Australia’s new gateway to the world is on its way, with the official start of construction for Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport’s passenger terminal.

Western Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Simon Hickey said the terminal is being designed with the customer at its heart - with international and domestic services under one roof to deliver a seamless experience for airlines and passengers, whether they be leisure flyers, business travellers or families.

“This will be Australia’s best airport terminal, with world-leading technology, innovative design and excellent customer service coming together to set a new benchmark for what Australians will expect when they fly,” Mr Hickey said.

“At Western Sydney International, we’ll get passengers on their way sooner, whether that’s getting to your meeting on time or arriving home to loved ones.”

Mr Hickey said every element of the airport is being designed to deliver the most seamless and reliable experience possible for customers, from the design of the gates to the cutting-edge baggage handling system.

“We’re aiming to make the anxious wait around the baggage carousel a thing of the past,” Mr Hickey said.

“Our baggage system will give passengers the option to track their bags via an app so they know exactly when they will arrive.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build an airport from the ground up with consideration not only for emerging technologies, such as air taxis, but also technology that has yet to be imagined.”

Mr Hickey said construction of the terminal alone is expected to create more than 1,400 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs through flow-on benefits to suppliers and the local economy.

“This project will be a game-changer for Western Sydney locals who want to work closer to home and have more time to spend with their families, not just in the construction phase but for many decades to come,” he said.

The terminal will be a destination in its own right – with specialty retail, restaurants and cafes, as well as an outdoor plaza that can host events like local food festivals, markets and community celebrations.

Sustainability is a key consideration, with the terminal designed to bring in natural light and reduce carbon emissions.

The terminal roof will be productive, generating solar electricity and harvesting rainwater. Sustainable and recycled materials will be used throughout the terminal, including the structure, finishes and furniture.

The design pays tribute to Western Sydney’s rich Aboriginal heritage, connecting visitors arriving in Australia at Western Sydney International to more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture.

The terminal plaza will have a station on the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line and will be connected to Sydney’s motorway network via the new toll-free M12 Motorway.

Western Sydney International is on track to open to international, domestic and air cargo services in late 2026.

Children’s Medical Research Institute scientist, Dr Pengyi Yang has won the prestigious Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research for his vision of using precise computational methods to advance regenerative medicine.

Dr Yang is Head of the Computational Systems Biology Group at Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) in Westmead, and Head of the Computational Trans-Regulatory Biology Group at the Charles Perkins Centre and Senior Lecturer at the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney.

On November 15 the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia announced Dr Pengyi Yang as one of two awardees nationwide of the 2021 Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research. The prize, given in honour of renowned stem cell researcher, Emeritus Professor Donald Metcalf AC FRS FAA, who died in December 2014, supports the foundation’s mission to promote the study and use of stem cells in the prevention or control of disease in human beings and to enhance stem cell public education.

Dr Yang’s work uses computational and statistical methods to better understand biological systems and disease. He and his team work closely with many CMRI research groups, and the highly competitive Metcalf Prize recognises his outstanding contributions to the field of stem cell research.

“Today’s stem cell treatments have been the product of trial and error,’’ Dr Yang said. “My virtual stem cell will allow us to understand what’s happening inside a single stem cell that makes it decide what type of cell it will become, be it hair, skin, muscle, nerve, blood or other.

“I am extremely grateful to the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia for this recognition of the work of my team through the award of the Metcalf Prize,’’ Dr Yang said. “This is a significant honour that will fuel my research on stem cell systems biology and will further our multidisciplinary programs combining computational biology with stem cell research.’’

Stem cells are unspecialised cells that have the potential to develop into any type of (specialised) cell found in the body. Stem cells help scientists to understand how an organism, e.g., human beings (made up of many different types of cells), develops from a single cell. Stem cells can be used as a source to generate healthy cells for specific tissues and organs to replace those cells that are not working correctly.

Stem cell research has led to the situation where today, stem cells can be generated from a person or patient’s skin or blood cells and be used to grow organoids (mini organs) in the laboratory – e.g., eye (retinal) organoids or brain organoids and those from other tissues – to determine what causes serious genetic and other diseases and to test novel treatments such as new drugs or gene therapies.

Dr Yang envisages a future where “stem cell-derived cells can be used to replace any cell that has been compromised by disease, injury, or ageing”.

“Achieving this vision requires disruptive technologies, innovative methodologies, and new knowledge for mapping, modelling, predicting, and modulating molecular networks,’’ Dr Yang said.

“My lab is developing computational methods and tools that can integrate and interpret these novel data types offer a unique opportunity to accomplish ground-breaking discoveries in stem cell research.”

“We hope this work will underpin Australia’s leadership on stem cell systems biology research and the advancement of stem cell medicine. This is a critical first step to achieve the goal of harnessing the functional attributes of stem cells for precision cellular therapy.’’

