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Innovation Ecosystem
Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS)
The Canberra Business Advice & Support Service (CBASS) is an ACT Government funded program delivered by Lighthouse. The program delivers business advice, information, referrals and education events across all industry sectors and all stages of business for ACT-based businesses.
Our CBASS team can help you If you have questions about:
- Starting a business, restructuring or closing a business.
- The day-to-day operation of your business, including risk management, record keeping, promotion, HR, your obligations as an employer, or workplace health & safety.
- Sources of Government (and other) support and funding.
- Managing stress and your mental health & wellbeing.
- Financial, marketing and legal matters.
Through the CBASS program you can access up to four hours of fully subsidised (free) general business advice tailored to the needs of your business. If you require additional or ongoing support this is available through Lighthouse as well as external specialist providers on a fee-for-service basis.
To access this service, please call us on (02) 6163-8301 during office hours or email cbass@lighthouseinnovation.com.au.
Pak Fresh - A new end-to-end approach to exporting produce out of Canberra
Like most things this year, airfreight, while still leaving Australia, has been hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of international flights. Nathan Bevan, Head of Pak Fresh Handling Australia, describes the pandemic as the ‘’gift that keeps on giving”.
IS INNOVATION REALLY THE NEW BLACK – OR JUST A CONVERSATION FILLER?
Most of us use the Christmas downtime to think about the past year and make plans for what comes next. This Christmas was a bit different for me; I spent time celebrating a major family event and talking to some very successful people about their businesses and what innovation means to them.
Canberra celebrates Women's Health Week!
‘Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’ is Australia’s leading and most trusted women’s health organisation. In 2013 Jean Hailes ran the first National Women’s Health week. The week focuses on sharing information, education and empowerment to better meet the health needs of Australian women.
In 2018 Women’s Health week runs from September 3 to 7. Canberra business woman and Principal Practitioner of Therapy Masters - Lisa LaMaitre is hosting an event to celebrate women’s health this Sunday September 9. LaMaitre has arranged a line-up of nine of Canberra’s leading Health and Well-being experts to share their knowledge on the subject of women’s health.
Celebrating local female innovators at Festival of Ambitious Ideas
At the Festival of Ambitious Ideas: Female Innovators on August 17th, sixteen of Canberra’s female CEOs, founders, inventors and innovators will have 5 minutes each to share their stories and ignite the audience.
The event is a collaboration between local innovation consultancy, Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, and the Canberra Airport. It is designed to be fast-paced, informal and fun with the opportunity to hear a range of different ideas and perspectives, and network afterwards.
Lighthouse CEO Anna Pino says, “The Festival of Ambitious Ideas highlights some of the inventive businesses, projects and initiatives happening right here in Canberra and for this quarter we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of local businesswomen.”
Scott Leggo Gallery to open in Canberra
The nation's capital will soon have its very own Scott Leggo Gallery. Canberra's leading landscape photographer is set to showcase his work with a new, premium gallery space in the heart of Kingston.
This will be Canberra's first permanent landscape photography gallery. Marketed at both locals and visitors, everyone will now have the opportunity to view and purchase Scott's prints in-store and online. With simplicity of design around the customer experience, the gallery will set a new standard for how people view and purchase photographic prints.
Celebrating the 'art in everyday' at Festival of Ambitious Ideas
At the Festival of Ambitious Ideas: The Art in Everyday on May 31st, speakers from a range of industries and sectors will come together to inspire the audience to see the ‘art in everyday’.
The event is a collaboration between local innovation consultancy, Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, and the Canberra Airport. It is designed to be fast-paced and informal, following the Ignite format where speakers each only have 5 minutes to tell their story and ‘ignite’ the audience.
Lighthouse CEO Anna Pino says, “The Festival of Ambitious Ideas highlights some of the inventive businesses, projects and initiatives occurring right here in Canberra.”
“From multimedia and video production, architecture and city planning, industrial design, food, lifestyle, photography and art; speakers will discuss both their ideas and some of their challenges.”
Canberra Women WOW Hack Judges
What do an Outdoorswoman, PR Expert, Design Thinker and a Massage Therapist have in common?
They make the Hack team ‘WOW’ – who competed in #fatigueHACK held at the National Convention Centre (April 18-20), that was co-hosted by the Canberra Innovation Network and the Australian Trucking Association.
The four Canberra business women entered #fatigueHACK after successfully winning a similar competition in 2017 – where they had to find solutions to support people living a 100+ years.
