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OUR MISSION


Business Spectator is a real-time, 24-hours-a-day business news and commentary website based in Australia. Established in 2007, Business Spectator provides timely and indispensable information for people in business, finance, government, the professions as well as investors. It is free to users and is funded by advertising revenue.

Business Spectator is published by Australian Independent Business Media Pty Ltd, which also publishes Eureka Report, a subscription-based online newsletter for thoughtful investors. The major shareholders of the company are Alan Kohler, Eric Beecher, Mark Carnegie, John Wylie, Stephen Bartholomeusz, Robert Gottliebsen and James Kirby. The board comprises Eric Beecher (chairman), Alan Kohler and Judy Slatyer.



OUR TEAM

  • Alan Kohler/Editor in Chief: Former editor of The Australian Financial Review and The Age, former business editor of ABC TV’s 7.30 Report, former Chanticleer columnist for The Australian Financial Review and a former columnist for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is currently finance presenter on ABC Television News, host of Inside Business on ABC TV, publisher and founder of Eureka Report and Business Spectator.
  • Eric Beecher/Chairman: Former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and editor in chief of the Herald and Weekly Times newspaper group. Founder and CEO of the Text Media Group, he is currently co-owner of Crikey, Smart Company, Eureka Report and a founder of Business Spectator.
  • Stephen Bartholomeusz/Associate Editor: Former finance correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and senior investment writer for The Age. In 1987 he started writing a daily business analysis column for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, which continued uninterrupted until he joined Business Spectator as a commentator and part-owner.
  • Robert Gottliebsen/Associate Editor: Founder and launch editor of The Australian Financial Review’s Chanticleer column, founder and launch editor of BRW magazine, former host of the Business Daily on Sky News, former business columnist in the Fairfax newspapers and, until he joined Business Spectator, was national business commentator for The Australian.


SENIOR EDITORS & WRITERS
  • Rob Burgess/Commentary Editor: Worked as launch production editor of new-media magazine Revolution in London in 1997 and in Hong Kong in 2000. He was deputy editor of The Big Issue in Bristol before moving into finance journalism at The Guardian’s Money Observer magazine. After moving to Melbourne he taught journalism at La Trobe University before joining Business Spectator.
  • Peter Krien/Night Editor: A highly experienced newspaper senior editor, Peter has worked as a foreign editor, sports editor and night editor on the Melbourne Age, Herald and Herald Sun. He has also worked for several Canadian newspapers, including Canada's largest, the Toronto Star, in Europe for the German news agency DPA and Radio Free Europe in Munich.
  • Isabelle Oderberg/News Editor: Extensive experience on newswires, including a five-year stint in London, working on the online desk at Reuters, as an investigative reporter at Professional Pensions magazine and as a senior reporter and sub-editor at Dow Jones Newswires. Most recently she worked for the Melbourne finance desk at AAP, covering the resources sector.
  • Giles Parkinson/Wheels & Deals columnist: Giles Parkinson has been a business journalist for more than 20 years. A former business editor and deputy editor of The Australian Financial Review, for the past three years Giles has worked as a freelance journalist, contributing regularly to publications such as Institutional Investor magazine, Asiamoney, The Bulletin and TheDeal.com.
  • James Thomson/Senior Editor: A reporter and editor whose most recent role has been as the editor of BRW’s Rich 200, Young Rich, Executive Rich and Rich Summer editions. Has also been BRW’s Queensland correspondent.


COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT
  • Craig Roberts/General Manager: Worked as a consultant and an associate for international management consultancy firm Booz Allen Hamilton in Melbourne and Amsterdam, then joined BRW magazine as a journalist covering emerging companies, small listed businesses, entrepreneurs and small business policy. Has spent the last two years as a senior small business policy advisor for the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.
  • Steve Murray/Advertising Sales Director: Steve Murray has worked in advertising and marketing for 13 years for large and small companies, in print and online. Since 1999 he has followed his heart to work alongside entrepreneurs launching bold, innovative businesses.
  • Rowan Wilde/Marketing Manager: Former roles include Business Development and Marketing in both the UK and Germany, working on large-scale operational projects with some of the world’s biggest investment banks, stock exchanges, finance and technology companies.
  • Pieter Coetzee/IT Manager: An information systems management professional with more than two decades of systems design, development and implementation experience, Pieter was previously Director of Technology at the South African practice of Arthur Andersen, Manager IT Strategy and Policy at Adelaide University and the Managing Director of a web design company.

