City of Parramatta has just launched the Church Street Retail Frontage Improvement Program (RFIP) which is offering eligible businesses, property managers, and property owners situated on Church Street, Parramatta (between Macquarie Street and Lennox Bridge) up to $20,000 to improve the quality of their shopfront, building façade, and awning.

Macquarie Bank's guide to protecting against the latest craze in cybercrime

It starts innocuously enough. You receive an email from a colleague; just the regular kind of short message they’re always sending and a link to an article they thought you’d like. But when you click on it, your troubles start.

It’s not The Australian or The New York Times that you’re taken to. Instead, you’re directed to a screen that tells you all of the data stored on your computer has been encrypted. Worse still, you’re not going to get it back unless you pay. And to top it off, for every 30 minutes you delay, a piece of data will be destroyed or the price of having it unlocked will increase.

What’s happened is that you’ve just downloaded dangerous ransomware to your system. And ransomware is on the rise....Click here to read more.

Macquarie has been providing Business Banking solutions for over 30 years and provides SME clients with tools and strategies to grow and develop their business. You can get regular updates by subscribing to the monthly newsletter, Strictly Business by visiting macquarie.com.au/businessbanking. If you would like to find out more about how Macquarie can support you to take your business further, call us at our Parramatta office on 0418 253 049 and be connected with one of our real estate banking specialists in your region.

This information has been prepared by Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 237502 (“Macquarie”) for general information purposes only. This information does not constitute advice. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. No member of Macquarie accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect, consequential or other loss arising from any use of this information.

In the past year, demand for outpatient cancer services − that is treatments not requiring an overnight stay in hospital − in south west Sydney rose by up to 10 per cent. Our population in this part of Sydney is among the fastest-growing in the country and as population grows, the incidence of cancer in its many forms also escalates.

Across Australia, the number of cancer patients in Australia grows by approximately 3 per cent a year. That's 5,000 new cases each year, about half of which require radiation treatment. In 2015, more than 131,000 cancer patients presented for treatment in south-western Sydney. More than half of this number (51 per cent) needed treatment for tumours, including radiation and surgery.

Right here in Liverpool, we're building what will become the most advanced radiotherapy treatment tool in the world − and for the first time, we're inviting the people of Western Sydney to come and see it.

Anyone familiar with the work we do at the Ingham Institute would have heard us talk about the MRI-Linac. We're in the business of fighting disease, and the MRI-Linac will, once it's completed, be one of the world's most advanced tools for attacking cancer.

We're designing and building the MRI-Linac so that we can offer these patients image guided radiation therapy − or in other words, radiation that can much more accurately track and target tumours using MRI as the patient is being treated, something that cannot be done today. As a result, we will also be able to offer more powerful radiation treatment while at the same time, avoid the risk of damaging healthy tissue.

Liverpool is one of only four research institutions in the world, and the only one is Australia that is building an MRI-Linac machine, and we believe our design is unique compared to other models currently under development. Working with South West Sydney’s Cancer Therapy Centres and specialists from Sydney, Wollongong, Queensland, Stanford, Western Sydney and NSW Universities, our researchers are essentially inventing new technological solutions to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer patients.

We've reached a point where we can not only demonstrate the technology works, but explore how it will one day revolutionise the way we treat cancerous tumours here and around the world. We are inviting our neighbours in Western Sydney to experience history in the making and book a tour of the MRI-Linac while it is still under construction.

Guided tours are free and can be arranged by calling the Ingham Institute on 1800 66 55 41. On a tour you will be able to step inside the bunker housing our MRI Linac prototype and see close-up what the future of cancer therapy looks like.

The MRI-Linac is just one of the dozens of research and development projects we have underway at Ingham Institute, developing new ways to improve human health and save lives. We encourage anyone who's interested in the work we do and its potential, to come and take a look.

To register for the MRI-Linac tour, call 1800 66 55 41. Visit www.inghaminstitute.org.au for more on Ingham Institute's medical research.

City of Parramatta’s vision to be "Sydney’s central city, sustainable, liveable, and productive – inspired by our communities" – will be achieved by placing people at the centre of its future planning.

Council has eight draft documents currently on public exhibition until Monday, 8 May 2017 which will form the basis of significant work to deliver Council’s vision.

