SILICON DRAGON is bringing its well-known venture and tech forum series to Sydney, to focus on fintech innovations and fast-rising startups in Australia . This founder and investor forum will be held ON May 31 FROM 4PM TO 8PM.

The program will assess the future of disruptive fintech startups and emerging companies that are having an impact in Australia , in Asia and beyond. Speakers include leaders drawn from investors, accelerators and entrepreneurs in the fintech space including Alex Scandurra of Stone & Chalk, Ben Heap of H2Ventures, Andrew Corbett-Jones of Tyro Fintech Hub and James Mabbott of KPMG Innovate. The panelists will explore how Sydney fares as the region's startup hub.

Five Australian founders who were named as winners in the recent Forbes Asia issue, 30 under 30, will take the stage to tell how they are getting ahead in today's competitive marketplace with disruptive technologies and business models.  

The Silicon Dragon Sydney 2016 conference comes at a pivotal time for Asia's rise in technology innovation, and Australia's place in this region's emergence. Welcome remarks will be made by Duncan Challen, Executive Director of the NSW Department of Industry.

Now in its 6th year, Silicon Dragon is led by founder Rebecca Fannin , an expert on global innovation trends, a Forbes contributor, and author of two well-received books - Silicon Dragon (McGraw-Hill, 2008) and Startup Asia (Wiley, 2011), plus co-author of Innovation in Emerging Markets (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) .

The Silicon Dragon conference brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors and leaders of the startup ecosystem for discussions on what's next in Australia's emerging tech and venture markets. Participants will gain insights on how to raise financing and develop strategies to succeed in the region and in leading innovation hotspots such as Silicon Valley.

Main Sponsors

KPMG
NSW Department of Industry
UniSA Center of Business Growth 

To register online and to obtain full program details, visit www.silicondragonventures.com. For questions, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Silicon Dragon

Silicon Dragon runs a series of tech innovation and venture investment forums in Asia , the U.S. and Europe , publishes the  e-newsletter Silicon Dragon News , provides consulting and research services, and develops thought leadership reports. Formed in 2010 by author and Forbes contributor Rebecca Fannin , Silicon Dragon has locations in San Francisco , New York and Hong Kong , and reaches 25,000 business and tech professionals globally. 

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THE Banksia Foundation welcomes the Prime Minister’s recognition in acknowledging the leaders and innovators who are guiding Australia towards a more sustainable future.

On the weekend the Coalition issued their Policy to Support Local Parks and the Environment. With a total investment of $30 million to support local parks and environment that are at the heart of Australia’s communities and neighbourhoods, the Coalition’s support of the Banksia Foundation as part of this investment will ensure that Australia’s most prestigious sustainability accolade continues to grow in importance and influence.

The Banksia Foundation has been seeking out and recognising excellence in the sustainability arena for over 28 years through the Banksia Sustainability Awards. Banksia recognises that in pursuing environmental sustainability it is important to also be socially responsible and financially viable.

Getting the balance right is critical and often difficult to achieve but over the years Banksia’s winners have been able to demonstrate leadership in triple bottom line sustainability, continually raising the benchmark in business and throughout the community.

The Environment Minister, Greg Hunt is a keen supporter of the Awards and has shown his own leadership in creating the Environment Minister’s Award categories for a Cleaner Environment which includes an award for Science and Research and an award for Community Environmental Leadership.

Two vastly different perspectives but Minister Hunt recognises how diverse sustainability leadership needs to be, if we are to enact change on a large scale. Minister Hunt believes that through the Banksia Sustainability Awards and his own Minister’s Award categories, we can educate the rest of Australia on how we are achieving success, locally, nationally and internationally and thereby encourage further innovation.

Key Facts and Figures

The Banksia Foundation is a well-established not-for-profit organisation in Australia, dedicated to working with industry and community to create an array of platforms to focus attention on sustainable development.

The Banksia Foundation was founded in 1989 in Melbourne by a diverse group of 44 Australians, who shared a common goal; to support and recognise members of the community for their positive contribution to the environment.

Today, Banksia is a strong and expanding brand and its Awards program, the Banksia Sustainability Awards, is regarded as the most prestigious and longest running sustainability awards in Australia.

The 2016 Banksia Sustainability Awards are now open for entry. Entry closes August 26 2016. 

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is proud to announce the opening of submissions for the 2016 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards.