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
  • Judy Slatyer: Chief Executive Officer of iconic travel publisher Lonely Planet for the past four years, Judy previously held a number of management positions in a ten-year career with Telstra, finishing as Chief of Consumer Sales, Telstra Retail. She has also held senior roles as a senior ministerial adviser in the federal government, and in the television and internet industries.


BUSINESS SPECTATOR ADVISORY BOARD
  • John Abernethy: Managing director of Clime Investment Management, a boutique funds management group, he has 24 years’ experience working in capital markets with a focus on funds management and corporate advice. During his time at NRMA Insurance, from 1984-94, NRMA’s net worth grew from about $300m to $2.1bn. Through 1994-96 he created what became Loftus Capital Partners Limited. In 2001, it was floated on the ASX and in 2006 Loftus became Clime Investment Management. His current directorships include Jasco Holdings, Wilson Leaders, Wilson Investments, Clime Investment Management.
  • Bronte Adams: Principal and founder of dandolopartners, which specialises in providing governments and companies working with governments with the data, insight and advice required to make better decisions and investments. A Rhodes Scholar and former McKinsey consultant, Bronte has worked in senior positions in private and public sectors. She is a member of the Victorian Government’s Innovation Economy Advisory Board, Deputy Chair of Melbourne University Publishing, Director of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Member of National Selection Committee General Sir John Monash Foundation.
  • Duncan Andrews: A former Standard & Poor’s consultant and chief executive of a group of private investment companies, Duncan has investment interests in shopping centres and golf, including ownership of The Dunes Golf Links, David Golf & Engineering and Thirteenth Beach Golf Links. In 1980, Duncan founded Australian Ratings (now Standard & Poor’s Australia). He is a former or current director of Business Brands International, David Golf & Engineering, Ruyton Girls’ School, Treasury Corporation of Victoria, Victorian Independent Schools Superannuation Fund, Trade Indemnity Australia, Victorian Debt Retirement Authority, CitiPower and IOOF Australia.
  • Patricia Cross: A non-executive director of National Australia Bank, Qantas, Wesfarmers and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Has more than 25 years experience in international banking and finance in the US, Europe and Australia, including 15 years in executive roles with Chase Manhattan Bank, Banque Nationale de Paris and National Australia Bank and 11 years as a non-executive director with organisations including Suncorp-Metway, Transport Accident Commission, AMP, and Deloitte. Mrs. Cross has also served on not-for-profit boards and as a member of the APEC Business Consulting Group, the Financial Sector Advisory Council and the Companies and Securities Advisory Committee.
  • Chris Cuffe: Executive director of Social Ventures Australia, which provides funding, mentoring and business tools to not-for-profit organisations. Former CEO of First State Fund Managers and led Colonial First State Investments (as it was later renamed) from a small start-up operation to become Australia’s largest investment manager. Joined Challenger Financial Services and during his time there the wealth management business grew from around $3bn of investment funds under management to more than $12bn. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, a fellow of the Institute of Company Directors and an associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
  • Terry Cutler: An industry consultant and strategy advisor in the information and communications technology sector, Terry is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Public Administration, a Member of the Institute of Company Directors, and the Australian Society of Authors. He is currently Director of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Chairman of ACID Pty Ltd, a Member of Innovation Economy Advisory Board, a Member of International Advisory Panel, Multimedia Supercorridor (Malaysia), Director of MSC Technology Centre, Director Multimedia University (Malaysia), Council Member of Queensland University of Technology, Director of Innovation Xchange Australia Limited, and Chairman Advisory Board, Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation.
  • Margaret Gardner: Vice-chancellor and president of RMIT University, having previously held the position of deputy vice-chancellor (academic) at the University of Queensland. Formerly an academic in the field of industrial relations before holding executive positions at Griffith University and University of Queensland, currently a member of the Board of the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and of the Business Industry and Higher Education Collaboration Council. She is a member of Council on Australia Latin America Relations and Chair of its Education Action Group as well as a member of the Victorian Opera Board. She is also Chair of RMIT International University and RMIT Vietnam Holdings, and a member of the Board of RMIT Training.
  • Paul Gilding: Has spent over 30 years working on sustainability issues as an activist, a business leader and a commentator. A former International executive director of Greenpeace, he established Ecos Corporation, advising leading corporations on sustainability, and in 2005 became CEO of Easy Being Green, an Australian company using carbon trading to drive mass consumer action on energy efficiency. Also a member of the Core Faculty of the Prince of Wales’s Business and the Environment Program run by Cambridge University, a Founding Director of the internet based youth charity The Inspire Foundation, a Director of the Australian Business Community Network and a member of the Foundation Council of the Australian Davos Connection.
