Features & Interviews

When it comes to the supply chain and logistics of oil products, very few companies have the knowledge, infrastructure, and experience necessary to operate within the very strict guidelines of the industry. In New Zealand, the most trusted and popular name in the business is Silver Fern Shipping. The company, which has been a part of the ASP Ship Management Group since 2007, currently carries and distributes approximately 65 percent of the country’s oil products. That includes petroleum, diesel, bunker fuel, and more.

The Green Triangle is home to one of Australia’s largest commercial plantation forests, providing ample opportunities for local businesses in the forestry sector. Fennell Forestry, a family-owned business, has been in the game since 1991. Though it started small, it has since grown into a major plantation hardwood and softwood harvester and transporter. The company, which employs about 70 staff, is still largely managed by members of the Fennell family. Wendy Fennell, Managing Director at Fennell Forestry, has been a part of the business almost since its inception.

Even though they have existed for a very long time, conference and training centres are now more popular than ever. Today, clients can choose from a huge variety of venues which fit their specific purposes. Near Sydney’s Northern Beaches in the suburb of Ingleside, the Sydney Conference & Training Centre offers a dedicated residential venue located on 9 acres of secluded gardens which overlook the nearby ocean. Purpose-built to host all kinds of different events, the centre has been servicing various industries for decades.

More than two decades ago in the Cairns region, the Sisters of Mercy decided to turn a piece of land into a serviceable conference centre for the community. At the time, the educational community around the area was in need of a specialized venue. More specifically, the catholic schools of the area needed a place where they could conduct staff training and other similar initiatives. After some planning and preparation, the Seville Mercy Conference Centre was finally built.

Back in 2005, the Northside Community Church had an opportunity to redevelop its site located at Crow’s Nest. Instead of building a facility just for the Church, the visionary leadership team decided to develop a day meeting facility which could be used for the local community as well as the business sector in conjunction with the Church. The result of that project was the Northside Conference Centre facility, a 3-level venue with 8 rooms including a modern Auditorium which can accommodate up to 400 people.

Visitors to the Elizabeth Street Pier, one of Hobart’s most beautiful waterfront locations, will find a thriving business community where they can enjoy food and drink at a unique location. There, one will also find one of the region’s most popular venues, the Hobart Function and Conference Center (HFCC) which has been hosting weddings, gala dinners, conferences, product launches, meeting sessions, and thousands of other events since its inception in 1999.

Australia is a place favoured with stunning locations, breathtaking views, and heritage sites that are a testament to its rich and varied culture. In Western Australia, visitors and locals who like to appreciate locales of historical and cultural value should pay close attention to the Caves House Hotel. The heritage-listed hotel and event centre is located a short walk away from Yallingup Beach which was a mecca for surfers during its height in the 1950s.

The Swan River, arguably one of Perth’s most beautiful locations, attracts thousands of visitors every year. Its natural beauty combined with the intensely active lifestyle of the nearby residents provides the perfect recipe for success, particularly for business that operate on the waterfront. Acqua Viva on the Swan, one of Perth’s finest establishments for corporate functions and special events alike, is one of those businesses that has developed a strong clientele and a solid reputation along the shoreline.

When it comes to running a conference or business event, it would be hard to find a more appealing location than the wonderful Dandenong Ranges just outside of Melbourne. High in the mountains, surrounded by forest, overlooking Silvan Dam and right down the Yarra Valley, the CountryPlace location is truly idyllic.

Tourism, both domestic and international, is a continuously growing industry all over the world. In Australia, Deloitte has called it as one of the “super sectors” of the next decade. It is no wonder then that organisations like the Accommodation Association of Australia (AAoA) are extremely important in the industry. Evolving out of the former Hotel Motel & Accommodation Association, the organisation was originally established in Queensland in the 1960s by a group of moteliers. According to Richard Munro, the CEO of AAoA, the group simply wanted better outcomes for their industry.