AusBiz Biannual – June-December 2023

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EDITORIAL

Publisher & Editor: Michelle Hespe publisher@trulyaus.com

Deputy Editor: Emily Riches editorial@trulyaus.com

Designer: Ryan Vizcarra

Sub-editor: Claire Hey

ADVERTISING publisher@trulyaus.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Adam Smith

Danielle McIltrot

Darcy Watt

Emily Riches

Ian

Lloyd Neubauer

Lauren Lefever

LJ Charleston

Matilda Meikle

Nigel Bowen

PRINTING IVE Print Sydney 81 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128

AusBiz. is published by Publishing ByChelle, (ABN: 78 621 375 853 ACN: 621 375 853) Level 1, 3 Westleigh Street, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089 publishingbychelle.com

The reproduction of any content, in whole or part without prior written permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in the content are those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of the publisher. All information in this magazine was believed to be correct at the time of publication, and all reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. Publishing ByChelle cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. We apologise if we don’t get back to your email, as we do receive a large volume of communication via various online channels. Some images used in AusBiz. are from iStock and Getty Images, and we make every effort to credit all contributors.

Welcome!

We are so thrilled to bring you the first biannual issue of AusBiz. There has been so much talk recently about a resurgence in print and people wanting a break from their devices, and so we thought we'd take a leap of faith and invest in a magazine that we hope you love to read while taking some time off from your phone and computer. I know I need to take more time out to sit back with a cuppa and read about what other people out there are achieving. There's a lot going on, and after the past few crazy years, it's so nice to see so many people at the airport, in the lounges and hopping on to planes with an exciting adventure or new prospects ahead.

AusBiz. can be found in Rex lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, at Mines & Money trade shows across the country, and at Skye Suites Sydney and Brisbane Airport Hotels. There are plenty of other magazines and newspapers out there, but there aren't many that have a pure focus on Australian businesses and our thriving industries. In every issue, we'll dive into agriculture, mining, finance, tech, charity and environmental issues. Our publishing company has always been about supporting and showcasing Australian business, and we hope that through this magazine we can help spread word of the many amazing things that Australians are doing out there.

If you like what you read, and want to catch up on some great news online, or be sent stories to your inbox every Monday, sign up to our AusBiz. newsletter and we'll ensure that we send you interesting stories every week from our top journos and experts in their fields. If you think there is something we should be covering that you don't see in these pages, get in touch, as we always love hearing fresh new ideas, and there are many ways in which we can collaborate. Whatever you are working on right now, we wish you all the best. I think 2023 and beyond are going to be some great years, and we hope to see you out there hustling!

Onwards and upwards!

MICHELLE HESPE AND THE TEAM AT AUSBIZ.

Finance

8 AI IN BANKING

The impacts of AI in the banking sector

12 AGRIFOODTECH Australia has been dubbed as an ‘ag powerhouse.’

16 BENEFITS OF BONDS

Investment advice from the CEO of Saxo Australia.

18 FARM TO BUY

The Farm to Buy program gives a boost to the blue economy and oysters.

HR & Recruitment

22 FINDING HAPPINESS

Would you quit your job for the sake of your happiness?

agriculture

26 ORGANIC WINE

Why isn’t organic wine taking off in Australia? The next generation are leading the charge.

30 SUNFLOWER BOOM

Australian farmers are turning their sunflower farms into agritourism ventures.

33 NORCO’S PEA MYLK

An innovative new drink made from peas offers another alternative to milk.

34 DAIRY IN 2023

We look into the challenges and the future of Australia’s booming dairy industry.

business

38 MENOPAUSE AT WORK

We discuss how menopause is affecting women in the workplace.

42 GROVE JUICE

Aussie company Grove Juice puts Indigenous artists in the spotlight.

46 BULLYOLOGIST Q&A

Jessica Hickman is paving the way for healthier workplace culture.

47 WOMN-KIND Q&A

Ruby Reithmuller chats about her app aiding young people’s mental health.

mining

48 POSITION PARTNERS

Australia’s premier provider of positioning and machine control solutions.

50 THE BIG NEW BOOM

What post-pandemic crisis? The future of mining has never looked brighter.

56 DUST SUPPRESSION

The Qld government has funded a new project that tackles dust pollution.

59 NINA’S JEWELLERY

Nina’s are the coloured diamond specialists. Learn about the latest collection.

Environment

charity

technology

Prefer to read our content online? No worries, there’s a newsletter too!

Head to ausbizmedia.com – which is dedicated to Australian businesses, products, services and people. Find timely features by journalists on topics and industries such as finance, business, the environment, charity, agriculture, technology and mining. You can also sign up to our weekly AusBiz. newsletter that is always packed with new stories hot off the press.

THE FUTURE OF RICE PRODUCTION

Australia’s rice industry is attempting to increase water efficiency by 75 per cent over the next five years. Rice Breeding Australia (RBA), an organisation established in 2022, is on a mission to research types of rice that require less water in production, leading to a more environmentally friendly crop. But the road ahead isn’t smooth.

For the past five years, production of rice was equivalent to 0.8 tonnes per megalitre of water. Ninety-eight per cent of this was produced in the Riverina region of New South Wales. According to Georgina Pengilley, CEO of RBA, the main focus of the research is on genetics, in the hope of finding breed varieties that require less water.

“We look to take those best ones forward for the growers to have, and start to meet those water productivity targets,” she says.

There are many variables to consider when growing rice, such as the availability of water, weather and variety in yield. These factors mean a water efficiency target is a very difficult goal, one which requires more than just a lessthirsty crop. Rice is also impacted by cold temperatures, so farmers create a blanket of water to keep the crop insulated for the majority of the growing period. This means that

An out-of-this-world Valentine’s day NASA is tracking an asteroid that could collide with Earth around Valentine’s Day in 2046. Measuring approximately 50 metres wide – the length of an Olympic swimming pool – this floating object has been named 2023 DW, and has an estimated one in 607 chance of hitting our small blue planet.

As with all unusual sightings, 2023 DW has been added to the ‘risk list,’ a compilation of objects in space that have the potential to affect Earth. Each object is ranked on the Torino scale, which was developed in 1999 and rates an object’s potential to collide with Earth. The newly discovered asteroid was ranked at level one on the scale, meaning it “poses no unusual level of danger,” and “the chance of collision is unlikely, with no cause for public concern.” However, 2023 DW is the only asteroid on a list of 1,448 others that rank higher than zero on the Torino scale.

Italian astronomer Piero Sicoli added to the conversation by predicting that the chance of 2023 DW hitting Earth was actually one in 400, and even created a map of possible locations where the asteroid could land. However, he believes the possibility of impact will soon be ruled out. With more than two decades before any real threat emerges, NASA officials remain confident that 2023 DW poses no significant threat to our planet.

researchers are also tasked with finding a crop with a higher temperature tolerance to negate this need for extra water. Despite these challenges, Georgina remains optimistic about the future of the industry.

“Genetics is a long game, so for RBA the main key is that we can demonstrate we’re making inroads,” she says. “The more numbers we have in the program, the more opportunity we’ve got to look at germ plasm and therefore end up with a variety that’s going to work for the growers.”

Bee vaccination approved to fight deadly disease

The US Department of Agriculture has approved a vaccine to protect honeybees from American foulbrood (AFB), and it has positive implications for the future of Australian bees. AFB is a fatal disease found all over Australia. Legally, all hives infected with AFB must be destroyed to prevent further spreading, making it a big problem for bees and beekeepers. AFB is often spread due to poor beekeeping habits, or by the bees themselves. It infects and kills baby bees, leaving spores that can continue to infect the hive for 40 to 80 years. Once it reaches a bee community, there’s not much that can be done.

The new vaccine was developed by the biotech company Dalan Animal Health, which uses dead cells from Paenibacillus larvae bacteria, the primary cause of AFB, to develop immunity. Expected to be released into the market later this year, the vaccine will be fed to worker bees, who will then transfer it to the jelly they feed to the queen. Once the queen is protected, she can pass on immunity to her young. This simple and effective vaccine is giving scientists hope for a solution against this deadly disease: a means of protecting bees and ensuring their long-term survival.

NEW METHOD FOR STOPPING “FISHY” SEAFOOD FRAUD

Scientists can now use fish ear bones to distinguish between fish species, and in turn stop seafood fraud. The ear bones, known as otoliths, of every species of fish are unique in size and shape. Analysing trace elements found in otoliths, as well as water residue, can determine whether a fish is migratory or resident of different areas. By collecting samples from fish markets and looking at the fish provenance, experts can determine if the fish are really from where the merchants claim, or if they’re involved in seafood fraud.

This is possible thanks to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, which has compiled over 350,000 otoliths in a library after more than three decades of studying fish ear bones. While scientists previously used scales to determine the age and health of fish, otoliths offer a more accurate measurement. Through the study of these bones, fisheries can also determine the health of a fish species, and the spread of ages within a community. Ear bones found in the stomachs of other fish and birds can also lead to a greater understanding of the food chain.

ELECTRIFYING THE NATION

The Evolution Group, one of Australia’s largest traffic control and management companies, has committed to becoming the first company in the world to fully electrify its fleet of light utility vehicles in Australia and New Zealand.

