Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, Adelaide’s newest consultancy firm launches, Adelaide Hills wine region gets international acclaim, and SA defence research receives big funding. Plus the latest business events.
Flinders alumni recognised
New partnership for iTech
CH4 Global signs international deal
Entertainment Centre owner posts profit
Orpheus announce successful raise
Minimum wage increase
Recognition for Adelaide Hills wine
Housing provider smashes goals
Investigator Resources sells project area
LBT announces rebrand
Adelaide’s newest consultancy firm
SA defence research gets funding
AgTech advisory council launch
National win for Arkaba
Detmold’s big win
Flinders University recognises outstanding alumni
The Flinders Alumni Awards have recognised several of the university’s high-achieving alumni, including entrepreneur Greg Taylor and former defence minister Brendan Nelson.
CEO of Step One, which has sold over 15 million pairs of underwear, Greg Taylor said the approximately $330 million company had a strong ethical focus.
“Brands will say this is ‘ethical’ and that is ‘sustainable’ but what does that actually mean? I imagine my two-year-old son stuck in a factory, not going to school and I’m mortified,” he said.
“If you’re going to manufacture something and put your name to it, you also want to be able to sleep at night.”
- Convocation medallist: Dr Brendan Nelson AO
- Distinguished Alumni awardees: Greg Taylor, Anthony Williams, Tom Gordon, Catherine Fitzgerald, Simon Schrapel, Lauren Hillman.
- Early Career Alumni awardees: Sara Carrison, Thao Thu Hoang, Dr Xuan Luo, Dr Emad Roshandel.
iTech announces new partnership for Reynors Range project
iTech has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of the world’s biggest lithium chemicals producers through its subsidiary SQM Australia to develop the Reynolds Range Lithium Project.
The MoU brings SQM’s technical and financial resources to the project, with iTech managing director Mike Schwarz saying it would take the capabilities and resources of SQM to “fully capture the value” of the Reynolds Range project.
“With SQM initially funding and managing all aspects of lithium exploration and development, iTech can focus its resources on exploration of the copper and gold potential of the Reynolds Range tenement package of which it retains 100 per cent ownership,” Schwarz said.
CH4 Global signs international partnership agreement
CH4 Global, which creates a seaweed-based feed additive that reduces cattle methane production, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with UPL, a global sustainable agricultural solutions provider.
The two will develop a roadmap targeting key markets in India Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, establishing business models to distribute CH4’s Methane Tamer additive, integrating the product into UPL’s existing feed formulations.
“This initiative will present a new model for sustainable livestock which can be scaled globally, helping the industry reach net-zero for greenhouse gasses by adopting methane mitigation technologies, and demonstrating agriculture’s positive impact on the environment,” UPL chairman and CEO Jai Shroff said.
The Adelaide Entertainment Centre’s operators have posted a $13 million profit. Photo: Adelaide Venue Management Corporation
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Entertainment Centre operator posts $13m profit
Chair of Adelaide Venue Management Corporation (AVM) Andrew Daniels said the state government-owned entity posted a $12.8 million trading profit in the 2024 financial year and returned a $1.6 million dividend to the government.
However, AVM’s statement of comprehensive income shows the entity made a total comprehensive loss of $24.1 million – down from a $49.1 million comprehensive profit in the prior year.
This can be attributed to FY23’s asset revaluation surplus of $68.8 million. Costs were relatively stable from FY23 to FY24, and income rose by $10 million on the prior financial year.
AVM – which operates some of Adelaide’s largest venues including the Adelaide Convention Centre, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Coopers Stadium and The Drive – said it hosted more than 1000 events in FY24 and welcomed more than 1 million patrons and guests to its venues.
Orpheus raises $1.66 million for SA and NT projects
Orpheus has received commitments for a $1.66 million raise to bring its cash and liquid investments above $5 million, allowing it to advance its South Australia and Northern Territory uranium projects.
“This funding allows us to target key milestones, including the progression of our core projects through to advanced stage activities, whilst also assisting to develop the company’s exploration portfolio through the acquisition of geologically prospective tenure,” Orpheus CEO Clinton Dubieniecki said.
SA Unions secure wage increase
SA Unions have secured a 3.75 per cent increase to the state’s minimum wage as the annual State Wage Case decision was made by the SA Employment tribunal, bringing the minimum weekly wage for a full-time adult to $932.50, an extra $33.73.
The state’s minimum wage for young workers is now $16.60 above the national weekly minimum, sitting at $915.90.
“This increase is a small but meaningful step forward for low-paid workers and their families. It shows what’s possible when unions stand united to fight for fairer wages,” SA Unions secretary Dale Beasley said.
Brian Croser at the Tiers Vineyard. Photo: supplied by Tapanappa
Adelaide Hills wine takes out international competition
At the Global Chardonnay Masters wine competition, hosted by Drinks Business magazine in the United Kingdom, three of its seven top honours went to wines from the Adelaide Hills, with Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard, Tapanappa Tiers 1.5m Vineyard, and Penfolds Reserve Bin A all recognised as coveted Chardonnay Masters, alongside wine from New Zealand, Tasmania and Burgundy.
Tapanappa winemaker and vigneron Brian Croser said the Adelaide Hills “was always going to be recognised globally as providing great terroirs for Chardonnay”.
“The climates, geology and soils of the Adelaide Hills are uniquely suited to growing distinguished Chardonnay. It has taken 40 years to achieve this recognition and Tapanappa’s Tiers Vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley epitomises the patience and care required to elicit the very best from Chardonnay,” Croser said.