The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia supports scientists who are improving our understanding of disease and developing treatments for conditions including leukaemia and other cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart failure, multiple sclerosis, inherited eye diseases and more.

Enjoy an all-inclusive luxury experience at The William Inglis Hotel.

Their Luxury Retreat package includes an Inglis welcome amenity, valet parking, overnight accommodation in an Executive King suite and a 3 course dining experience with paired wines in The Newmarket Room.

Enjoy breakfast in bed the following morning followed by a relaxing day by the Chiltern rooftop pool or exploring Riverside stables.

Package offer:

Executive King suite from $599
Superior King suite from $549

To book:

Phone: 02 8324 3460 

Email: HB042@accor.com

Terms and conditions apply.  Available from 11/10/2021 until 11/10/2022.

All too often entrepreneurs who start a business or acquire a business overlook the fact that having a documented understanding and agreement with their business partners is a vital part of building a successful business.

Types of Agreements

Business ownership agreements include shareholder agreements, partnership agreements, unitholder agreements and joint venture agreements.

Why Have One?

These types of agreements are important for a number of reasons including:

• estate/succession planning
• tailoring the rights and obligations of the participants including in respect of governance, decision-making, exits (including forced exits, death and incapacity), entry by new participants, distributions, and restrictive covenants
• endeavoring to limit the potential for disputes
• supplementing the (general) provisions of the relevant Constitution, trust deed and legislation

Free Questionnaires

Matthews Folbigg Lawyers have developed questionnaires that can be used to assist those contemplating a shareholder agreement, partnership agreement or unitholder agreement. If you would like free copies of their questionnaires, simply contact Phillip Brophy or Douglas Brown and they will email them to you.

More Information

Please contact our commercial law team at Matthews Folbigg Lawyers on 9635 7966 if you would like advice or assistance in respect of preparing or negotiating a business ownership agreement or in respect of any other business related matter.

If you would like to read more about the broad range of commercial law services please visit www.matthewsfolbigg.com.au

Bring your team together to redefine and reconnect in 2022.

Take advantage of PARKROYAL Parramatta's discounted day delegate package starting from AUD74 and you could receive a range of rewards for your next conference!

For:

20+ delegates = choose one reward below

30+ delegates = choose two rewards below

40+ delegates = choose three rewards below

Your reward options include:

• For every ten paying delegates, the eleventh delegate is free
• Five complimentary parking passes per day
• Complimentary all day Barista Coffee Machine
• Networking drinks (1/2 hour duration)
• Upgrade your morning or afternoon tea

Plus host a residential conference, with accommodation rates starting from AUD170 including breakfast for one and enjoy three of the above benefits and an additional $500 credit to use at your next event.

For more information, please contact to the PARKYROAL Parramatta team on:

P: 02 9685 0309

E: events.prsyp@parkroyalhotels.com

From breakfast on the lion deck to sunset drinks with reptiles, Gold Member Sydney Zoo are now offering a range of unique event experiences.

With their NEW functions & events packages, planning your next event at Sydney Zoo has never been easier. 

Their morning, lunch and sunset packages will set you above the rest and provide an unmatched experience for your staff, clients, families, or friends.

Check out all the info at sydneyzoo.com/functions-events or get in touch via the details below.

P: 02 7202 2560

E: events@sydneyzoo.com

By Rachael Wade

Phase two of The ATO’s Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting regime is due to come into effect on 1 January 2022. STP 2.0 is expected to bring the greatest amount of complexity since the regime was introduced in July 2019. Find out more about STP 1.0 here.

STP 2.0 requires employers to provide more detailed payroll information to the ATO than ever before – the Government anticipates that this will reduce the burden of reporting to other Government agencies.

When does STP 2.0 come into effect?

The major accounting software suppliers including Xero and Reckon will contact you regarding their planned software upgrades to deal with STP 2.0.

If your chosen software is ready by 1 January 2022, you will be expected to transition to STP 2.0 by 1 March 2022.  If the ATO has granted your software supplier a deferral – this deferral will automatically apply to all users.  If you’re unsure if your software supplier has been granted a deferral, please contact William Buck.

Employers may apply for individual deferrals from December 2021.

Click here to find out what the key changes are and what you should do next. 

By Scott Harrington and Michele Nevill

From 1 November 2021, all directors of registered bodies are required to obtain a Director Identification Number (DIN). A DIN is a unique identifier that has been introduced as a means of addressing phoenixing arrangements, to help reduce fraud and fictitious behaviours and to enable tracking of directors and their relationships with different companies. Once a director has received their DIN, they will keep it permanently, even if they cease to be a director or move overseas. Read William Buck's previous article here, to find out more about the scheme, its governing legislation and penalties that apply should a director fail to obtain a DIN.

