THE problems besetting the Oswal family’s key Australian interest, Burrup Holdings, have changed the dynamics of a three-way race to meet the next generation of explosives demand as a result of the massive expansion of the Pilbara’s iron ore production
MICHAEL Smith believes being a Perth-based director helps him juggle time because the four-hour-plus flying time (to anywhere) provides a cocoon for him to get things done.
THE small number of women on the boards of Australia’s leading companies is clearly at the forefront of the minds of leading Western Australian directors.
THE landscape has changed for Western Australians who want to be on the boards of national companies, according to some of the state’s leading directors.
GOLD explorer Doray Minerals heads a list of 10 Western Australian companies that delivered outstanding returns to investors who backed their capital raisings during the past year.
Patersons Securities has retained top spot in WA Business News’ annual survey of capital raisings, followed by Hartleys, Euroz Securities and Macquarie Capital Advisers.
THE number of new stock market floats in Western Australia rose sharply last year but the growth was impressive only in comparison with the levels that prevailed in 2008 and 2009.
STOCKBROKING is widely perceived to be a lucrative trade, and that is certainly true for the smarter operators, but what is even more interesting is the highly varied performance of major broking firms in Perth.
THE specialist group set up to negotiate with miners the fine print of the revamped mining tax probably has just one job – to keep the industry from again uniting behind a major political campaign like it did for six weeks in the middle of this year.
The mining tax and the accompanying political shenanigans were not the only events of 2010, even though it might have felt like that for many business leaders in Western Australia.
OPPORTUNITIES may abound for many in the resources services sector as the state’s economy returns to full speed, but they are not yet always flowing through to the bottom line.
THE growing internationalisation of Western Australia’s resources sector is creating a range of major new challenges for local services companies as they deal with an ever more exotic client base.
Australia’s resources-led economic recovery has had a major impact on the pay of WA-based executives, with a big rise in the number of million dollar pay packets as share prices bounced back from GFC lows.
HE role of chairman at Australian public companies has traditionally been reserved for experienced industry professionals tired of working in an executive capacity and who are keen to bring an independent viewpoint to the company boardroom.
THE sacking of a provincial health chief in Canada might seem far removed from Western Australia’s public service, but the news that gained global attention shows bureaucrat salaries are a big issue around the world.
THE interconnectivity of industry in the state’s South West corner, based on the value adding undertaken by many of the region’s businesses, makes it very different from what we see to our north.
PROVIDING employment opportunities is the key corporate role in bridging the gap between indigenous living standards and the rest of Australia, according to two of the nation’s business leaders.
DANIEL Stean started at floral import export company WAFEX 10 years ago, sweeping the factory floor; now he is the general manager of the company’s Perth warehouse, overseeing 40 staff.
INDIGENOUS employment remains a big issue in Western Australia, with development in regions with significant Aboriginal populations prompting many communities to use native title agreements to create jobs.
RETURNING to Perth for a second year after an eight-year hiatus until 2009, the Australia Cup has overcome funding difficulties and secured the support of key sponsors Sunseeker and the City of Perth for its 2010 event, held on the Swan River later this m