The Evolution Group will convert 500 of its vehicles to fully electric over the next five years, with a further target of having the first electrified traffic management vehicle ready and roadworthy by 2023. The announcement comes after the company’s recent partnership with Tembo, the electric vehicle subsidy of the global B Corporation, VivoPower International –a global B Corporation – which will help Evolution fulfil its conversion promise.

Kerry Dale, Non-executive Chairman of Evolution, says: “Evolution is constantly evaluating opportunities to offer innovative and competitive solutions to the industry. We have one of the largest fleets of vehicles for traffic management services across Australia and New Zealand,

Winds of change

Australia has joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), an association organised by the International Renewable Energy Agency. The collective aims to see 380 gigawatts of offshore wind infrastructure built globally by 2030. Currently the world has around 60 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, with no operational projects in Australian waters. However, many private companies are keen to explore opportunities to advance Australia’s contribution, which with the potential to reach a capacity of 40 gigawatts.

Nine other countries, including Japan, Germany, the US and the UK signed up to the alliance after COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference, held in Egypt late last year. Speaking at the summit, Australia’s Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen stated: “Australia is back as a constructive, positive and willing climate collaborator.” His words have raised hopes of Australia taking stronger action on climate change going forward.

Currently, Australia is ranked 51 out of 59 countries for its climate action, according to the annual Climate Change Performance Index. It’s a sobering statistic, and one the government hopes to combat through this increase in action. This includes a bid to host the UN Climate Conference in 2026, a demonstration of their commitment to protecting the environment.

and being the first to commit fully to electrification will help to set eco-friendly standards for the industry.”

The first phase will involve electrifying 80 vehicles, which will be tested in commercial trials. If the trials are successful, Evolution is committed to transforming its whole fleet, maintaining its objective to deliver costeffective and environmentally friendly solutions.

HOW LIVING SEAWALLS ARE INCREASING BIODIVERSITY IN SYDNEY HARBOUR

According to new research on Living Seawalls, this marine science initiative is having significant environmental benefits. The study, which involved two years of monitoring and evaluation of a large Sydney Harbour installation, has given scientists hope for a brighter future for our marine life.

Living Seawalls are a collection of modular panels designed to be installed along coastal sites to increase biodiversity, which has been disappearing from Sydney Harbour in recent years. According to Melanie Bishop, Associate Professor and coastal ecologist at Macquarie University, the trials have been successful so far.

“Our research assessed how biodiversity on the seawall panels changed through time,” she says. “We found that 115 different species colonised the wall over a two-year period… about 20 per cent greater than what we see on unmodified sea walls.”

The seawalls are designed to be tailored to each site. As sea levels rise, the panels can be expanded vertically to keep up. While normally seawalls are bare surfaces with minimal protection from predators or extreme weather, Living Seawalls help to keep habitats cool and sheltered.

So far, 10 different habitat surfaces have been designed,

mimicking various natural shoreline features including rockpools, sponge fingers and weathered rock. After the two-year study period, researchers found a high number of oysters along the panels, which improved water filtration and became an important food resource for local fish species.

According to Melanie, the project “involves ongoing monitoring and evaluation, collecting data that informs decisions on how to best use these approaches and how to continue to improve these approaches over time.”

The prototype producing environmentally friendly hydrogen

Researchers have built a prototype for a solar powered device that produces hydrogen fuel from moisture in the air. This hydrogen has over 99 per cent purity, even when used in air as dry as 4 per cent humidity. While still in the early stages, this technology could allow for the production of hydrogen without carbon emissions.

Hydrogen is an important resource used in a variety of industries, yet is relatively scarce in nature. Water is the only byproduct it yields, however the process of creating this hydrogen requires energy input involving fossil fuels, leading to carbon emissions.

The device that seeks to put an end to this reality is made up of spongy material with a hygroscopic liquid. This fluid has the ability to absorb moisture from the air. These absorbed molecules are then split into hydrogen and oxygen gases, in a process called electrolysis.

According to the study’s lead

author and a senior lecturer in chemical engineering at the University of Melbourne, Dr Kevin Gang Li, “hydrogen is the ultimate clean energy… as long as you have renewable sources of energy to electrolyse the water.”

If successful, the device could be an extremely useful tool in areas where liquid water is not abundant

enough to produce hydrogen.

“Large parts of the world have water scarcity problems,” Kevin says. “When you have lots of renewable energy – wind or solar – you [often] don’t have much fresh water for this type of hydrogen production.” Kevin and his team are working hard to finalise this important device, which could be the future of renewable energy.

THE GROUND-BREAKING IMPACT OF AI ON BANKING AND HEALTHCARE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already made significant strides in various industries, with the banking and healthcare sectors being no exception. In recent years, AI has brought numerous improvements in these industries, including enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and providing better customer service.

With the potential to analyse data and identify patterns that people might miss, AI is truly transforming how banks and healthcare providers operate, paving the way for better outcomes for businesses and consumers.

Let’s take a look at the incredible transformation of the banking and healthcare industries.

AI IN BANKING

AI is crucial to the banking industry’s digital transformation, from fraud detection to customer service.

Fraud detection: AI-powered fraud detection tools can monitor transactions in real-time and detect fraudulent activities faster than humans. These tools can identify and flag transaction patterns and anomalies for further investigation.

Customer service: Virtual assistants and chatbots can handle simple customer queries and requests, freeing customer service staff to focus on more complex issues. These bots can also give customers personalised recommendations and financial advice based on their transaction history and financial goals.

Credit scoring: AI can analyse large amounts of data to create more accurate credit scores, which can help banks make better lending decisions. This can lead to more loans being approved, and at

In addition to bettering user experience and developing better data handling techniques, AI has also accelerated, simplified, and redesigned conventional processes to increase their effectiveness.

Words: LJ Charleston

better interest rates, for customers who might have been overlooked using traditional credit-scoring models. Risk management: AI helps banks identify and manage risks more effectively. By analysing data from various sources, including social media and news articles, AI can identify potential risks before they become significant problems.

A recent Bournemouth University study, analysing the impact of AI in the finance and banking sector, stated that applications of AI can greatly improve the quality of services for consumers.

“In addition to bettering user experience and developing better data handling techniques, AI has also accelerated, simplified, and redesigned conventional processes to increase their effectiveness. Data has evolved into an organisation’s most valuable asset as a result of the availability of AI technologies. More than ever, banks are familiar with cutting-edge and economical solutions.”

THIS PAGE: IN HEALTHCARE, AI IS RESHAPING DIAGNOSIS, DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND PATIENT CARE.

AI IN HEALTHCARE

The healthcare industry is witnessing a paradigm shift as AI continues to break barriers and transform how care is delivered. With the potential to enhance various aspects of the sector, AI is reshaping diagnosis, drug development and the way patients are cared for.

Medical imaging: AI-powered image analysis tools can assist radiologists in detecting abnormalities and diagnosing diseases. These tools can analyse medical images faster and more accurately than humans, leading to quicker diagnoses and better treatment outcomes.

Drug development: AI can analyse vast amounts of medical data to identify potential drug targets, predict drug efficacy, and accelerate drug

development. This can lead to the discovery of new treatments for diseases, which can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Virtual health assistants: AI-powered virtual health assistants are transforming the patient experience by offering personalised healthcare advice,

monitoring health conditions, and facilitating communication with healthcare providers.

According to a report from PwC, “Virtual health assistants have the potential to improve patient adherence to treatment plans and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by providing continuous, personalised support.”

Remote monitoring: AI-powered remote monitoring tools can track patient data in real-time, alerting healthcare providers to potential issues before they become critical. This can lead to earlier interventions and better patient outcomes, particularly for chronic diseases.

Personalised medicine: AI can analyse a patient’s genetic and medical history to create personalised treatment plans. This can lead to more targeted therapies, better treatment outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs.

Predictive analytics: AI algorithms can also predict disease outbreaks and identify high-risk populations. These predictions can help healthcare providers take preventive measures to control the spread of diseases.

Streamlining administrative tasks : AI is automating many administrative tasks in healthcare, such as appointment scheduling, billing, and data entry. Natural language processing (NLP) systems can transcribe and analyse patient records, freeing healthcare professionals to focus on providing care.

Chatbots are able to answer patient queries, deliver appointment reminders, and provide general health advice, reducing the burden on admin staff who usually juggle multiple roles.

“Virtual health assistants have the potential to improve patient adherence to treatment plans and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by providing continuous, personalised support.”

AUSTRALIA’S PROSPEROUS AGRIFOOD TECH SECTOR

With the development of new restaurant technologies and the emergence of plant-based protein companies, Australia has developed a reputation for being an agricultural powerhouse.

Words: Lauren Lefever

AgriFutures Australia is a research and development corporation with a mission to increase the prosperity of Australian and rural communities. The company conducts research and development programs for numerous emerging industries, and has aided in the development of the growAG platform and evokeAG event and network.

The company has taken many strides throughout the last few years to invest in Australia’s agrifood system, and it appears that this diligent work is paying off.

THE REPORT

On 26 October 2022, the inaugural Asia-Pacific AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2022 was released in Singapore by venture capital firm AgFunder, partnering with

AgriFutures, growAG and evokeAG.

The report shows that throughout 2021, 55 deals involving Australian startups have been made and more than half a million dollars have been raised by investors, which is a positive outlook for the rest of the year.