Do I need a DIN?

If you’re a director of an Australian registered body or a director of a foreign company registered with ASIC and carrying on business in Australia (regardless of where you live), or you wish to become a director in the future, you’ll need a DIN.

Click here to find out:

• When you need to apply?
• How to apply?
• What you do with the DIN once you have it?

Read More

The construction of Sydney’s new airport is directly injecting more than $100 million into businesses in Western Sydney, as new vision shows the incredible transformation of the site since earthworks began.

A new timelapse animation demonstrates the significant engineering feat underway to build Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, using 3D survey scans combined with high-grade satellite imagery to capture the evolving topography of the massive 1,780-hectare site.

Western Sydney Airport (WSA) Chief Executive Officer Simon Hickey said more than 20 million cubic metres of earth has been moved to date in what is one of the biggest earthmoving challenges in Australian history.

“Construction of Western Sydney International has already led to more than $100 million being contracted to businesses across Western Sydney and we are only at the beginning of the build,” Mr Hickey said.

“These Western Sydney businesses – from Indigenous businesses to small and family-run businesses - are delivering equipment and services we need to build Sydney’s new airport.

“Beyond this direct investment, we know the flow-on effects of this economic stimulus go much further when it comes to boosting the local economy, whether it’s the construction worker buying lunch at the local café or refueling at the local petrol station.”

“This is just the beginning – the employment and investment opportunities for Western Sydney will continue to significantly increase once terminal construction commences later this year and runway construction begins in 2022.”

Mr Hickey said WSA is continuing to exceed all employment targets for local, Indigenous and learning workers.

Half the project’s workforce is from Western Sydney, exceeding the construction phase target of 30 per cent. From 2026 when the airport opens, at least 50 per cent of people working at the airport must be from Western Sydney.

“This project will be a game-changer for Western Sydney locals who want to work closer to home and have more time to spend with their families, not just in the construction phase, but for many decades to come,” Mr Hickey said.

“It’s more important than ever that a nation-building project like Western Sydney International gets on with the task of creating jobs and driving the local investment Western Sydney needs to recover from the pandemic.”

Two Way Cranes Founding Director Frank Zammit said he is proud to see his cranes at work on the airport construction site as a subcontractor on major earthworks.

“I’m a proud Bringelly boy and have lived in Western Sydney all my life – my family were local dairy farmers in the area – and watching the progress being made here and being a part of it is so exciting,” Mr Zammit said.

“It’s exciting to be playing a part in the future development of Western Sydney and it’s great to see the opportunities the airport is already bringing to local businesses and workers.”

Can you see your best people burning out? Are you are afraid that they will either burn out completely or leave?

As a manager, you want to do right by your team and support them during intense work periods so they don’t get burned out. But this can be a challenge when you’re feeling overly stressed yourself.

How can you take care of yourself to have the time and energy to support your team? What steps do you need to take to reduce your stress level? And what actions can you take to improve your team members’ well-being?

The truth is that the risk of burnout is higher than its ever been before. As we head back into offices and COVID restrictions lift, most leaders find that they are already going full pace but feel the pressure to say "yes" to even more.

That's why we're offering a live-streamed workshop with practical techniques to help you look after your high performers and yourself, turn ‘too much’ into ‘the right challenge’ and feel in control again.

In this live-streamed microlearning workshop, you’ll discover:

• How to look after your best people so that they don’t burn out
• How to look after yourself too!
• Negotiate an intelligent and realistic plan for hybrid work
• How to set boundaries and stick to them without appearing less committed
• Determine your ‘gold threads’ to help avoid burnout
• Adapt the ‘voice in your head’ so that it works for you, not against you
• Get practical tools you can implement straight away
• Have the chance to have your specific questions answered by Diana

Don't leave it to chance. Left unchecked, burnout will wreak havoc on your health, happiness, relationships and job performance. Find out how to catch burnout and combat it early.

Secure your seat now for this exciting live training event.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 45-minute live-streamed workshop

• 15-minutes live Q&A

• Printable Action Pack with tools, techniques and templates

• 30-day access to a recording of the session

MEET YOUR FACILITATOR

This highly interactive workshop is presented by Diana Tapp, CEO of World Class Teams. Diana is Australia’s #1 High Performance Team Consultant and author of the book “Unleash Your Team's Potential”.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

"The tools & techniques Di gave us worked! Di is intelligent, experienced, inspiring, influential and so much more".

Brodie Collins, GM of Global Accounts, MONDIALE FREIGHT SERVICES

"Di, you were first class and I got so much out of the course. I look forward to now implementing and utilising the tools I learnt".

Paul Mercieca, Project Leader, LION

Places are limited, so get in quickly to secure your seat.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS now or for more information please contact World Class teams on 1300 085 248 or email info@worldclassteams.com.