australian financial comparison site InfoChoice.com.au. “Judo Bank has market leading rates in the term deposit market and Greater Bank, ME, UBank, Bank Australia and BoQ are among the leaders in the at-call ongoing incentive saver market.   At-call incentive saver account market, excluding intro rates, now listed on InfoChoice. Institution Title Product Title Base Rate <$1,000 Max Rate - <$1000 Bank of Queensland Fast Track Starter Account (for 14-24 years old) 0.35 3.15 Community First Credit Union Matrimoney 2.5 2.5 Greater Bank Limited Life Saver 2.35 2.35 Bank Australia mySaver 0.1 2.25 MyState Bank Bonus Saver 0.55 2.25 Up Up Saver Account 0.5 2.25 86 400 Save 0.4 2.25 Illawarra Credit Union Wildlife Saver 0.05 2.2 ME ME Online Savings Account (with ongoing bonus) 0.5 2.2 Bank of Queensland Fast Track Saver Account 0.35 2.15 UBank USaver Ultra Base rate 1.04%p.a. +1.06% p.a. = 2.10%p.a (Ts & Cs apply) 1.04 2.1 Bank Australia Bonus Saver Account 0.05 2 Commonwealth Bank Future Home Saver 0.5 2 CUA eSaver Reward 0.05 2 Easy Street Financial Services Bonus Saver 0.01 2 RAMS RAMS Saver (Earn 2.00% p.a, 1.15% p.a. when you deposit $200, make no withdrawals 1.15 2  Go straight to 1800 home loan rates from 145 institutions listed on InfoChoice here. Go straight to the latest rates information from individual banks and other institutions here. For more information on Savings account rates, data and commentary, please contact:   Jason Bryce, Media Manager on 0428 777 727 jason.bryce@infochoice.com.au   For more comments, please contact: Vadim Taube, Chief Executive on 0403 580 794     * InfoChoice compares financial products from 145 banks, credit unions and other financial institutions in Australia. InfoChoice does not compare every product in the market. Some institutions may have a commercial partnership with InfoChoice. Rates are provided by partners and taken from financial institutions websites. We believe all information to be accurate on the date published. InfoChoice strives to update and keep information as accurate as possible.   Comparison rate is based on a secured loan of $150,000 over the term of 25 years. WARNING: These comparison rates apply only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and costs savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan InfoChoice is a leading Australian comparison website for retail banking and personal finance products. We’ve been helping Aussies find great offers on credit cards, home loans, savings accounts, term deposits, personal loans and car loans for over 25 years. Our mission is to help consumers make an informed purchasing by bringing together the most comprehensive list of financial products on the market today. At InfoChoice, we strive to be: •           Comprehensive. We compare more than 3500 individual products from 145 providers within Australia to offer you the best value. •           Informative. We know how important it is for you to crunch the numbers before buying. Our calculators help you understand the cost of different products over the long term and show you the potential savings.

2019-11-02T07:06:11Z an-exciting-guideline-for-creating-function-room-effectively-for-the-party

Full-on entertainment! Would you like this entertainment to be an ongoing process of learning and growth that being fun at the same time? The element of function room hire Melbourne that fulfill this based on the concept of room arrangement from high quality.  Unique concept- need and activities of the child The most significant trend had to be closing the door on the big platform of function. Make the most of staying in with our must-have for modern family life. It is a unique concept because the primary focus is the need and activities of the child. Function room hires Melbourne; create a place that appears very different from what may be found in traditional designs that focus on creating a perfect image.  Different venues which are more Melbourne inner city the unique, contemporary design of fix in the heart of the style and sophistication with a club atmosphere.  The versatile space invites fresh and innovative themes and it is an ideal environment for a diverse range of functions and events.  The perfect function rooms and conference venues for many corporate events are available in Melbourne. For seminars and gala dinner to conferences, team building days, intimate cocktail parties and launches, we have the capacity to do it all.  The surrounding venue is complete with business facilities, audio-visual and sound equipment for outstanding impact including an excess of pure light by time and the enchanting view of the city as a backdrop at dusk. The function room and surrounding grounds can cater for corporate through to cocktail parties, school formals, dance parties, and weddings.  The celebration on a special event – perfect party venue; is a wide range of places to choose from specifically in the Melbourne area.  Melbourne is one of the ideal places in the environment to relax and repose. So most of the functions and events are considering this place as a good recommendation. Melbourne is also an excellent place to conduct term building activities. There are companies from adjacent regions that allow a bigger budget for their employees to have a Melbourne escapade.  Another platform of Team building Melbourne is, admittedly, a very significant event. The main objective of the function- that is the strength of the working relationship of the people in order as well as the perfect opportunity for them to unwind from work.   Wrapping up: Function room hires Melbourne – sightseeing attractions; it is a pleasant experience for those who are in function and conference to include sightseeing in their activities. The organization is deepened as they explore the beautiful sights of Melbourne. The choice of function centers in Melbourne is extensive and ranges with function rooms right through to substantial purpose-built display centers. Each of these venues has a distinctive blend of plants and services, various capacities and different price points. Most of the people choose the right Melbourne function room will depend on the size and style of the event.