  • Ramin Marzbani: A general partner at Indigo Venture Capital Partners in Sydney. He was previously CEO of www.consult and ACNielsen.Consult, from 1995 to 2004, the leading Internet research company in Asia Pacific. Prior to that he spent ten years in various positions at IBM and Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Serves on the boards of several technology companies in Australia and the US and also sits on a number of advisory boards, including MIR Funds Management, Investment Trends, MINDD Foundation and TiE.
  • Sam Mostyn: Recently left her role as group executive, culture & reputation, for the Insurance Australia Group and will return to IAG as an adviser. Has an extensive background in law, management and politics. Was director of corporate development at Cable & Wireless Optus and group director, human resources for Cable & Wireless in London. Is a member of the NSW Premier’s Greenhouse Advisory Panel, a board member of Reconciliation Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, the Centenary Institute, the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, is a Trustee of the Australian Museum and a commissioner with the Australian Football League.
  • Su-Lin Ong: Has worked at RBC Capital Markets as a senior economist and fixed income strategist since 1998. Previously, Su-Lin worked as a fixed income economist at Hambros Bank and at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Industrial Relations for two years respectively. Su-Lin is a member of the Securities Institute of Australia and the Australian Business Economists.
  • Daniel Petre: Executive chairman and founder of netus, a technology investment company funded by News Ltd, he has been at the forefront of the Australian technology industry for more than 20 years in roles at Publishing and Broadcasting, Microsoft, Burroughs and NEC Information Systems Australia. Daniel has served most recently as chairman of the Area Health Advisory Council for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and is now a member of the Research Committee at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Daniel has served as a director of the Australian Multimedia Enterprise and on Senator Richard Alston’s Information Policy Advisory Council, the Advisory Board of PA Consulting, the Advisory Board of the University of Sydney Graduate School and on the board of the Australian Information Industry Association.
  • Olev Rahn: Has more than 35 years’ experience in the investment industry with Sydney stockbroker Ord Minnett., UK merchant bank Robert Fleming, Jardine Fleming in Hong Kong and Bankers Trust Australia, where he was investment director as BT Australia grew to be Australia’s pre-eminent investment bank and fund manager through the 1980s and 1990s, Currently a director of Constellation Capital Management.
  • Michael Roux: Chairman, Asian Markets, KPMG; Roux International Pty Ltd; RI Group; Victorian Opera and a Director of VicUrban. He is also chairman of the ADC, a senior advisor to the World Economic Forum and advisor to the Government of Rwanda. Previously, he was Vice-Chairman of Citigroup, Director of Deutsche Bank, Director of Deutsche Asset Management, Deputy Secretary of the Victorian Treasury, Director of the Office of State Owned Enterprises and Director of the Office of Trade and Investment.
  • Doug Shears: Executive chairman of ICM Australia, a privately owned integrated group operating domestically and internationally. Is also chairman of the Botanical Holdings Group, executive chairman of the Australian Primary Trust and was the founding chairman of the Uncle Tobys Company and Berri Ltd. Over past years he has been a member of the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council, the Agrifood Council, a board member of CSIRO and a founding member of the Asia Society, Australasia.
  • Ziggy Switkowski: Is a non executive director of Suncorp, Tabcorp, Healthscope and Opera Australia. He is a former chief executive of Telstra. In 2006 he chaired the Prime Minister’s Review of Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy. In 2007, he was appointed as Chair, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne with a PhD in nuclear physics.


EDITORIAL POLICIES

Business Spectator has a strong commitment to editorial independence and integrity. A clear separation exists between the journalists and the non-journalist owners of Business Spectator and this concept is enshrined in the Shareholders' Agreement of our parent company, Australian Independent Business Media Pty Ltd, which says: "For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the Board is not permitted to influence or control the editorial policy of the Company or any Subsidiary in relation to any publication of the Company or any Subsidiary..."
Furthermore, our two non-journalist shareholders, Mark Carnegie and John Wylie -- principals of the corporate advisory and private equity firm Lazard Carnegie Wylie -- have non-voting shares and do not sit on the board of Australian Independent Business Media.

There is also a clear delineation between our editorial and advertising sales operations. It is an article of faith for us that advertisers have no influence on the editorial content of Business Spectator.


ADVERTISING

For advertising enquiries and rates, please contact Steve Murray, Director of Advertising. Email: steve.murray@businessspectator.com.au. Phone +61 3 8623 9937. Fax +61 3 8624 3088.