The three biggest investment deals were as follows:

• Melbourne-based mobile ordering platform MrYum ($100 million)

• V2 Foods ($83 million)

• Cloud kitchen startup EatClub ($63 million)

Arianna Sipel, AgriFutures Australia senior manager, is impressed with the growing maturity and diversity of the sector in Australia.

“The investment deals we’ve seen in 2021 spanned everything from eGrocery and in-store retail tech

to farm management software and sensing, so it shows the diversity of commercial opportunities in Australia,” says Arianna.

AGRIFUTURE’S GROWAG AND EVOKEAG PLATFORMS

AgriFutures Australia is also excited about using the growAG and evokeAG platforms to continue growing investment and collaboration in Australian agrifood tech.

GrowAG is an online database that allows users to find world-leading agricultural research, technologies and commercialisation opportunities. By facilitating connections across the Australian agritech ecosystem, growAG makes it easier for startup companies to promote their commercial opportunities. This

FROM LEFT: LYRO ROBOTICS CO-FOUNDER AND CEO NICOLE ROBINSON, AGFUNDER FOUNDING PARTNER MICHAEL DEAN, OMNIVORE MANAGING PARTNER MARK KAHN AND AGFUNDER HEAD OF MEDIA & RESEARCH LOUISE BURWOOD-TAYLOR AT THE REPORT LAUNCH.

“The investment deals we’ve seen in 2021 spanned everything from eGrocery and instore retail tech to farm management software and sensing, so it shows the diversity of commercial opportunities in Australia.”

allows researchers, producers, investors and entrepreneurs to connect with one another.

Thanks to growAG, Brisbanebased farm robotics company Lyro was able to connect with Artesian Ventures. This connection eventually led to an investment deal. Since then, Lyro has been able to raise an additional US$1.5 million to deliver 20 autonomous robotic packers to its clients.

More recently, AgriFutures has created its AgriFutures evokeAG event, a startup program that allows agrifood tech startups to show off their latest innovations and projects. The event took place in Adelaide in February, giving entrepreneurs a platform for showcasing agrifood innovations and pitching ideas to investors, as well as presenting products to an audience. Entrepreneurs can submit applications to their Startup Alley, a platform for

showcasing agrifood innovations, their Startup Showcase, an event where seven startups present their products to an audience, or their Investor Pitch Dinner, an event where entrepreneurs can present their investment-ready ideas to investors.

THE FUTURE OF AGRIFOODTECH

The Asia-Pacific AgriFoodTech Investment Report also shows that the future for agrifood tech is bright. Investments in Asia-Pacific agrifoodtech startups set a record in 2021 with US$15.2 billion allocated towards the cause. At this rate, the positive trajectory is set to continue. The Asia-Pacific area has seen a 15 per cent year-on-year increase in funding in the first half of 2022. Farm tech is also maturing, with funding in the region reaching US$2.2 billion, double what it was in 2020. There has also been a 17.5 per cent

increase in the number of investment deals.

AgFunder founding partner and Asia-Pacific head Michael Dean notes that Australia has a lot of potential agrifood tech investments.

“Early on we saw the potential of the region, with its booming population growth and emerging centres of technology innovation, as a destination for agrifood tech venture investment. We established our GROW Accelerator and Singaporebased venture impact funds to assist institutional and corporate investors in the region to access the disruptive technologies that have the potential to drive efficiencies, profitability and sustainability for decades to come,” says Michael.

The dedicated work of many companies in Australia’s growing agrifood tech sector has paid off, and will continue to make a difference for years to come.

IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER BONDS IN YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO?

Saxo Australia’s CEO Adam Smith talks us through the role of bonds in your investment portfolio, as well as some of the risks and benefits.

words: Adam Smith

As global share markets remain hostage to inflation, increasing interest rates and other economic data, it could be time to look further afield for other investment opportunities that may generate returns. One asset class that is very popular overseas and is starting to gain traction here in Australia is fixed income. Bonds are the most common form of fixed-income securities.

A bond is a so-called debt instrument that pays a fixed amount of interest, usually at regular intervals typically distributed annually or semi-annually. The initial investment amount (also known as the principal) is paid back to the investor when the bond expires (known as maturity).

So, a bond is actually a loan that

the bond purchaser, or bondholder, makes to the bond issuer.

Governments and corporations (including banks or companies such as Apple and Microsoft) will issue bonds when they want to raise capital for a variety of reasons. An investor who buys a government bond is basically lending the government

money. If an investor buys a corporate bond, the investor is lending the corporation money. So, if you buy a bond from a bank you are actually lending to them – not the other way around for once!

Like any investment, investing in bonds is not without risk. Every bond carries some risk that the issuer will “default,” or fail to fully repay the loan (or principal). It is the job of independent credit rating services (Moody’s, S&P etc.) to assess the default risk, or credit risk, of bond issuers and publish credit ratings that not only help investors evaluate risk, but also help determine the interest rates on individual bonds.

Generally, investors should be paid more in interest if they take a greater

risk of not getting their initial investment back and vice versa. An issuer with a high credit rating will pay a lower interest rate (as its cashflows have a higher certainty of being paid, so it is a relatively less risky investment) than one with a low credit rating. Again, investors who purchase bonds with low credit ratings can potentially earn higher returns, but they must bear the additional risk of default by the bond issuer.

THE ROLE OF BONDS IN A PORTFOLIO

Experienced investors appreciate the need for diversification in their investment portfolios. An allocation of some part of your portfolio into

bonds can help you achieve this. Investors purchase bonds for a number of reasons: capital preservation, income, diversification and as a potential hedge against economic weakness or deflation. Capital preservation: Unlike equities, bonds should repay principal at a specified date, or maturity. This makes bonds appealing to investors who want a small risk of losing capital. Bonds have the added benefit of offering interest at a set rate that is often higher than short-term savings rates. Income: Most bonds provide the investor with ‘fixed’ income. On a set schedule, whether quarterly, semiannually or annually, the bond issuer sends the bondholder an interest payment, which can be spent or reinvested in other bonds. Stocks can also provide income through dividend payments, but dividends tend to be smaller than bond coupon payments, and companies make dividend payments at their discretion, while bond issuers are obligated to make coupon payments. Capital appreciation: Bond prices can rise for several reasons, including a drop in interest rates and an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer.

Diversification: Including bonds in an investment portfolio can help diversify the portfolio. Many investors diversify among a wide variety of assets, from equities and bonds to commodities and alternative investments, to reduce the risk of low, or even negative, returns.

Potential hedge against an economic slowdown or deflation: Bonds can help protect investors against an economic slowdown for several reasons. The price of a bond depends on how much investors value the income the bond provides. Most bonds pay a fixed income that doesn’t change, ie an investment in a bond provides an element of cashflow certainty for an investor.

HOW MUCH OF MY PORTFOLIO SHOULD I ALLOCATE TO BONDS?

The honest answer is there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much of a portfolio investors should allocate to bonds, as the appropriate allocation will depend on a number of factors, including the investor’s goals, risk tolerance, time horizon and current market conditions.

That said, a widely circulated rule of thumb among financial advisors for determining an appropriate allocation to bonds is based on the investor’s age. With the assumption that bonds offer lower but less volatile returns than stocks over time, the rule of thumb suggests that investors should subtract their age from 100, and allocate that percentage of their portfolio to stocks, with the remainder allocated to bonds.

For example, a 30-year-old investor would allocate approximately 70 per cent of their portfolio to stocks (100 minus 30), and 30 per cent to bonds. As the investor gets older and approaches retirement, the allocation to bonds would gradually increase, as a way to reduce overall portfolio risk and volatility.

It’s important to note that this rule of thumb is just one approach to determining an appropriate allocation to bonds and may not be suitable for all investors.

“Investors who purchase bonds with low credit ratings can potentially earn higher returns, but they must bear the additional risk of default by the bond issuer.”

SHELLING OUT FOR OYSTERS

Oyster farmers come up against many different challenges in their work, including waves, wind, tides, disease and climate change. However, one of the biggest hurdles they face is finance. Oceanfarmr’s Farm to Buy program hopes to provide a solution.

Words: Emily Riches

Ewan McAsh is a game-changer. A marine biologist turned oyster farmer, Ewan founded the farm management app Oceanfarmr (previously SmartOysters) in 2017, which turned the regenerative aquaculture industry on its head.

Oceanfarmr allowed oyster farmers to accurately record the activity of their farm using GPS-enabled technology, rather than just relying on their own memory, skill, experience and grit.

Now, following the success of Oceanfarmr, Ewan is back at it again with Farm to Buy, a program that aims to continue supporting ocean farmers and the expansion of Australia’s aquaculture industry.

OVERVIEW OF THE OYSTER INDUSTRY

The oyster industry is worth US$150$300 billion globally – and growing. As Ewan says, “Over the past 10 years we have seen an increased appreciation and awareness of the health benefits of eating seafood as

well as the environmental benefits of ocean farming of oysters, mussels, and seaweed. Demand and prices have significantly increased but growing conditions have become more challenging. The end result is that farmers have had to rapidly change cultivation methods, adopting new technology and growing methods to meet the market.”

Oceanfarmr’s Farm to Buy program has been designed with this in mind. As the only company dedicated to the ocean farming sectors of oysters, mussels and seaweed, Oceanfarmr is in a unique position to finance the growth of the sustainable ocean farming industry.

HOW DOES FARM TO BUY WORK?

