At the time of writing, there were at least two public issues on most businesspeople’s mind: firstly, the Federal election. I’d say the Gillard-Abbott debate would only have been mildly entertaining for diehard followers of politics and few else. Nevertheless it amazing to watch the party machines jump into action on the calling of an election. Despite being full of would-be leaders, they promptly sing with one voice, albeit with the odd leak. They clearly have remarkable organisational structures that all our businesses could learn from.
Secondly, there is increasing discussion about a ‘w-curve’ - second recession - and a possible Australia-wide ‘property-bubble’. Wouldn’t it be refreshing for economic journalist and their banking counterparts to keep their gloomy hunches to themselves instead of infecting us with their self-fulling prophecies? We live in uncertain times with retail results indicating that consumers are holding onto their money and bracing themselves. I am aware that the expected personal and corporate insolvencies in the Hunter did not occur during the GFC Round 1 largely because of mining money and decreases in interest rates. It will be interesting to see if we can continue in the same way if Round 2 eventuates.
One man that can give us great insights both into the machinery of an Australian political party and surviving uncertain times is John Elliott, who is our keynote speaker at our 24 August luncheon. We thank Chandler McLeod for sponsoring, helping us bring Mr Elliot to the Club.
Mr Elliot has an amazing CV: former Liberal Party President, former Carlton Football Club President, former BHP board member and former Managing Director of Elder IXL, to name a few achievements. Despite some hardship in the early 2000s, he remains a very active fellow in both business and politics. If you don’t believe me I invite you to have a peak at his website entitled ‘The John Elliot Report’ jdereport.com.au Anyway, I am told he is a very entertaining speaker who tells it like he sees it. As well as the above issues, he speaks on life, business, success and fighting back!
Also for our August luncheon, John Coyle, the CEO of HunterNet, will be our local speaker. Incorporated in 1992, HunterNet is a network of small and medium-sized manufacturing, engineering and consulting companies in the Hunter. These companies no doubt compliment the Hunter’s mining sector but they remain major employers and economic drivers for our Region in their own right. We certainly can’t put all our eggs in the mining pit or in our service industries. I am looking forward to hearing how our manufacturing and engineering companies are fairing in the competitive global marketplace.
If you can’t make it in August, we have another great line-up for our 21 September luncheon with David Marchant, Chief Exectuive Officer of the Australian Rail and Track Corporation (ARTC) and Kevin Young, Hunter Water’s Managing Director. The Club is grateful for GHD Engineers and Consultants for sponsoring the luncheon.
Finally, the Club’s Annual Awards for 2010 are now open. The Awards recognise an individual and a company/organisation each year who have made a significant contribution toward the improvement of industry, culture, education, sport or the overall well being or commonweal of the citizens of Newcastle. The Awards ceremony will be at our 19 October luncheon.
To nominate, please provide no more than 500 words explaining how that individual or organisation has contributed to the commonweal of Newcastle and email to mail@newcastlebusinessclub.com.au
Hope to see you at our Tuesday 24 August luncheon or at Club at the Pub drinks on Thursday 2 September at the Exchange Hotel, Hamilton.