Carrie Burns

Year-on-year growth and a desire for sustainability mean Fringe World organisers are in no rush to scramble for the philanthropic dollar.

Christmas appeals have received a mixed response in their calls for donations, however all charities report a significant increase in requests for their services.

The tourism industry has called for the state government to do more to take advantage of a sharp fall in occupancy and room rates in the state's accommodation sector.

A device targeted at the OH&S market is being taken up by mining, transport and storage industries to cut costs associated with workplace injuries.

Sirius Resources has secured $440 million to fund the development of its Nova nickel mine, coinciding with it receiving mining approval from the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

Peninsula Energy has secured $69.4 million in fully underwritten institutional funding for its Lance projects in Wyoming, enabling the company to transition to a uranium producer in 2015.

Iron ore explorer Sundance Resources has announced a package of cost-cutting measures, including a reduction to its board and staff, in an effort to reduce expenditure amid current market conditions.

Hotel operators are sprucing up their digs to attract business as the influx of luxury hotels in Perth ramps up competition.

Western Australian Supreme Court judge James Edelman has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

Domestic tourists spent $4.6 billion while visiting Western Australia in the year to September, which was 12 per cent more than the previous year and three times the average increase nationally.

The City of Stirling has announced its intention to build a $26 million pool at Scarborough Beach, amid the final planning stages of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority’s revitalisation of the area.

Property developer Finbar Group has announced an on-market share buy-back under which the company can buy back up to 12 million shares within a year.

Five Western Australian companies have sought to manage costs by cutting either salaries or board positions during the past month.

Shares in diversified mining and infrastructure contractor Decmil Group gained up to 9.2 per cent on the ASX today, following its announcement of an on market share buy-back for up to 10 per cent of the company’s shares.

The number of international visitors to Western Australia each year has surpassed 800,000, with the state again recording the highest average trip expenditure per visitor for the country.

GR Engineering Services executive chairman Joe Ricciardo will step into a non-executive chairmanship role from the beginning of next year, after completing the handover of managerial control to managing director Geoff Jones.

Universities are preparing for a major hit to revenue in 2015 as the long awaited half-cohort leaves high school to enter the tertiary education and training sector.

Education provider Navitas has announced a slowing of growth for its university programs division, due to stricter entrance requirements put in place to combat fake applications from foreigners.

Subiaco-based White Star Resources, which is in the process of acquiring a technology business, will seek shareholder approval to increase its previously announced capital raising to $5 million, to accommodate a new prominent cornerstone investor.

A Western Australian dairy boss who waited three years for the business to turn a profit has discovered the other end of the spectrum, and is now dealing with an operation that has outgrown its facilities.

Western Australian resources companies are increasingly looking to private equity players for funding as an alternative to traditional capital raisings, with more than $300 million in deals just this month.

Perth-based unlisted ATM provider Stargroup is set to be bought out for an undisclosed amount by ASX-listed iCash Payment Systems, after iCash announced today it has signed a memorandum of understanding for the acquisition.

Two Melbourne-based foreign exchange brokerage founders have been named the Ernst & Young 2014 Australian Entrepreneurs of the Year, with Aurora Oil and Gas founder Jonathan Stewart also being named one of six category winners.

Redcliffe-based labour and equipment hire business Global Construction Services has secured $14 million through a placement with a Brookfield Asset Management private equity fund, as part of a strategic partnership.

Chevron Australia’s former general manager greater Gorgon area, Colin Beckett, has been appointed to the board of Australia’s largest onshore oil producer, South Australian company Beach Energy.

Margaret River’s annual food and wine festival has secured backing from the state government for at least another three years, with the funding commitment announced ahead of the event this weekend.

It's an uncertain time to be running an independent school in Western Australia with management and boards dealing with major reforms to government funding mechanisms, along with the impact of recent grade structures.

Two of Perth’s best-known hospitality players are confident the city’s iconic venues will thrive in the face of competition from the plethora of small bars and pop-up restaurants.

Shares in Subiaco-based explorer TNG were up 20 per cent this morning, after the company announced it had signed a binding agreement with major Chinese steel-related raw material distributor Sinometal (Shanghai) Co., for its Northern Territory project.

Mongolian-focused coal miner Tian Poh Resources will make its debut on the ASX tomorrow, after raising about $2.4 million through its initial public offering.

Subiaco-based telecommunications company ZipTel has completed a $5 million placement, ahead of the launch of its ZipT international calling app next month.

Chris Girvan-Brown may not be unusual in that he is passionate about his business, but he is one of a more select group who could honestly say their passion is their business.