While land-based agricultural farms often have the option to use their land as an asset to secure financing, ocean farmers have traditionally found it more difficult to access capital. As Ewan explains, “They simply cannot use marine leases as security

for traditional bank loans, and with the farms being underwater, they are perceived as high risk.”

The Farm to Buy program is enabling farmers to expand their production by providing initial crops and infrastructure. For example, the oyster farmer will receive a crop that can be grown over a 12-month cycle as well as the infrastructure to grow it (oyster baskets). The farmer makes no upfront or ongoing payments. They then farm the crop for the 12-month cycle, and when it is harvested and sold, use the funds to pay out the finance. The farmer will then have ownership over the new baskets and farming system outright.

Not only does this alternative allow farmers to expand their production, it also eliminates the fear of debt from traditional financing options.

As Ewan says, “Farm to Buy is tailored specifically for ocean farmers. It’s not finance in the traditional sense, more an innovative combination of crop financing, share farming and asset management. [It] enables

OPPOSITE

AND

RIGHT: THE OYSTER INDUSTRY IS WORTH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS GLOBALLY. OCEANFARMR IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO FINANCE THE GROWTH OF THIS SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY.

farmers to leverage their expertise and farm data to fund new gear and grow their farm’s production. It does not require security. It does not require monthly cash repayments. Instead, it enables farmers to invest in the newest, most robust farming technology.”

To access Farm to Buy, the farmer must be an existing farmer and Oceanfarmr subscriber, with at least three months of farm data tracked with Oceanfarmr.

WHAT WILL IT ACHIEVE?

This farm data is an important aspect of the program. Oceanfarmr constantly captures hundreds of data points over time across crops, assets and activities. The Oceanfarmr team then work closely with the farmer to provide insights on their business and infrastructure.

The Farm to Buy program uses that data to show that these farmers have better farm practices, efficiency and scalability, to maximise crop value and de-risk the farm.

Oceanfarmr has shown that the shellfish and seaweed farmers who most actively use the Oceanfarmr app can typically manage more stock, have lower mortality rates and are

frequently more profitable. Not only that, but finance providers can also benefit by using Oceanfarmr to more effectively measure the risks associated with aquaculture farming.

The importance of sustainable aquaculture for the environment can also not be overstated. As Ewan notes, “Sustainable aquaculture needs no inputs so uses little to no natural resources. It draws nutrients out of the ocean currents thus improving water quality. The farms provide habitat and shelter for other sea animals. The world has a growing need for healthy protein, which shellfish provide without damaging the environment.”

As climate change has a wider effect on ocean life and landscapes, the technology will also allow farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their yields. Ewan is looking forward to the changes this will bring to the industry. “This means more sustainable, quality seafood can be

grown, more jobs for local regional areas – for both young and old farmers and staff – and more opportunities for young farmers to come into the industry.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OCEANFARMR?

Ewan was blown away by the initial response to Farm to Buy. “We had a huge response to Farm to Buy with now more than $60 million in farm finance enquiries. So, our focus at Oceanfarmr is getting farmers set up to take advantage of this new program, with mussel and seaweed farms to be added next.”

They have just had a massive investment from Katapult VC, which will be used to accelerate and expand the Farm to Buy program, allowing more farmers to access much needed resources to grow their farms sustainably.

Visit oceanfarmr.com

LEFT TO RIGHT: SUE AND GREG MCINTYRE, PAMBULA, NSW; OYSTER FARM IN EAGLEHAWK NECK, TASMANIA.

“Sustainable aquaculture needs no inputs so uses little to no natural resources. It draws nutrients out of the ocean currents thus improving water quality.”

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PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Would you quit your job for the sake of your happiness? A global survey has found younger generations are at the forefront of a movement to seek job satisfaction and stand up for their personal beliefs at work.

Words: Emily Riches

THE COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about how, when and where we work – but it has also changed why.

Global recruiting firm Randstad’s Workmonitor is one of the longestrunning and largest studies of its kind, surveying 35,000 workers across 34 markets globally. The biannual survey recently found that for younger generations such as Gen Z (18- to 24-year-olds) and Millennials (25- to 34-year-olds), attitudes have shifted to place happiness and personal values at the forefront of working life.

Fifty-six per cent of the younger generations said they’d quit their job if it was preventing them from enjoying life, while 40 per cent said they would rather be unemployed than unhappy in a job. Attitudes like these have led to the ‘Great Resignation’ around the world, and with 70 per cent of Australians now either actively or passively job

seeking, there is a revolution in the employee-employer dynamic.

As Nick Pesch, CEO of Randstad ANZ, says, “There’s a clear power shift underway in offices around the globe, including Australia, driven by a workforce still recovering from the pandemic. Many workers are rethinking priorities and choosing to prioritise personal fulfillment, no longer afraid to move on from roles that don’t align with their values.”

PURPOSE OVER PAYCHECK

The isolation and restrictions imposed over the lockdown years have hit young people particularly hard. In March 2022, the World Health Organization reported that anxiety and depression increased 25 per cent worldwide during the first year of the pandemic; teens in particular are among those experiencing a mental health crisis. With greater awareness of the importance of mental health, younger generations are placing more focus on the search for happiness, purpose and work-life balance in their choice of work.

These younger generations are also tapped into social justice and environmental issues, and they expect their employer to be as well. Nearly half of Millennials (48 per cent) and Gen Z (49 per cent) said they wouldn’t accept a job that didn’t align with

“56 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials said they’d quit their job if it was preventing them from enjoying life.”

their values on social justice and environmental issues, compared to just over a third (35 per cent) of 55- to 67-year-olds. The figures were similar regarding the efforts of an employer to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Two in five of the younger generations surveyed wouldn’t even mind earning less money if they felt their job was contributing something to the world or society, revealing a pervasive attitude of ‘purpose over paycheck’.

Nick adds, “Young people want to bring their whole selves to work, which is reflected in their determination

not to compromise their personal values when choosing an employer. Our research and experience working with candidates in Australia points to an increasing expectation that organisations will take a stand on social and environmental issues. Companies that are shown to be taking positive action will find themselves more attractive and better able to retain loyal talent.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BUSINESSES?

With talent scarcity a long-term challenge and competition for skills intensifying, how can companies stand

out from competitors and become attractive for younger generations, and employees in general?

Sander van ’t Noordende, CEO and Chair of the Executive Board of Randstad NV, says, “We believe focusing on these five areas is essential: fitting work around people’s lives, aligning values, strengthening attraction strategies, offering job flexibility, and accelerating professional development.”

Nearly three-quarters of people believe flexibility of work location is important, and an even higher per cent want work hours that complement their lifestyle. Globally, 58 per cent of people say they wouldn’t accept a job if they thought it would negatively affect their worklife balance. So job flexibility is here to stay: whether this is around remote or hybrid schedules, work hours or work arrangements.

Corporate social responsibility is also important, with businesses taking a stance on social justice and environmental issues and encouraging diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Opportunities for professional development and upskilling are also critical, as well as offering incentives such as more time off, healthcare benefits or retirement plans.

The pandemic caused millions of workers around the world to work in new and different ways, and people are emerging from the global crisis with a clear mission: prioritising happiness and purpose. They are ready to let their employers know it. Now that markets have reopened, restrictions have been lifted and employees have returned to the workplace, companies need to actively listen and respond to what people are asking for – and in some cases change the way they operate for good.

“We believe focusing on these five areas is essential: fitting work around people’s lives, aligning values, strengthening attraction strategies, offering job flexibility, and accelerating professional development.”

NICK PESCH, CEO

OF RANDSTAD ANZ

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WHY HASN’T ORGANIC WINE TAKEN OFF IN AUSTRALIA?

Organic wine is healthier for the planet and for those who drink it, so why the lack of interest from Australians?

Words: nigel bowan

Wine-loving Australians are sceptical about organic wine, with most being prepared to pay only a small or no premium to drink it, analysis of an international study reveals.

But there are ways and means to encourage Australians to drink more organic wine, says a researcher from Macquarie University.

Dr Rezwanul Rana is a teetotal health economist. But when a colleague asked him to do some statistical analysis on data collected in 2019-2020 from around 2500 wine drinkers in Australia, Chile, France, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa and the US, he was intrigued.

PORTRAIT OF AN ORGANIC WINE DRINKER

Like organic food, organic wine is relatively expensive to produce. So the survey’s primary focus was on how much of a premium consumers would pay for it.

“A little under half of those surveyed said they would only pay $1.40-$7 more for a bottle of wine that was organic, if they are willing to buy it at all,” Rezwanul says. “Most consumers in all countries surveyed would only pay slightly more for organic wine.”

Surprisingly, it wasn’t older wine drinkers – presumably more affluent and health conscious than younger ones – who were willing to pay extra for wine grown without chemical fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides and free from sulfur dioxide-based preservatives.

“In ‘new world’ countries, such as Australia, it’s younger people, especially ones who live in urban areas, who are the most keen on organic wine, and they are most likely to drink it in social situations,” Rezwanul says.

“That’s presumably because they are more adventurous, more concerned about the environment, and more likely to have eaten organic food. That noted, those who eat organic food didn’t show the predisposition to drinking organic wine that might be expected.

“Consumers view organic food and organic wine quite differently.”

