July 12 will be a major milestone in corporate Western Australia. It’s the day Michael Chaney will end his remarkably successful 13-year term as managing director of the state’s biggest industrial company, Wesfarmers.
This is the fourth year in succession WA Business News has profiled the most influential people in politics, government, business and the community in Western Australia.
The boardroom coup at the WA Cricket Association last September was headlined by new president Dennis Lillee, but standing with him were three prominent business figures, who were also elected to the WACA board.
In contemporary government, the reality is that political advisers with direct access to ministers wield far more influence than traditional public service advisers.
Two recent Australians of the Year, Professor Fiona Stanley and Dr Fiona Wood, head the list of influential people in the field of science and technology.
This year’s list of influential executives in the resource sector has two defining characteristics – it’s a long list and it’s dominated increasingly by multinational companies.
There have been minimal changes on the Labor side of politics since the Government won re-election at last February’s state poll, but there have been enormous changes on the Opposition side.
The lean state of the Liberal Party in Western Australia following its February election loss is reflected in the small group of people wielding influence in the party.
This time last year, Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke and cricket legend Dennis Lillee were not regarded as major players in the running of sport in Western Australia; but that changed with a vengeance late last year.
John Langoulant has undergone a big change over the past year, moving from his role as under treasurer to become chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA.
The property and construction industry has created many powerful and influential Western Australians, none more so than Multiplex founder John Roberts.
The two most influential public servants in Western Australia, newly appointed Under Treasurer Tim Marney and Acting Director General of Health Neale Fong, are both far removed from the traditional image of career bureaucrats.
Between 200 and 300CE, when the Roman Empire was still a superpower, albeit in decline, its citizens complained of two types of bandits – those who were mobile and those who were stationary.
Booming commodity prices mean annual minerals exploration spending in Australia is expected to exceed $1 billion this year for the first time since 1997. See Special Reports for related articles.
“He brought to business the moral passion of an evangelist, and he was the first of the great modern merchant princes to understand that the mass of people is moved less by monetary considerations than by appeals to the imagination.”
Boans city department store was a Perth institution from its opening in November 1895 until 1986 when the doors closed for the last time. See Special Reports for related articles.
Nearly one in every three dollars collected by State Treasury over the coming financial year could be taken in payroll tax – a huge $1.24 billion – making it businesses’ biggest burden.
Dual listings on foreign exchanges by Western Australian-based juniors with an international focus are increasing in popularity, according to a recent Geoscience Australia report.
Exploration expenditure data for Australian Stock Exchange-listed exploration companies has confirmed last quarter’s prediction that expenditure could level out in the March quarter.
Perth company Cool Energy is preparing for field trials of a ‘gas sweetening’ technology that could allow dozens of ‘shut in’ gas fields around the world to be developed.
In universities, in public research institutions, even in the proverbial backyard sheds, vast numbers of inventive, creative types around Australia are looking for the next big breakthrough.
A new technology developed at Curtin University and currently being commercialised by Sydney company, Neuromonics, is seeking to change the widely held view that the medical condition tinnitus cannot be treated.
Gerry Monteiro narrowly escaped family tragedy twice in an eight-month period a few years ago when he almost ran over his son while reversing the family caravan down the driveway.
Embedded Technology Corporation is in many ways an archetypal early stage software company, driven by dedication and enthusiasm but with global aspirations.
Former Orbital Engine Corporation chief executive Kim Schlunke came to some interesting conclusions when he sat down three years ago to ponder the future of recreational transport.