Disability housing provider smashing goals
Access 2 Place Housing (A2P), co-designed Specialist Disability Accommodation provider, is ahead of schedule on the delivery of 100 purpose-built homes after it set a target in 2021 of 100 homes in 10 years.
“Three years in, and 57 of the 100 homes have been approved by the board, with 25 homes completed, putting us ahead of schedule,” A2P board chair Natasha Rees said.
“We build homes, while also building quality of life for people with specific, and sometimes complex needs. We believe that a home is more than just a roof over your head. It’s a foundation for our tenants to live their best lives, with safety and independence.”
Never Waste a Good Crisis, an AmCham event about handling threats to business reputation and function, with Simon Hatcher of Hughes PR, Nikki Govan of AEDA and more, at SkyCity Adelaide on December 4.
Christmas Tchin Tchin, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry event to network, with the SA chapter head Florence Masters and YESmarketing CEO Darryl Durrant, at Club De Pétanque D’Adelaide on December 5.
The no Breakfast, Breakfast, a KickStart for Kids fundraiser raising money for the school kids who regularly go without breakfast, at the Hilton on December 13.
South Australian Grain Industry Awards, an inaugural gala dinner event hosted by Grain Producers SA to spotlight the grain sector, at Adelaide Oval on February 4.
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International Women’s Day Breakfast, a Committee for Adelaide Event with Anna Meares, Grant Stevens, R M Williams COO Tara Moses, and Future Women founder Helen McCabe, at SkyCity on February 27.
Investigator Resources sells project to Tivan
Investigator Resources has entered a bidding agreement with Tivan for the sale of a subdivided area of its Mount Sainthill Exploration License for $1.075 million, with $400,000 available upon signing of the binding term sheet.
The acquisition will form Tivan’s Sandover Fluorite Project, around 230km northeast of Alice Springs, with a Mineral Sharing Agreement also reached to allow Tivan to explore a specific area outside the acquired land.
Investigator managing director Andrew Mcllwain said the deal “has provided opportunity to maximise the fluorite potential within the region for Tivan, while maintaining Investigator’s ability to explore for other commodities”.
“Tivan have been respectful of Investigator’s desire to maintain and pursue the tungsten opportunities in the area and present as a company with similar goals as Investigator in maximising the development opportunities in this under-explored region of the Territory.”
Rebrand for listed SA company
The formerly LBT Innovations, which works in AI microbiology automation, has been renamed to Clever Culture Systems Limited after ASIC approved its new company name.
“Clever Culture Systems was established in 2013 as a joint venture Company, became a wholly owned subsidiary of LBT in December 2021. We believe now is the ideal time to streamline and simplify communications with our customers and shareholders under the unified identity of Clever Culture Systems,” CCS CEO and managing director Brent Barnes said.
Daniel Crago and Megan Lloyd have launched a communications firm. Photo: supplied
New consultancy firm launches
Megan Lloyd and Daniel Crago have launched their Influence Communications Group consultancy firm, offering corporate communications, issues and crisis management, and media relations services.
Lloyd brings a history in media including as a News Corporation editor, while Crago comes with 20 years of experience, having advised companies across finance, defence, government and more.
“Corporate communications advisors used to just be the best writers in the room, with the best media contacts,” Lloyd said.
“The function has fortunately expanded in influence and recognition that we can provide a critical voice when it comes to protecting and shaping a company’s reputation and advancing its business objectives.”
$18 million federal funding for defence research
South Australia has received almost a third of the $60 million on offer under the federal government Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program.
Consunet will receive $3.1 million, QuantX Labs will receive $3.3 million and $3.1 million, the University of Adelaide will receive $1.8 million and $3.3 million, and the University of South Australia will get $3.2 million.
Quantx Labs managing director and co-founder Andre Luiten said the grant would allow the company to push its products “even further ahead of the competition and secure sovereign leadership of critical fields that underpin national security”.
SA entrepreneur helps form global AgTech advisory council
South Australian entrepreneur and founder of Recode Ventures Michael Macolino has announced he is a founding member of the AgTech Advisory collective.
The organisation is a group of six independent advisors with specialisation in AgriFood Tech located across Europe, North America, South America and Australia.
The collective will assist businesses in facilitating market entry across multiple regions, give clients a deeper understanding of global AgriTech and act as a global network for capital, corporate partners and customers.
“We believe that by operating as a collective we can bring the capability and capacity required to deliver client engagements, whilst also maintaining our independence to engage authentically and transparently with our clients,” Macolino, an InDaily 40 Under 40 alumnus, said.
The Hurley Hotel Group took out several awards at the Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence, including the Best Retail Liquor Outlet for its Hurley Cellars Panorama. Photo: Supplier
Arkaba awarded Australia’s top hotel
The Hurley Hotel Group’s Arkaba Hotel was awarded Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan at the Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence, as well as the Best Sporting Entertainment Venue and Best Redeveloped Hotel, with the group winning Best Retail Liquor Outlet with Hurley Cellars Panorama.
The hotel launched its multi-million-dollar renovation earlier this year, its first major redevelopment in decades, which saw a new lounge, restaurant space, sports bar, and refurbished Top of the Ark.
Win for Detmold Group
Detmold Group won an Industry Sector Award at the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) Awards for its reporting and sustainability efforts.
The group won the Full Framework Reporting Award for the packaging manufacturer/supplier industry, having partnered with Subway to design a 100 per cent kerbside recyclable catering platter and Mitolo Family Farms to create the country’s first kerbside recyclable paper bag for potatoes.
“We’re working hard to optimise the design of our products and reduce their end-of-life impacts to support a circular economy, in tandem with investments in renewable energy and responsible procurement of raw materials,” executive general manager of product and brand Keith Bishop said.