THIS PAGE: IN AUSTRALIA, IT’S YOUNGER, URBAN PEOPLE WHO ARE KEENEST ON ORGANIC WINE. BUT WILL IT CATCH ON?

THIS PAGE: BETTER FOR YOU AND BETTER FOR THE PLANET – WHY NOT TRY AN ORGANIC WINE?

A MATTER OF TASTE

The survey data found Europeans and young urbanites in the new world were the biggest organic wine drinkers. Rezwanul believes there are classificatory and historical reasons for this.

“In contrast to EU countries, new world countries are strict about organic classifications,” he says. “Whether any sulfur dioxide can be used in organic wine is a subject of ongoing and passionate debate.

“But in countries such as the US and Australia, either no or very little sulphur dioxide is used, while in Europe they are a little more relaxed about preservatives. So, in Europe, organic wines never tasted that much different to the non-organic wines people were used to.”

On top of tasting different, organic wine in new world countries frequently tasted unpleasant in the past.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, organic winemakers were making it up as they went along and the results were often suboptimal,” says Rezwanul.

“The quality of organic wines has improved dramatically, but one reason many older wine drinkers are wary of them could be bad past experiences.”

CAN SCEPTICAL AUSTRALIANS BE WON OVER?

Rezwanul has four suggestions for those who would like to see Australians drink more organic wine.

First, get the positioning right. “Think about how organic food is positioned in supermarkets,” he says. “Organic fruits and vegetables are prominently displayed in the fruit and vegetable section, making it easy for shoppers to notice then buy them. If you go into a bottle shop, the organic wines will often be ‘ghettoised’ in an obscure corner of the shop.”

Second, get the labelling right.

“Europeans, who grow up in cultures that have been producing wine for centuries, are confident about buying wine,” Rezwanul continues.

“Australians pay much more attention to labels. They want to be reassured by the information displayed on the label that

“You can mock hipsters as much as you like, but they are often tastemakers for the broader population.”

they are buying the ‘right’ wine. Organic winemakers have shot themselves in the foot with their failure to devise and universally embrace a logo that makes it clear their wine is chemical-free.”

Third, get the brand associations right.

“Some of the world’s most prestigious winemakers now make organic wines and these wines have won many awards,” Rezwanul says.

“Yet many Australians believe organic wine is still the product of a hippy cottage industry. It needs to be made clear to them that the organof the 2020s is far superior to that of the 1970s.”

Fourth, go after the hipsters first.

“The most bang for marketing buck will come from targeting young, inner-city professionals,” Rezwanul says.

“These are the consumers who want to signal that they are discerning and environmentally conscious by ordering a glass of organic wine at a restaurant. Or taking a bottle of organic wine to a friend’s barbecue. You can mock hipsters as much as you like, but they are often tastemakers for the broader population.”

THE SWEDISH EXAMPLE

In Sweden, the government controls the sale of alcohol. When it decided it wanted to promote the consumption of organic wine, it pursued the strategies suggested by Rezwanul.

“Long story short, the Swedish government mandated that organic wine be prominently displayed in bottle shops and invested in educating Swedes about the environmental and health benefits of organic wine.

“It also told Swedes they should buy it because it had a ‘pure taste’ and because it was a way of supporting local winemakers,” explains Rezwanul.

“That resulted in organic wine increasing its market share from 6 per cent to 20 per cent in a relatively short period.”

Dr Rezwanul Rana is a health economist at Macquarie University’s Centre for the Health Economy. This story was first published by The Lighthouse by Macquarie University, Sydney.

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: KALBAR SUNFLOWERS AND THEIR FAMOUS SUNFLOWER MAZE. IMAGE: KALBAR SUNFLOWERS.

THE SUNFLOWER SOLUTION

Three sunflower farmers are welcoming snaphappy tourists to boost their businesses.

words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

DID YOU KNOW?

Last year in September, media reports surfaced about canola farmers as far flung as Western Australia’s Wheat Belt to Central New South Wales complaining about tourists trespassing on their properties to take photographs of the bright yellow flowers for social media.

At the start of this year, sunflowers became the next craze. These golden yellow flowers are native to the Americas, and can grow up to three metres high. As they began to bloom, farmers braced themselves for the same influx of influencers.

But some innovative farmers have flipped the problem on its head: instead of shooing away photohunters, they are welcoming them and have remodelled their farms into tourism enterprises. Three sunflower farmers tell us the tricks of this new trade.

THE DRONE COMMANDER

“There are so many people who want to come and see sunflowers, but the last thing any farmer wants is to have people near their crops because of damage and the biosecurity risk,” says Roger Woods of Warraba Sunflowers in Cambooya, just south of Toowoomba in Queensland. “So we put two and two together and a couple of years ago planted a crop specifically to let people come and

interact with them. It’s $10 for adults, $5 for teenagers and kids under five are free.

“Initially I planted 24 hectares and thought 20 or 30 people might come, and then I would harvest the crop for $50,000,” Roger says. “But so many people turned up in the first year that harvesting the crop became a secondary consideration, and from there I realised that I only had to plant half as much because tourists don’t want to walk very far. Now we’re down to 10 acres.

“The key to sunflower tourism,” Roger says, “is to plant them so visitors get the best photo opportunities. They want to see some really big sunflowers but you also need smaller sunflowers; think about taking photos with kids. So I deliberately alter the spacing in different parts of the field so every visitor can find the photo opportunity they want. But if I was simply planting to harvest the crop, I would plant them very differently and I would protect them from birds with gas guns.

He adds, “I’m not even using pesticides here anymore. I use drones to populate the crop with native wasps to protect them from caterpillars and make that part of the tourism experience, too.”

Visit facebook.com/ warrabasunflowers

• The sunflower season runs from summer through to autumn. The best time of year to visit sunflower fields is January to March.

• Sunflowers rotate their heads during the day in the direction of the sun. At night, they face east in anticipation of the sunrise.

THE EVENT PLANNER

“Traditionally we were lucerne farmers – we used to grow hay,” says Jenny Jenner of Kalbar Sunflowers in Kalbar, an hour’s drive inland from Brisbane. “But at the start of 2020, our local dam ran dry because of the drought, so we started looking at what crops we could still grow with very little water. That’s when we came up with the idea of growing sunflowers for tourism.

“So we planted about 20 acres and invited people to the farm to have a sunflower experience. But instead of having people come every day, we started a sunflower festival one day of the year. We have food, market stalls, lots of people selling sunflower-

themed things, live music, the local radio station comes along and does a live broadcast and we built a maze made of sunflowers that the kids love. Plus we have tonnes of photo opportunities, hay bales and that sort of thing. We now charge $22 a ticket and we sell out quite quickly; every year we get about 15,000 people.

“Sunflowers are dead easy to grow,” says Jenny. “However, the biggest challenge is predicting when they’re going to bloom. Last year we had floods in February so it stunted their growth and we had to postpone the festival and it was a nightmare. So this year we learnt our lesson and won’t put the tickets on sale until a few weeks before.

“After the festival we just mulch them and put them back in the ground, as sunflowers have a lot of potassium and are very good for the soil. It’s a good little venture but we still work as farmers,” she says. “Now the rains have returned, we can grow lucerne again.”

Visit kalbarsunflowers.com.au

THE ACCIDENTAL FARMER

“My sunflower journey was a bit of an accident,” says Laiken Britt, owner of Pick Your Own Sunflowers in Dunnstown, 10 minute’s drive from Ballarat in Victoria. “My husband was a dairy farmer and then a cattle farmer and we have four boys. One day, I said I want to do something ‘girly’ like grow flowers. So I literally just threw a bag of sunflower seeds on the ground and they started growing everywhere.

“At first we tried being florists but that never eventuated because if you don’t have the right gear to transport them, the petals break,” she says. “Then I thought, why don’t I just open the farm up and let people pick their own?

“We advertised it on Facebook and Instagram in February 2020, and because it was the first time it had been done around here, a lot of people came – up to 1,000 every weekend. A lot of people just jumped the fence so in the second year we planted them surrounded by paddocks – you can’t see them anymore from the road.

“Why do people love sunflowers so much? You know it’s funny; a lot of men who visit us who get dragged here by their wives. Afterwards, I ask them if it was really that bad, and they say no. And kids living in the city just love them – they love running around and hiding in six-foot-tall sunflower fields. They just make people smile.”

Visit pickyourownsunflowers.com

THIS PAGE: PICK YOUR OWN SUNFLOWERS DUNNSTOWN; LAIKEN BRITT AND FAMILY FROM PICK YOUR OWN SUNFLOWERS. IMAGES: PICK YOUR OWN SUNFLOWERS DUNNSTOWN.

MYLKING IT

With non-dairy alternatives on the rise, Norco Co-operative – one of Australia’s last 100 per cent farmer-owned dairy co-ops – has launched its new mylk range.

Words: Danielle McIltrot

Norco’s new range features a P2 Pea Protein Mylk and Oat Mylk, allowing customers to buy both dairy and non-dairy products without needing to compromise on nutrition or taste.

The P2 Pea Protein Mylk is a plant-based milk alternative with the same protein, calcium and creaminess as full-cream dairy milk. Designed to deliver the dairy benefits that other plant mylks lack, it is free from gluten, soy, nuts and lactose, while also delivering a nutritional punch that is hard to beat.

