News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs. Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from Oct 9 till the end of the week.

Qantas Announces Management Changes

Sydney, Oct 16: Qantas Group is undergoing two significant changes to its senior management team.
The airline has appointed Catherine Walsh as its Chief People Officer, who will commence her role in January 2024.
With a wealth of experience in human resources and industrial relations, including roles at Australia Post and PWC, Walsh will be tasked with strengthening the relationship between Qantas and its 25,000 employees, as well as fostering connections with the unions representing them.
The second change involves the resignation of Olivia Wirth, the CEO of Qantas Loyalty.
Wirth, who has held various senior positions over her 14 years at Qantas, will step down in February 2024 to explore new opportunities.
During her tenure as CEO of Loyalty, Wirth oversaw significant growth, expanding into areas such as hotels, holidays, insurance, and financial services, while adding 3 million members and achieving record earnings.
In the wake of Wirth’s departure, Qantas will initiate the process of appointing a new CEO for Qantas Loyalty.
The changes come in line with the revised Qantas Group management structure, emphasizing the importance of the Chief People Officer role in strengthening the airline’s relationships with both employees and unions.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson expressed her gratitude for Wirth’s significant contributions and underscored the importance of the Chief People Officer role in building a stronger corporate culture and employee relationships, especially as the company expands its workforce in the coming years to support growth.
Wirth conveyed her appreciation for her time at Qantas, while Catherine Walsh expressed her honor in joining the Qantas Group during this crucial period.

Bird Count 2023

Sydney, Oct 16: Australia’s annual bird-counting event, the Aussie Bird Count, is back for 2023!
From October 16 to 22, bird enthusiasts across the nation are invited to participate in this popular conservation event.
This year, the challenge is to set a new record by counting more than five million birds.
By dedicating just 20 minutes to observing birds in your local environment, you can contribute valuable data to BirdLife Australia, which helps protect native birdlife and their habitats.
The Aussie Bird Count encourages people of all ages to connect with nature and make a meaningful contribution to conservation.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, this event has been instrumental in understanding the state of Australia’s native birds.
BirdLife Australia, the voice for Australia’s birds for over a century, uses the data collected during the count to gain insights into the country’s native bird populations.
This information assists experts in identifying trends, evaluating the health of the environment, and addressing the challenges faced by these feathered inhabitants.
The swift parrot, Australia’s Bird of the Year for 2023, has been chosen due to its critically endangered status. The annual count is a proactive measure to help protect these birds and their habitats.
Participating in the Aussie Bird Count not only offers a fun and educational experience but also contributes to preserving Australia’s distinctive birdlife.
To get involved and have the chance to win great prizes, sign up for the count at Aussie Bird Count.

Fujitsu Expands Healthcare Reach

Sydney, Oct 16: Global Health Limited (ASX: GLH) has entered into a strategic reseller agreement with Fujitsu Australia Ltd.
The partnership aims to extend the market reach for Global Health’s healthcare solutions across 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Fujitsu’s digital transformation expertise will assist in implementing and deploying Global Health’s healthcare solutions while maintaining a focus on improving its software offerings.
The agreement covers a portfolio of healthcare solutions, including Electronic Medical Records, Patient Administration, Practice Management, and more, to enhance patient-centered engagement in the healthcare industry.
Fujitsu’s Head of Industry – Health, Ian Manovel, expressed the value of Global Health’s solutions in addressing the evolving healthcare industry’s needs.
Global Health Managing Director, Mathew Cherian, emphasized that the strategic relationship would enable customers to enhance patient experience and workforce satisfaction more cost-effectively.

Brother’s Eco Packaging

Sydney, Oct 16: Brother International Australia (BIA) has earned a finalist spot for the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPG) Implementation Award, presented by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). This recognition acknowledges BIA’s unwavering commitment to forging a sustainable future through eco-conscious packaging.
BIA’s nomination is specifically in honor of its ambitious project to eliminate polystyrene (EPS) and polyethylene (EPE) packaging from Brother’s printing products.
BIA is setting a new standard for the industry by taking a two-fold approach:
In the first phase, BIA has already successfully phased out EPS and EPE packaging for all printing hardware and consumables.
The second phase will see them completely eliminate these materials from the remaining product range by March 2024.
While prioritizing sustainability, BIA remains dedicated to upholding the high-quality standards expected by its users. They are actively exploring sustainable alternative materials and packaging techniques that safeguard product quality.
Andy O’Donnell, Director at Brother International Australia, expressed the profound impact of their sustainable packaging initiative, which not only significantly reduces their environmental footprint but also garners positive feedback from customers who appreciate the commitment to sustainability.
BIA’s customers and partners can anticipate seeing EPE/EPS-free packaging symbols on Brother products.
The winner of the SPG’s Implementation Award will be announced on Nov 2, by APCO.

SJM Elevates Macau Tourism

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 16: SJM Resorts, S.A. supported the “Experience Macao, Unlimited” roadshow in Kuala Lumpur, promoting Macau’s unique “Tourism+” offerings to a global audience.
They engaged with the Malaysian tourism sector to seek valuable partnerships.
At the roadshow, SJM showcased its luxurious accommodations, global cuisine, and upcoming gastronomic events.
They also promoted sporting and cultural events in Macau and encouraged attendees to become SJM Supreme Card members.
SJM is committed to enhancing Macau’s “Tourism+” offerings in gastronomy, culture, and sports, contributing to the integrated development of tourism and leisure in the region.

ANZ Combats Financial Abuse

Sydney, Oct 18: ANZ Bank in Australia has joined the ranks of the country’s four major banks that are taking action against financial abuse by introducing new Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) on its digital transactions and savings products.
These T&Cs explicitly state that financial abuse is unacceptable conduct, and individuals who engage in such behavior through these products may face warnings or be removed from the bank. This move follows similar announcements by the National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac, and the Commonwealth Bank to amend their terms and conditions to address financial abuse, as recommended in a report by the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety (CWES).
These changes aim to protect victim-survivors of financial abuse and make it harder for perpetrators to misuse banking products, fostering greater financial safety and well-being.