City of Parramatta invites you to share your feedback on these policies, to ensure they accurately reflect the needs and aspirations of the community.

As a valued member of the business community, Council would like to draw your attention to and invite you to give feedback on both the Draft Public Car Parking Strategy and Draft Civic Link Framework Plan which are currently on public exhibition. 

The Draft Public Car Parking Strategy provides plans to support economic activity in the City while alleviating congestion by reducing car movements in the CBD.

The Draft Civic Link Framework Plan establishes Council’s aspirations for a Civic Link – public open space and a cultural spine that connects Parramatta Square and the Transport Interchange to the river foreshore precinct. 

Have your say on these strategies, or attend one of Council's drop-in sessions and speak to a planner.

Love it or hate it, networking is an essential business skill and most professionals don’t know how to do it effectively. In this extract from a Great Managers MasterClass, Managing Director Sandra Wood will help you understand the techniques used by successful networkers and give you a fool-proof process that will make you feel more prepared, and more confident at the next WSBC (or any other) networking event!

Watch the video below:

1 in 3 Australian men and 1 in 4 Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 75.

Thanks to donors’ incredible generosity, My Westmead has been able to proudly support the work of The Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre at Westmead Hospital. This purpose built state of the art facility provides fully integrated research, prevention, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation programs for patients and families coping with cancer.

Despite their busy schedules, five of the Westmead Hospital’s Oncologists have kindly agreed to speak at the upcoming My Westmead Community Seminar “New and Novel Treatments for Cancer”.

When: Tue 30 May 2017

Time: 1:30pm

Where: Level 2 - The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW

RSVP: Please call Alison Whittaker on 02 9845 9019 or visit mywestmead.org.au

The presentation will be followed by Q&A session. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Join us and hear from our guest speakers:

Professor Nicholas Wilcken - Director of Medical Oncology at the Westmead Cancer Care Centre

Dr Mark Wong - Medical Oncologist at Westmead Hospital and Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney

Dr Matteo Carlino - Medical Oncologist at Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals

Dr Adnan Nagrial - Medical Oncologist at Westmead Hospital and The Garvan Institute

Dr Alison Salkeld - Radiation Oncologist at The Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to the oncologists about their current work.

Zoe Johnson, Cancer Care Co-ordinator and Clinical Nurse Consultant for Breast Cancer, and Noeline Ranzac, Nurse Unit Manager at The Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre will also be in attendance to answer questions arising.

Cancer will touch most Australians at some stage of their lives, either personally or through relatives and friends, as every year over 123,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in Australia.

This is a free event not to miss. It is open to the wider community; however places are limited so bookings are required.

To RSVP or for more information, call Alison Whittaker on 02 9845 9019 or visit mywestmead.org.au

This May, don’t miss Laugh for the House, an outrageous night of stand-up comedy for a fantastic cause!

Proceeds from this bumper night of laughs go towards Ronald McDonald House Westmead, a ‘home away from home’ for seriously ill children and their families.

Headlined by Jimeoin, one of Australia’s most beloved comedians, Laugh for the House also features the hilarious Simon Kennedy as MC, and fresh young talent Emma Zammit.

Jimeoin is acclaimed as one of the hottest stand-up comics of his generation and a true comedy master. A prolific writer with an exceptional audience rapport, he is known for his brilliant wit and charming observations on the absurdities of everyday life.

Join us to Laugh for the House and help raise vital funds to help Ronald McDonald House Westmead keep families close when they need it most.

When: Thursday 18 May, 2017

Where: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta

Cost: $50* per ticket

Welcome to the April 2017 edition of our Economic and Market Outlook, brought to you by Pitcher Partners Sydney Wealth Management.

This edition provides commentary on the following topics:

• International economy
• Australian economy
• Australian equities
• International equities

To read the full version of the Economic and Market Outlook April 2017, please click here.

Should you have any queries in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact the author or your Pitcher Partners relationship partner.

Contact

Martin Fowler

Partner, Wealth Management

Pitcher Partners Sydney

T: +61 2 8236 7776

E: martin.fowler@pitcher.com.au

Companies in Australia’s mid-market sector with boardroom diversity, a dominant shareholder, or a long-serving chairperson are outperforming their peers. And those which made acquisitions for inorganic growth last year are boosting their revenues more than those that did not, but potentially squandering profit boosting synergies in the short term.