Team WOW is made up of Medical Researcher and Adventurer Indiana Holley, PR expert and Strategy Specialist Sheena Ireland, Design Thinker and Creative Consultant Lynne Goodyer and Massage Therapist and Serial Entrepreneur Lisa LaMaitre.
Wake Up - The Ladies are Coming
Tomorrow (Wednesday April 18) sees the launch of FatigueHACK in the Nation’s Capital. FatigueHACK is a competition being co-hosted by the Canberra Innovation Network and the Australian Trucking Association. The competition will see 10 teams compete over two days to find a solution to the issue of Driver Fatigue in the trucking industry.
Amongst the 10 teams is a team of four Canberra business women, the only ALL female team in the competition. Team Captain of W.O.W. – Lisa LaMaitre of Therapy Masters and Canberra Wise Women explains why the women have entered.
“I first bought the team together in April 2017 for Lighthouse Business Innovation's Start Up Camp, where we won for our concept of a wellbeing app. Last year I hand selected the team from my female business friends to showcase the depth and variety of expert knowledge that Canberra business women have. It was the first time any of us had competed in such an event, and we had a wonderful time.”
Canberra Business Women reaching new heights
Photo by: Esh PhotographyA new space for Canberra’s business women to connect and network has arrived in Canberra. The Sydney based organisation ‘Women with Altitude’ are bringing their program to the Nation’s Capital in 2018.
‘Women With Altitude’ was started by businesswoman Andrea Turner-Boys after she began her first business in 2001. Andrea quickly realised that being in business was a difficult and challenging path. When she reached out for support from existing business networks she struggled to find one that felt right for her – who spoke her language and held the same values on collaboration, openness and support as she does.
So in true entrepreneurial fashion – Turner-Boys founded ‘Women With Altitude’ in 2003.
John De Margheriti - A Local with a Big Vision
As one of the slowly growing group of people who were born and bred in Canberra, I accept her many foibles and peculiarities but will also fight to death to defend her. I’ve grown up in a family that has run several businesses in Canberra and while it’s always been hard, we have been lucky enough to have enjoyed the good lifestyle that it has afforded us. It is because I know how hard it can be to do business in this city that I can’t speak highly enough of those locals who have big ideas and plans for Canberra.
John De Margheriti took a punt in 1996 and started an education institution focused on animation, visual effects and the video games industry. Many people are still asking why he chose Canberra. His answer remains the same – ‘why not’.
Young Canberra businessman announced as only ACT winner in 30under30 Awards
Local Canberran, Oliver Forrester, 27, was announced a winner in the 2017 Anthill 30under30 Awards on Friday 10th November. He’s the only winner from the ACT this year and joins an impressive list of young achievers from across Australia. Founding Director of local creative agency, OPF Consulting, Oliver also owns and operates two Anytime Fitness franchises in Victoria.
“I set out to lead work I enjoy doing, with good people, or people trying to achieve great things. It needs to make a difference. As a small business owner, I also realised the need to diversify my risk base. So I chose two different models – a communication consultancy and gyms,” Forrester said.
Online SMBs to clean up as Aussies prepare for Christmas
New Telstra research shows small businesses with a website have much to gain this festive season with 8 in 10 Aussies saying a business website is most likely to influence their decision to hire a service business when getting their home ready for Christmas.
Telstra research[1] with 1,500 Australian households shows almost half of those (43 per cent) looking for service businesses are going online to find one that meets their needs versus more traditional referrals.
It also revealed 7 in 10 households plan to spend up to $200 on tasks, with 2 in 10 planning to spend up to $500 on tasks including cleaning (90 per cent), gardening (70 per cent), lawn mowing (70 per cent), repair jobs (43 per cent) and house painting (16 per cent) over the next few weeks.
Meet some of Canberra's 'Interesting People Doing Interesting Things' at the Festival of Ambitious Ideas on 2nd November
‘Interesting People Doing Interesting Things’ is the theme for the upcoming Festival of Ambitious Ideas, a unique event filled with ideas and viewpoints from all corners of Canberra. The quarterly event is a collaboration between local innovation consultancy, Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, and the Canberra Airport. It is designed to be fast-paced and informal, following the Ignite format where speakers each only have 5 minutes to tell their story and ‘ignite’ the audience.
Lighthouse CEO Anna Pino says, “The Festival of Ambitious Ideas provides a platform for the intersection of different fields and disciplines; where academics, public servants and entrepreneurs; experienced speakers and students can all engage in conversation”.