November 2002

• Paul Orton, Australian Business Limited (Presentation)
  Wed Nov 27 2002 | Paul Orton, General Manager for Policy and Communications, Australian Business Limited
  Paul Orton is the General Manager for Policy and Communications with Australian Business Limited. Paul has a background in policy development, public affairs and economics and is responsible for putting the industry voice to government on issues from economic and industry policy to environmental management and workplace safety. Prior to joining Australian Business Limited, Paul worked for a major bank in business development and communications and for a number of NSW government departments and ministers.
  
  In the following presentation Paul reflects on some of the key issues facing "ordinary" companies in Australia today - some of the 14,000 companies ABL engages with on a day-to-day basis. Below you will find the PowerPoint slides and the key messages from Paul's presentation.
• Mark Rider, UBS Warburg (Presentation)
  Wed Nov 27 2002 | Mark Rider, Australian Chief Economist, UBS Warburg
  Mark Rider has been Australian Chief Economist at UBS Warburg since 1997. Prior to working at UBS Warburg, Mark was Head of Economic Activity and Forecasting at the Reserve Bank of Australia. Mark has a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Macquarie University and a Master of Economics from the London School of Economics. Mark was rated No. 1 in the 2002 BRW East Coles survey of equity brokers and No. 2 in INSTO's 2002 fixed income poll on Australian macroeconomic research.
  
  In the following PowerPoint presentation, Mark highlights some of the distinguishing features of the Australian economy, and the impact for business over the next 18 months. A weak AUD, low interest rates and rising household wealth have all contributed to Australia's impressive position in the world economy. However, in the year to come Mark predicts a slowdown in the economy, with the biggest issues for businesses being a vulnerable household sector and the outcome of the negotiations for a free trade deal between Australia and the United States.
• Stephen Glanz, Baker & McKenzie (Presentation)
  Wed Nov 27 2002 | Stephen Glanz, Co-chairman, Baker & McKenzie
• Jay Horton, PricewaterhouseCoopers (Presentation)
  Wed Nov 27 2002 | Jay Horton, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
  Jay Horton is a Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney, and leads the Australian Firm's corporate finance practice in Consumer and Industrial Products. Jay's expertise is in providing strategic and financial advice to top management on capital investment, value chain strategy, strategic growth and real option valuation. He advises clients in Australia and Asia in industries including food, wine and beverages manufacturing, and retail & distribution, transportation, and industrial products. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Economics from Australian National University.
  
  In Jay's presentation for the Australian Business Foundation he draws on a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of Australian manufacturing companies. The data from this survey provides indicators both for sources of company growth and the barriers to company growth in Australia The PowerPoint presentation and the key messages from Jay's speech are as attached:
• Justin McCarthy, Westpac Business Banking (Presentation)
  Wed Nov 27 2002 | Justin McCarthy, Westpac Business Banking
  Justin McCarthy joined Westpac's Economic Research team in 1998. He was previously employed by Rothschild Australia Asset Management. Justin has an Honours degree in Economics from Macquarie University and specialises in the analysis of the US economy and Australia's business and consumer sectors. He is editor and a major contributor to Westpac's weekly report and monthly Market Insights summary. Justin is actively involved in Westpac's economic, interest rate and currency forecasting process.
  
  In the following PowerPoint presentation, Justin draws some comparisons between the USD and the AUD to make some forecasts about where the Australian economy might be headed in the next 12 months. While our GDP growth has been comparatively impressive when compared to the rest of the OECD, Justin argues that a slowdown is expected with a rise in the AUD and a convergence with more moderate US growth levels.
• Competition & Collaboration-The Paradox (Opinion)
  Tue Nov 26 2002 | Narelle Kennedy, Chief Executive, Australian Business Foundation
  At a presentation to Australian Business Limited's Sydney North Regional Council Narelle Kennedy explores some "alternative futures" for the North Sydney region to the year 2020. Collaboration, know-how, resources, technologies, skills and motivation--the creation of distinctive capabilities--will be essential for an outward-looking, high growth path into the future.
• Competition & Collaboration-The Paradox (Presentation)
  Sat Nov 16 2002 | Narelle Kennedy, Chief Executive, Australian Business Foundation
  At a presentation to Australian Business Limited's Sydney North Regional Council Narelle Kennedy explores some "alternative futures" for the North Sydney region to the year 2020. Collaboration, know-how, resources, technologies, skills and motivation--the creation of distinctive capabilities--will be essential for an outward-looking, high growth path into the future.
• E-Commerce and its Impacts for Rural Business (Research)
  Nov 2002 | Mr Richard Stayner, Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England; Judith McNeill, University of New England
  This study was commissioned by the Australian Business Foundation to examine the opportunities and the threats posed by e-commerce to business capability in rural and regional Australia. The study provides a snapshot into rural Australia to determine the reality of the implications of electronic commerce for rural non-farm businesses.