These are just some of the headline findings from KPMG Enterprise’s first ASX300+ Report, which studied the 2016 and 2015 results of Australia’s ASX300+ companies.

The report uncovered six secrets of success for performance across: diversity, digital technology investment, acquisitions, funding arrangements, shareholder composition, remuneration and tenure, to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing ASX 300+ companies.

KPMG Enterprise’s report provides a unique and accurate picture of mid-market performance through the lens of mid-cap listed businesses. While companies in this group do not have the same degree of diversity at board and senior executive level, those that do delivered better results in the 2016 year than their competitors. This reinforces our view that a broader range of views around the board table adds value to businesses.

Key findings:

• Female CEOs in the ASX 300+ delivered a 9 per cent increase in revenue in 2016, compared to the group wide average of 0.5 per cent. There are 21 companies in the ASX 300+ with a female CEO (3 per cent of companies);

• Companies with women on their Board achieved higher revenue growth, profitability and shareholder returns in 2016. On average, ASX 300+ Boards comprise only 9 per cent female Directors, compared with 23 per cent in the ASX 200. ASX300+ companies have a long way to go to reach the AICD target of 30% female Board representation by the end of 2018.

• Entities that completed an acquisition saw an 11 per cent boost in revenue overall for the year, compared to a backward trend of 2 per cent for the remainder of companies which did not complete an acquisition. However those entities that completed an acquisition saw a decline in profits post acquisition.

• Companies investing in intangible assets such as digital technology are growing their revenue at a faster rate than those which are not (4 per cent growth compared to -2 per cent trend). Profitability returns are also greater in these companies. 

• ASX 300+ companies with a dominant shareholder (>50 per cent equity) performed better than other companies in both revenue growth and profitability improvements - growing revenue in 2016 at 6 per cent, compared with 0 per cent growth for widely held entities.

• 15 per cent of the ASX 300+ are showing some financial distress in terms of their working capital position – and debt levels are rising overall across the ASX 300+.

• Those with strong working capital positions grew revenue at 2 per cent overall, compared to an overall decline of 4 per cent from companies which weren't able to effectively manage working capital.

• Chairperson tenure of more than 10 years is linked to better financial performance, with revenue growth of 7%, outperforming the competition.

• Remuneration of Directors is widely dispersed across the ASX 300+ from no remuneration to multi-million dollar packages including share based payment arrangements.

Panthers part of $100,000 bid to market high-energy appeal

By Isabell Petrinic

PENRITH Panthers has united with other western Sydney leaders to fund the first business-led plan for a stronger visitor economy.

Western Sydney Business Connection’s new $100,000 Western Sydney Visitor Project aims to produce a region-specific visitor marketing strategy to put western Sydney on the map.

The man behind the hugely successful 100% Pure New Zealand tourism campaign, Ian Macfarlane, has been recruited to help with this.

“Up to 1998 NZ had suffered market share decline in its major markets and that campaign actually allowed NZ to increase its market share in all its major markets in the seven years that followed,” said Mr Macfarlane, who has also developed marketing strategies for Abu Dhabi, Cape Town, Adelaide and San Diego.

“I think western Sydney has made a giant leap forward ... to realise it does take local initiative,” Mr Macfarlane, Strategic Consultants’ managing consultant, said.

He says the challenge for the west is around “getting local activation ... (and) achieving a far greater appeal to interstate travellers”.

This includes making local businesses “accountable” for the activity they can generate with the right government support, he said.

“In Penrith and the Blue Mountains what it seems to me is you’re more into higher energy stuff ... hiking, walking, doing things. That’s the type of audience we need to attract.”

Deloitte data shows in 2015 western Sydney welcomed 9,681,183 visitors, who spent over 15 million nights in the region, injecting more than $2.5 billion to its economy.

Western Sydney is now NSW’s fourth largest visitor region, and Badgerys Creek airport will be a big part of its future market.

The new visitor project strategy will be launched at a Western Sydney Business Connection forum on June 8 and be enacted from July.

It comes on the back of Deloitte’s first business-led plan for jobs creation in western Sydney, launched in December 2015, to create 200,000 “great new” jobs in western Sydney by 2020.

Recommendations include investment in cultural infrastructure, such as arts spaces in disused facilities in the Penrith CBD.

Click here to view the original article in PDF