Nutritionist and food educator

Georgia Barnes gives Norco’s P2 Pea Protein Mylk five stars for its nutritional value, but says it is the

taste that will create a new benchmark in the rise of milk alternatives.

“It’s got a creamy, sweet and subtle flavour which makes it incredibly versatile,” Georgia says.

Consumers might also enjoy Norco’s Oat Mylk, which is just as creamy, delicious and milky-tasting as P2 Pea Protein Mylk, but instead uses oat grains. High in calcium, low in sugar and great mixed into your beverage of choice, this Oat Mylk offers a great dairy-, nut- and soy-free option.

Norco’s general manager of commercial and strategy Ben Menzies says that, while plant-based diets are growing in popularity and an

increasing number of consumers shop for both dairy and non-dairy items, many of the products in market sadly do not benefit Australian farmers.

This new mylk range allows customers to continue to support local Australian farmers through Norco, while still buying the variety of milk products they are looking for.

“We’ve been making award-winning dairy for 128 years, so we know a thing or two about how award-winning milk should taste. Because no matter how it’s made – or what it’s made from – we want to give Aussie milk-lovers the milk they deserve, even when it doesn’t contain a drop of dairy,” Ben says.

Norco P2 Pea Protein Mylk and Oat Mylk are available in one-litre bottles in the dairy fridge at select Woolworths stores across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with an RRP of $5.50.

THIS PAGE: NORCO’S NEW NON-DAIRY MYLKS HAVE A CREAMY, SWEET FLAVOUR THAT TASTES GREAT IN SMOOTHIES.

MOOVING INTO 2023

Research has revealed the changes that Australian dairy farmers can expect for 2023.

Words: Matilda Meikle

According to a report from Rabobank, published in the Australian Dairy Seasonal Outlook, 2023 will be the fourth consecutive profitable year for Australia’s dairy sector.

While the industry can expect some challenges due to global market changes, Aussies should be prepared for another strong dairy season overall.

EXPECTED STRUGGLES

According to the report, milk prices for the upcoming season will be lower than the current levels. This is due to a number of factors, including stronger domestic dairy market returns, a weak Australian dollar, and “aggressive recruitment and retention strategies” being implemented by dairy processors to stay ahead of the market on milk supply.

“Australian dairy farmers will already be seeing the benefits of a significant correction in global fertiliser prices and, therefore, a boost in affordability.”

Author of the report and Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey predicts that the minimum price for milk in the upcoming 2023/2024 season will be between 8.50/kgMS and 9.00/kgMS.

“At worst, this represents a 10 per cent decrease from 2022/2023 prices and a farmgate milk price that is well above the medium-term average for southern Australia since the introduction of the industry’s Dairy Code of Conduct in January 2020,” he says.

“Another season of historicallyelevated milk prices will support farmgate margins.”

However, the report also claims that prices will level out, reaching stable levels that farmers can then use to determine their finances.

Similarly, Rabobank warns that farmers should prepare for continued struggles when it comes to the cost and availability of labour, as well as higher interest rates. Access to quality labour support will be an ongoing struggle, as a lack of workers leads to a competitive job market.

OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS

However, while the dairy industry can expect a dip in prices and labour, there’s much to celebrate about the upcoming season.

Rabobank expects a “welcome relief” for farmers after record highs for necessary products. While feed and fertiliser prices have been soaring, they are expected to dip over the coming months.

“Even if some dairy farmers see an easing in minimum price offers, this should come with cost relief,” says Michael.

This price relief is due to a strong season of what crops, leading to access to affordable feed and reduced risks associated with feed supply.

“Australian dairy farmers will already be seeing the benefits of a significant correction in global fertiliser prices and, therefore, a boost in affordability.

“Looking forward, Rabobank expects the underlying fundamentals in the fertiliser market to lead a period of price stability, which will assist

Australian dairy farmers as they prepare their nutrient management programs for the year ahead.”

Rabobank is suggesting farmers may be less affected by declining milk prices if they are simultaneously paying less for production, helping to alleviate financial pressures.

This offers new opportunities for investment, and Rabobank is encouraging farmers to evaluate their long-term investment strategies.

“There has been a notable pick up in investment to increase labour efficiency and improve capacity,” says Michael.

MARKET IMPACTS

Globally, milk prices appear to be falling due to a decrease in global dairy commodity prices. This is due to a number of factors including reduced import demands, an increase in milk production and changes to the market throughout retail and foodservice industries.

According to Rabobank, this has led to a 30 per cent fall in Australia’s international revenue. Similarly, the annual availability of milk for manufacturing purposes in Australia will fall below six billion litres for the first time since 1990.

However, while these factors may be affecting the global industry, our domestic market appears to be growing.

“The domestic market is experiencing a structural increase in consumer prices across the dairy aisle led by drinking milk and cheese in particular,” Michael notes.

“This is driven by dairy processors passing through record-high farmgate prices and other input costs. This is important as it will support the value chain and lead to stable farmgate milk prices over multiple seasons for those milk producers supplying the domestic market.”

This means farmers can expect higher demand for dairy products across national markets, leading to a strong 2023 season.

While the dairy industry will face new and recurring challenges over the coming year, Rabobank’s report has revealed that there is much to look forward to as well.

“The domestic market is experiencing a structural increase in consumer prices across the dairy aisle led by drinking milk and cheese in particular.”

IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT MENOPAUSE

THIS PAGE: TALKING ABOUT MENOPAUSE IN THE WORKPLACE CAN REDUCE STIGMA AND ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

Many women will experience menopause while they are in the workforce. How can businesses start the conversation to provide better support?

Words: Lauren Lefever

According to researchers at the Australian Menopause Society, the symptoms of menopause are becoming worse and worse, which directly affects menopausal women while they are at work. These symptoms can be often misdiagnosed as mental illness or other conditions, and can severely impact attendance and productivity.

As many women will experience menopause while they are of working age, it is vital to acknowledge the challenges they face in the workplace due to their menopausal symptoms.

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle, and happens to every woman at some point in her life. In Australia, more than 80 per cent of women experience mild to harsh menopause symptoms.

A quarter of women going through menopause endure debilitating symptoms, including but not limited to irregular periods, hot flashes, chills, mood changes, irregular sleep patterns and more. These symptoms can last up to 10 years, with many women cutting down their hours, only working part-time or retiring early to cope with their symptoms.

As a result of the severity of these symptoms, women can become discouraged at work, which results in a decrease in job satisfaction and reduced working hours. According to the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), menopause costs women upwards of $17 billion annually in lost revenue and superannuation.

Many women have difficulty identifying their symptoms, which leads them to avoid seeking help. Having colleagues who do not understand menopause or don’t have enough information about it makes it even harder for them to discuss or ask for help.

Researchers have found that early diagnosis and education is an important in dealing with menopause and its related illnesses. When the necessary actions are taken to educate others, it reduces absenteeism in the workplace

and encourages women to speak up about their experiences.

ENDING THE STIGMA

Janet Michelmore AO, CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, stresses the importance of ending the stigma in regards to menopause in the workplace and finding women the necessary treatment.

“We need to break taboos around the topic of menopause and encourage women, their partners and families, and workplaces to acknowledge this life stage and talk more openly about it. We need to find options and uncover more ways to keep women in the workplace so they can

contribute to society and the economy as they wish to,” says Janet.

Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a national not-for-profit organisation that advocates for women’s health education. The organisation honours the work of Jean Hailes, who opened the nation’s first women’s health clinic dedicated to menopause. In 2022, the Jean Hailes organisation opened two clinics in Victoria specialising in women’s health issues.

Janet encourages women everywhere to check out the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health website for updated information, booklets, videos and podcasts on how to manage menopausal symptoms.

“Important conversations and increased education for women and their health practitioners around menopause have to become the norm,” says Janet.

It’s essential that workplaces today recognise the negative impact menopause has on the many women at work.

There are many different strategies

management and HR can implement that will help women feel more comfortable talking about their symptoms and asking for assistance.

Some of them include:

– Encouraging support groups to discuss perceptions of menopause.

– Providing HR managers and other employees with the necessary training and information on what menopause is and how it can impact work conditions.

– Understanding that each woman experiences menopause differently.

– Creating new HR policies that promote menopause-friendly ideas.

– Assisting in awareness campaigns that acknowledge menopause and work to remove the stigma behind it.

Managing symptoms and understanding them better can greatly contribute to women’s wellbeing at work. It’s time we take the necessary steps to make women feel comfortable and heard at their workplace.

“We need to break taboos around the topic of menopause and encourage women, their partners and families, and workplaces to acknowledge this life stage and talk more openly about it.”

ENABLING A MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY BUSINESS

MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY WORKPLACE RECOGNITION

Menopause Alliance Australia has a team of experts in the field, including our Directors –gynaecologist, endocrinologist and fertility specialist, Professor Roger Hart; gynaecologists Dr Bernadette McElhinney and Dr Jennifer Pontre; women’s health specialist, general practitioner and menopause specialist, Dr Lesley Ramage, and highly experienced business professionals.

Menopause Alliance Australia can help you enable a menopause friendly business by:

✓ Engaging and providing guidance with implementing a workplace policy to reflect menopause.

✓ Certified evidence-based education and training.

✓ Advice and valuable support options tailored to your workplace.

✓ Online resources.

Be recognised with our endorsement badge as a MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY WORKPLACE by the expert panel of Menopause Alliance Australia.