The 2016 program boasts a collection of awards representing the breadth of talent and achievement in the ever-changing retail landscape. As Australia’s first and largest national retail awards program, the ARA Awards have now celebrated Australia’s leading retailers for over 40 years.

Major event sponsor, eftpos, is excited to support the ARA Awards for a third consecutive year. “Retail plays a vital role in the daily lives of all Australians and it’s important that we recognise the industry’s contribution through these awards,” eftpos Managing Director, Mr Bruce Mansfield, said.

“eftpos CHQ and SAV has supported everyday payments at Australian retailers for the past three decades and we are proud to sponsor these prestigious awards to honour the hard working men and women who serve their customers every day."

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, eagerly anticipates the event held on Wednesday 10 August in Melbourne will the biggest and best awards event to date.

“The ARA Awards represent a national platform to showcase the best of the industry, recognising the extraordinary and innovative work of those moving retail forward. The Awards breakfast is an opportunity for retailers to share their inspiring retail success stories, and gain industry insights from esteemed guest speakers and valuable sponsors.

“Retailers are looking forward to strengthening industry conditions in the coming year, and we can share this optimism and enthusiasm through the experiences of those thriving within the sector.

“Retailing is an exceptionally important industry for the Australian economy - driven by hardworking individuals and businesses – and the ARA is proud to acknowledge these deserving retailers.

“The Awards span a range of categories reflecting the diversity of Australian retail – from small owner operators, retail graduates and HR practitioners, through to multichannel retailers, industry innovators and outstanding store fit-outs.  And not to mention the coveted eftpos ‘Retailer of the Year’ award!” Mr Zimmerman said.

The ARA encourages all retailers to submit an entry or nominate an exceptional retail employee.

Category details, submission forms and early bird tickets are available now at http://retail.org.au/2016-retail-awards/. 

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THE GOLD COAST Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) today announced that Atos will deliver complex and innovative information technology solutions crucial for the planning and staging of Australia’s largest sporting event in more than a decade.

The solutions will form a critical part of a world class technology environment being implemented by GOLDOC in preparation for and during the Games.

Atos has joined the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) sponsorship family to deliver the comprehensive Games Management System (GMS) and Information Diffusion System (IDS) to power performance at the heart of the Games.

Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe welcomed Atos as an Official Supporter to GC2018.

“As a global technology company, Atos have a proven history of successful delivery of GMS and IDS solutions at major international events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games and London 2012 Olympic Games.

“For GC2018, Atos will manage the delivery of complex and innovative technology solutions and applications through their Games Management System that will support Accreditation Management, the Volunteer Portal, Volunteer Application Form, Sport Entries Management and more.

“The Information Diffusion System will incorporate the central results platform during the Games so that results are immediately available on the Games website for the public to follow their favourite teams and athletes.

“This is IT at its most innovative and we are fortunate to have this platform in the Games. I thank Atos for helping showcase GC2018 to the world,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

GOLDOC Chairman, Peter Beattie AC said he was delighted to welcome Atos to the GC2018 sponsorship family.

“This level of commitment gives businesses across the country and Commonwealth confidence in the GC2018 brand and highlights the significance of being involved in this global event. 

“Atos will bring innovations to GOLDOC which will ultimately underpin the very complex and critical technology framework and services to power a successful GC2018,” Mr Beattie said.

Atos Australia’s Managing Director, Peter Robertson said the opportunity to showcase the company’s digital innovations and products by supporting GC2018 and demonstrating their capabilities was an opportunity that Atos welcomed and was very proud to engage and be a team player to deliver an excellent Games experience.

“Atos has developed the most advanced IT systems for major sporting events  – this is robust technology, tried and tested on international events around the world and we welcome this opportunity to deliver this capability for the first time in  Australia to add to our global expertise.

“GC2018 gives Atos a platform to leverage our expertise, share our knowledge and deliver a team based highly innovative IT solution befitting of such a grand scale event hosted in Australia.

“And the Atos capability will deliver the Games Management and Information Diffusion Systems from an Australian hosted and managed private (Canopy) cloud platform,” Mr Robertson said.

Globally, Atos employs 100,000 staff across 72 countries with the Australian team comprising expert staff spread primarily across Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane.

Atos’ team will be embedded with GOLDOC at its Gold Coast headquarters in the lead up to and during Games time. Expert technologists will also be supporting the systems from Atos’ Technical Technology Operations Centre in Spain as well as from its Australian Canopy data centre. 

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