Mark Beyer

WA has been shaped by 120 years of boom-bust history, and that mindset still prevails, in damaging ways.

RECENTLY completed office tower one40william has become the first new central city development in Perth to win the architecture profession’s top prize in more than a decade.

A START-UP Perth business has unveiled an innovative plan to enter the data centre market, in which heavyweight IT and telecommunications players like Fujitsu and Leighton have recently made multi-million dollar investments.

PRIVATELY owned contracting group Tenix has made a big push into the Western Australian resources sector, winning a $174 million contract on Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine development.

Last night's Vinnies' CEO Sleepout saw 107 chief executives sleeping rough in the name of charity, and none did it tougher than Mermaid Marine boss Jeff Weber.

The winners of the 2011 Rising Stars awards illustrate the diversity and enormous opportunity for private businesses in WA.

Murdoch University’s incoming vice-chancellor, Richard Higgott, is hoping to transplant the ‘Warwick gene’ to his new workplace.

PAST winners of the Rising Stars award could never be accused of standing still.

WA Business News’ annual Rising Stars awards highlight the entrepreneurial flair in the state’s business community.

PRIVATE equity group Archer Capital has emerged rapidly this year to become one of the largest investors in Western Australia, following its purchase of the company behind the Chicken Treat and Red Rooster fast food chains.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says it is "happy days" for the Pilbara town of Onslow after environmental approval was given to Chevron Australia's Wheatstone $25 billion gas plant.

Fortescue Metals Group is likely to back a constitutional challenge to the federal government's minerals resource rent tax, its chief executive Andrew Forrest said today.

Fred Chaney has spent 50 years working with Aboriginal Australians and, despite continuing major problems, has never been more optimistic.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering and Leighton Contractors have gone their separate ways after failing to negotiate mutually acceptable terms for a major contract on the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The iron ore sector illustrates the profound impact technology and innovation can have on ‘old’ industries.

The high Australian dollar is generally considered bad news for business, but some of the recent evidence suggests it is not that simple.

BROOKFIELD Multiplex has announced a management restructure to support the launch of a new engineering and infrastructure division.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has suffered a setback to its growth plans, announcing today that it has failed to complete negotiations for a major contract on the Gorgon gas project.

Investor and entrepreneur Michael Boyd has been rapped over the knuckles by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and his company Fulcrum Equity fined $15,000 after failing to lodge annual accounts.

PERTH company Resource Development Group has started international expansion of its mining services business, 15 months after the company founders completed the highly profitable sale of their rail engineering joint venture with Calibre Group.

Orthodox views on the role of state governments and company directors were questioned at a Perth function last week.

PREMIER Colin Barnett has admitted that the state government and resources companies dropped the ball on the issue of local content, but he remains opposed to Labor’s plan for tough new laws.

Fortescue Metals Group has announced that its chief executive Andrew Forrest will retire from his current role, and will succeed Herb Elliott as chairman of the company.

Scottish engineering group Wood Group Kenny and Perth companies Fastwave Communications, Matrix Composites & Engineering and Atteris were winners in the inaugural Subsea Energy Australia awards.

Premier Colin Barnett has described relations between Canberra and the states as being at a low point, as the controversy over mining royalties and the GST continues.

The growth momentum in the natural gas industry has gathered steam over the past month, with three project proponents passing major milestones.

LEIGHTON Contractors subsidiary Metronode has released details of its new Perth data centre, which will be the fourth data centre to open in the city in the past year.

The review of the GST grants system should be accelerated if Canberra is serious about delivering genuine reform.

RISING costs are hindering the growth of Western Australian businesses and in some cases prompting business owners to move their operations overseas.

The Takeovers Panel has declined to take action against Bentley Capital chairman Farooq Khan over allegations he acted in concert with relatives to acquire shares in the listed investment company.

Premier Colin Barnett said today he was "gobsmacked" by the federal government's threats to Western Australia, as the row with Canberra over mineral royalties heats up.

Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell announced today it will go ahead with the world's first floating liquefied natural gas project, off WA's northern coast, at a cost of approximately US$12 billion.