“Investing in menopause can offer many rewards. Growing awareness of the problem and fem-tech could lead to better-run companies delivering higher returns.”

Financial Times

BEARING FRUIT

Grove Juice, a family-owned fresh juice processor, has launched new packaging that puts Indigenous artists in the spotlight.

words: Emily Riches

Bold, colourful and deeply connected to Country. These words describe the artwork of four globally renowned Central Western Desert artists whose work will grace the new packaging of Grove Juice’s two-litre range.

Grove Juice is 100 per cent Australian owned, backed by a generation of farmers who have been crafting naturally healthy, delicious fruit juice since the 1960s. They are one of the few remaining Australian family-owned fresh juice farmers and processors, with a team of over 150 people working across multiple farms and factories located in NSW and Qld.

For the collection, Grove Juice worked with the Warlukurlangu Art Centre to select the featured artists, including Agnes Nampijinpa Brown, Liddy Napanangka Walker, Vanetta Nampijinpa Hudson and Margaret Nangala Gallagher.

Warlukurlangu Artists is one of the longest running and most successful Aboriginal-owned art centres in Central Australia. It’s based in the community of Yuendumu in Central Australia, 290 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. A percentage of sales from every bottle will benefit both the artists and the Warlukurlangu Art Centre.

Grove Juice owner Dick Estens says the collaboration has been a “passion project,” driven by a desire to give back while also celebrating the incredible artistic talents of First Nations people.

GIVING BACK

Grove Juice is no stranger to community-focused projects. In the 1990s, Dick established the Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) – a not-for-profit that helps 1,500 Indigenous Australians find employment every year. Dick worked closely with key Aboriginal leaders to deliver the program, which is still going strong 20 years later.

Not only that, in 2011 the family opened a not-for-profit art gallery and cafe called Yaama Ganu in Moree, NSW. Owned and operated by the AES, Yaama Ganu proudly supports

“These beautiful works of art will not only seek to raise money for Indigenous communities, but help to build self-esteem via expanded employment opportunities.”

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE: A 2L BOTTLE IN THE ARTWORK SERIES; DICK ESTENS IN THE YAAMA GANU GALLERY. IMAGES: SUPPLIED.

and features consigned works from artists of the local Kamilaroi nation and Aboriginal-managed art centres from communities around Australia.

Dick’s work at AES saw him awarded the Human Rights Medal by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 2004, while in 2009 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. Some of the funds raised from sales of the Aboriginal Art Series will also go towards the essential service of the AES.

“These beautiful works of art will not only seek to raise money for Indigenous communities, but help to build self-esteem via expanded employment opportunities, and also enable Grove customers to learn about the work AES does whilst they eat their breakfast,” says Dick.

The values that Grove Juice operates by – being genuine, respectful, open, visionary and exact –clearly infuse everything the Estens do.

THE ARTISTS

The artists featured are from Yuendumu, a large Aboriginal community; the population comprises families from similar language groups with strong cohesive traditional culture. Each of the artist’s striking artworks shares powerful stories of Country.

Vanetta Nampijinpa

Hudson is 22 years old, and has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation since 2017.

Her designs feature on four of the labels: Orange with Pulp, Orange Mango Pineapple Passionfruit and Apple, the Apple,

Mandarin, Passionfruit and the Apple Ginger.

She paints the Walukurlangu Jukurrpa (Fire Dreaming) stories which were passed down to her by her father, and relate directly to her land and the plants and animals that inhabit it. She uses bold patterns and colours to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.

Liddy Napanangka Walker (now deceased) was a pivotal figure at the Warlukurlangu Art Centre, joining shortly after its inception in 1985. She was born in 1925 at Mt Doreen, and spent her younger years living with her family in bush camps. Her artwork features on the Cloudy Apple label, and depicts the Purlapurla Jukurrpa (Black Kite Dreaming), which tells the story of an ancestral hero.

WORTH THE SQUEEZE

Managing Director at Grove

Juice Greg Quinn expects the collaboration to be a successful fundraising platform for the Warlukurlangu Art Centre and the AES.

“Our limited edition two-litre juices will be available in over 840 supermarkets across Coles, Woolworths and Aldi nationally, and we hope to raise at least $50,000. With our established relationships with Indigenous communities, we may look to build on this initiative over time and feature other amazing artists from across Australia, for future brand collaborations.”

The colourful new range is available now in Coles, Woolworths and Aldi for a limited time only.

FAST FACTS

Grove Juice juices 833,000 oranges, 160,000 apples and 87,000 pears a day. All their fruit is sourced from local, regional farms in Australia.

“Our limited edition two litre juices will be available in over 840 supermarkets across Coles, Woolworths and Aldi nationally, and we hope to raise at least $50,000.”

Words: Matilda Meikle

What was your experience like working in the construction industry, and how did being bullied by your manager affect you?

My manager was a serial bully. He would physically intimidate me, undermine my efforts and break down my confidence. I felt completely alone and helpless, which ultimately led me on my mission to develop Bullyology and raise awareness about the toxic bullying and harassment happening in Australian workplaces.

Tell me about the Upstander Movement. Where did the idea come from and how did you go about setting it up?

The idea came when I learnt about ‘the bystander effect,’ where people stand by, turn a blind eye or walk by certain incidents

Q&A WITH ‘BULLYOLOGIST’ JESSICA HICKMAN

work to create systemic cultural change. I think people are really receptive to the training because they feel empowered.

because they just don’t want to get involved. I could clearly see bad behaviour was becoming the norm in workplaces, so I decided to teach people what they could do to be an Upstander. The Upstander Movement is about helping people become the champions and custodians of workplace culture through awareness, dedicated training and capability building.

What has the reaction been like from the schools and workplaces that participate in your workshops?

Extremely positive, people are loving the proactive approach to building a speak-up culture. It’s been really exciting to see organisations doing more than just ticking a box. They’re putting in the hard

As well as creating healthier workplace cultures, are there any major changes you feel Australia needs to make as a whole?

I think we need to start by reframing thoughts around bullying. With the workplace becoming more and more multicultural and multi-generational, old ideas just aren’t going to fly. We need to be purpose driven, with the values of empathy, ethics and equality. To stay current and relevant, businesses need to be proactive and fight to be better.

Your new book, The Upstander Leader: How to Develop a Speak-up Culture, came out last year. What inspired you to write this guide?

A lot of business leaders were reaching out to me saying that they wanted to create change. They wanted to make sure that they were

not unconsciously becoming involved in unethical practices. After running workshops for many years on the Upstander Movement, I decided that it was time to package it in a book for leaders. It’s ultimately a toolkit for existing and emerging leaders on how to create a thriving workplace culture and spark change.

What can we be doing on an individual level in order to support this move towards healthier working environments?

Grab a copy of the book, engage in a session within your workplace and commit to being an upstander!

What’s next for you and the Upstander Movement?

Lots of exciting things are happening. The book is out now, and I’m also going to be doing lots of talks and workshops with proactive organisations across Australia. The new version of the Upstander Academy has launched, so I’m very excited for this new chapter to begin.

Jessica Hickman is paving the way for healthier workplace culture with the Upstander Movement. She spoke to us about the future of Aussie business, meaningful change and her new book.

Q&A WITH RUBY RIETHMULLER

Words:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to start Womn-Kind?

Having grown up on a farm in regional NSW and navigated my own mental health challenges, I felt compelled to create a youth-led organisation to reduce the burden of mental illness on young people, curb the statistics and change the stigma. Born around the idea that “I thought it was just me (but it isn’t),” Womn-Kind is a unique source of personal empowerment and emotional support with a strong philosophy of young people leading young people.

What are some of the issues young people face that Womn-Kind helps to address?

Research suggests that over 60 per cent of young people in Australia are suffering from psychological distress and that suicide is the leading cause of death. At the centre of many challenges is societal pressure and expectations.

Womn-Kind dives into fostering body confidence, personal growth, leadership skills, a balanced lifestyle, practicing healthy habits, communicating your needs and emotions, navigating changing relationships, using your voice for good

and managing uncomfortable emotions.

What is the value of mentorship for girls and other young people? Even with a loving family, a great group of friends or the support of school staff, teenage girls can often feel isolated, lost or misunderstood. WomnKind provides girls with an ally without judgement. Our mentors are nurturing the upcoming generation of empowered female leaders to recognise their potential, find comfort in their own skin and take proactive charge of their mental health.

How can we as a community better support young people when it comes to mental health?

If we are to encourage young people to feel comfortable to share their emotions and experiences – both the good and the bad – then we need to be open to having the hard conversations, lean into vulnerability and engage in mental health promoting activities. Young people are as much the future leaders as they are the present leaders, and therefore need to be present in any room where decisions are made, particularly those that relate to them.

Can you tell us about the new Womn-Kind app?

The Womn-Kind App is a social wellness app, which will provide on-demand access to evidence-based, engaging and largely preventative wellbeing resources that optimise the mental health of girls and gender diverse young people. Launched in October 2022, our app was carefully curated over the last 18 months by young people for young people, with the aim of ensuring every girl –regardless of her geographic location – has access to the right support at the right time. Our app covers everything from leadership to consent, sleep and body

image, and has resources on yoga, Pilates, meditation and breathing. Users can engage with an inclusive, diverse and empowering online community and connect with a network of allied health professionals from the comfort and convenience of their own device.

