Madeleine Stephens

Ambitious plans to attract more visitors from outside Western Australia for next year’s Perth Festival and beyond are top-of-mind for executive director Nathan Bennett.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, inductees of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and the winners of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA Women in Resources Awards were announced over the weekend.

After going into liquidation in February, Kosmic Sound has been saved by South Australian business Dale Cleves Music Group, shortly after another iconic WA brand Jeanswest was also rescued.

Organisations in the community services sector established the #YourHelpWA campaign to secure 20 per cent more funding to cover increasing staffing costs. 

Andrew Forrest has added to his diverse business portfolio, purchasing global renewable energy development company Windlab in a consortium with Sydney-based Federation Asset Management.

The Public Transport Authority of WA has awarded Metronet rail contracts to Calibre, RJV and CFC Group-owned Cape.

Perth Festival anticipates it will achieve a small increase in its box office sales, from $5.4 million in 2019 to $5.5 million in 2020.

The Ewaste Watch Institute’s John Gertsakis says there are several issues with the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme that need to be resolved to improve the sector.

Fortescue Metals Group chair Andrew Forrest has purchased an additional $242 million worth of shares in the company, shortly after Perth-based executives of other leading companies, including Peter Coleman, Ian Testrow and Bill Beament, also made big trades.

Employees with autism and their employers have emphasised the importance of clear communication at a recent Autism West event.

Theatre 180 and entertainment platform CinemaStage are bringing theatre to the cinema for a production of AB Facey’s A Fortunate Life.

SPECIAL REPORT: WA companies are making workplaces more equitable but more change needs to come from those at the top.

SPECIAL REPORT: The female leaders of four major medical research foundations are using experience from their diverse backgrounds to improve medical research in the state.

NRW Holdings, which had been one of just six ASX 200 companies without a female director, has appointed Fiona Murdoch to its board.

Bethesda Health Care has announced it is planning to build a private 40-bed mental health service on a 10,000 square metre block in Cockburn.

When their first sponsorship arrangement was introduced 25 years ago, EY was an accounting, tax and corporate finance business and WASO was part of the ABC.

Fringe World Festival recorded a drop in box office sales, despite higher attendance, as it wrapped up its 2020 season last night.

REED WA has acquired eight struggling childcare centres in regional Western Australia and plans to keep them operational by implementing a cluster model of management.

Beverage manufacturers have been informed of the prices for Western Australia’s container deposit scheme on Friday, with the average price of a container starting at 11.65 cents.

Otherside Brewing is cementing its position as a supporter of Western Australian artists by collaborating with the Art Gallery of WA to bring beer, music and art to the gallery after hours this month.

Sydney-based ABC Refinery has poached three senior Perth Mint employees to join its treasury and trading team as it ramps-up its competition with the government-owned business.

West Perth-based technology company DownUnder GeoSolutions has appointed former WA chief justice Wayne Martin as chair, as it pursues international growth off the back of its high-powered computing facilities.

The state government has appointed an industry reference group to develop a growth plan for WA’s health and medical life sciences sector to be chaired by Peter Klinken.

Perth Festival begins tonight with a week of indigenous programming and the unveiling of a new venue, City of Lights at Perth Concert Hall.

The founders of Western Australia’s largest e-waste recycling business claim a national waste recycling scheme is not being enforced properly, providing opportunities for non-compliant e-waste recyclers.

Social services organisation St Bart’s has undergone major changes in recent months, with a rebrand to reposition its services and the appointment of a new chief executive.

Andrew Wood has retired as chief executive of engineering giant Worley and been replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Chris Ashton, in a move that has surprised the markets.

Former Boston Consulting Group managing partner Ross Love has been made chair of the Fremantle Ports Authority, with the Mid West and Southern Ports authorities also appointing new chairs earlier this month.

Fringe World Festival has grown to give thousands of artists the chance to showcase their work, although the financial returns can vary.

The official launch of Fringe World Festival on Thursday night was interrupted by local artists protesting the festival’s partnership with Woodside Petroleum.

Rick Heath has been named executive director at Black Swan State Theatre Company, following controversy over sudden leadership changes at the organisation last year.

A strong focus on developing and sustaining corporate partnerships is one factor behind Western Australia’s oldest theatre company, Barking Gecko Theatre, notching up its 30th birthday.