What’s next for you and Womn-Kind?

Among many other things in 2023, we’ll be embarking on a regional tour to deliver wellbeing workshops in communities that may not otherwise have the same access to mental health services.

We chat to Ruby, founder of Womn-Kind, about the launch of the Womn-Kind App: a first-of-its-kind social wellness app to improve access to mental health resources for young people.

Emily Riches

To stay up to date with WomnKind, check out their Instagram (@womnkind) or website womnkind.com.au

New Trinity Pro survey drone available from Position Partners

Next Generation drone from Quantum Systems expands operational capabilities, reduces risk and provides industry-leading aerial intelligence.

Position Partners is pleased to announce the availability of Quantum Systems’ new Trinity Pro remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) for the Australian and New Zealand market.

The new model, with its broad range of sensors, further improves the ROI from its highly successful predecessor the Trinity F90+, and firmly places itself as the premier fixed-wing VTOL drone.

“Having seen the new model in action during an exclusive distributor pre-release event in Germany last week, the team at Position Partners is excited to introduce this highperformance VTOL solution to our local market,” said Gavin Docherty, RPAS Product Manager at

Position Partners, Quantum Systems’ Australian and New Zealand distributor.

ADDRESSING THE EVERCHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMERCIAL MARKET

The Trinity Pro, with its state-of-theart flight control system, allows for continued adaptation and evolution to meet ever-changing industry requirements.

Designed with the needs of tomorrow’s data consumers in

mind, the Trinity Pro provides an expanded feature set, capturing and delivering more data in less time than ever before. The Trinity Pro transforms drone capabilities, while remaining easy to operate and simple to integrate into existing workflows.

With minimal downtime and low maintenance requirements, the Trinity Pro positions itself as the easiest to use, and highest performance fixed wing/VTOL drone on the market today.

FOCUSING ON HARDWARESOFTWARE SYNTHESIS

The Trinity Pro is an advanced unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed to adapt to changing demands, provide additional connectivity and accelerate decision-making. At the heart of Trinity Pro is the Quantum-Skynode autopilot, utilising a Linux mission computer. This provides additional onboard computing power, increased internal storage, versatility and seamless interoperability. These advanced avionics systems enable AI-readiness for the platform, support for downstream integration of nextgeneration sensors and provide cutting-edge safety features during field operations.

Included in the Trinity Pro system is Quantum-Systems’ proprietary operations software, QBase 3D, and an ever-expanding portfolio of industry workflow and software integrations, which eliminate complex mission setup processes and maximize ROI in terms of cost and time efficiency.

The Trinity Pro’s new capabilities include planning functions for missions requiring take-off and landing at different locations, allowing for efficient and safe long corridor flights and BVLOS operations. The platform also incorporates advanced self-diagnostics to ensure smooth and safe operation.

Trinity Pro launches alongside a new customer portal, an online solution for managing individual drones and fleets, training and support activities. Users can easily access support, training materials, documentation and online courses to enhance their skills and earn certifications.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Trinity Pro now includes an enhanced terrain-following system, which significantly improves safety during operations. Additionally, improvements to trigger point calculations results in improved

image overlap and higher data quality.

Trinity Pro also features automatic wind simulation for crash avoidance in bad weather and a linear approach for landing.

Furthermore, Trinity Pro is equipped with a downfacing LiDAR scanner that provides highly accurate ground avoidance and landing control. The system features USB-C ports for faster data transfer. Trinity Pro is protected against dust and water damage and features increased wind limits of up to 14 m/s in cruise mode (handling gusts up to 18m/s) and 11 m/s during hover.

“Hundreds of customers across various industries, including mapping, surveying, forestry, utilities and construction, rely on the Trinity platform in their daily operations. The new capabilities of Trinity Pro make it even easier for professionals to expedite data collection and management, operations, and ultimately improve decision making. Through an enhanced user experience and a streamlined integration of future technologies, we are building on the success of the Trinity platform to help customers take advantage of aerial intelligence at scale,” said Florian Seibel, CEO of QuantumSystems GmbH.

BUILT ON THE LEGACY OF THE TRINITY F90+ UAS

The Trinity UAS (launched in 2017) was designed to streamline the complex process of collecting aerial data. Since then, the Trinity platform has continued to improve in its performance and functionality, and additional features have been introduced to make the technology even more accessible and usable for daily operations.

With drone adoption continuing to rise, worldwide customers are utilising the Trinity platform to gather more aerial data than ever before to optimise their business processes. The platform has already accumulated over 75,000 flight hours and continues to innovate in response to the increasing demand for automation, data quality and safety assurance.

This announcement builds upon Trinity’s established success in supporting professionals across various industries, and it introduces novel solutions to meet even the most demanding requirements of commercial users.

For more information about Position Partners, visit positionpartners.com.au or call 1300 867 266.

THE BIG NEW BOOM

What post-pandemic crisis? The future is bright for Australia’s mining sector.

words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

The outlook for mining in Australia has never looked brighter. That’s the gospel according to every analyst in the sector, which is experiencing conditions similar to the boom of 2010, and then some. Growth is being driven by unending demand for coal and iron ore plus a rejuvenation in strategic metals such as copper, nickel, zinc and lithium.

“We’re going through a period that’s been as good as we’ve seen in probably 20 or 30 years,” says Warren Pearce, CEO of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies.

But it’s not going to be business-asusual in the new boom. Rising environmental, social and governance

concerns mean mining companies are going to have to do and be seen to be doing a lot more to earn and maintain their social licence and attract the best people to fill jobs.

In this edition of AusBiz, we take a closer look at the multibillion-dollar opportunities and make or break challenges in what is gearing up to be the most exciting and transformative era in the history of mining.

BREAD AND BUTTER

In 2021, mining companies benefited from higher commodity prices and a weaker Australian dollar, which saw export earnings hit a record $310

ABOVE AND BELOW: WORKERS AT GREENBUSHES, AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST LITHIUM MINE, IMAGE BY TALISON LITHIUM; ELECTRIC CARS ARE DRIVING DEMAND FOR LITHIUM.

billion. In 2022-23, the country’s mining and energy exports were estimated to smash that record again, reaching $464 billion, according to the Australian Government’s March 2023 Resources and Energy Quarterly report.

Despite the headlines, coal continues to account for more than a quarter of these earnings as it remains a key source of global energy. “China, India and Russia make up 50 per cent of global electricity consumption – 70 per cent is from burning coal,” Jessica Amir, Australian market strategist at Danish investment bank Saxo, told the Investing News Network. “Global electricity generated from coal surged 9 per cent to a new record high in 2021.”

Australian iron ore exports are also looking strong, with production set to increase by 2 per cent this year on the back of new projects that began operations in 2021. Australia’s two largest miners, BHP and Rio Tinto, expect iron ore production to increase by nearly 17 per cent compared to 2021.

“There is a significant opportunity for Australian miners to build or expand processing and refining capacity,” EY’s global mining and metals leader Paul Mitchell told the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Bulletin.

But the absolute dominance of these commodities will soon start to wane. “Historically, the Australian mining sector has been focused on iron ore and coal, whereas we are seeing a rejuvenation in the base metals such as copper, nickel and zinc, along with a rapidly expanding lithium sector,” says David Franklyn, executive director of Argonaut, a corporate advisory firm in Perth.

Made to work for you

safety comes first it’s at the heart of what merlo does

In 1987 Merlo released the world’s first Telehandler, with 360-degree panoramic visibility. This feature removes potential room for error, offers increased accuracy and increased safety for operators. Other Merlo safety features come standard on most Australian models and include: Patented Merlo Chassis Frame Leveling which allows the operator to effectively offset uneven terrain for safer machine operation. Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS), Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS), the Merlo Ring of Steel, removable Operator Protective Guards (OPG), reversing camera, emergency rear exit and industry standard safety lights. Merlo CDC Dynamic Load Control introduces a completely new approach to the control of safe operating as the system identifies the weight and position of the load and enters them in a virtual load diagram calculating the stability index and conveying this to the operator in real time.

NEW BOYS IN TOWN

Demand for base metals is being driven by the electrification revolution that will power transport for decades to come. And it’s sending prices of base metals used to make rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to the moon. Copper prices hit a record high in 2021 while the spot price for lithium jumped more than 600 per cent in the first half of 2022. Citigroup projects more “extreme” price hikes are likely for lithium – which spells good news for Australia, the world’s largest producer.

“There is a growing demand for the minerals integral to renewable energy, electric vehicles and energy storage systems,” says Paul Mitchell of EY. This means more demand for battery metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt as well as rare earths.

Professor Matthew Hill, deputy head of chemical and biological engineering at Monash University, adds: “We are going into a commodity super-cycle as we electrify everything.”

Demand for hydrogen, a gas made with renewable energy that will be the key to decarbonising hard-to-electrify sectors like trucking and steelmaking, is also on a steep upwards trajectory. Australia, which has vast areas where either sunshine or wind is in nearconstant supply, is emerging as the regional hub for green hydrogen production. In fact, the Australian government estimates hydrogen exports and domestic use could generate more than $50 billion within 30 years.

Paul agrees: “Australia has the opportunity to be a green energy powerhouse if it has the political will and foresight, endowed with vast reserves of lithium, nickel, copper, rare earths, uranium and plenty of wind and sun, to drive renewable energy production.”

THIS PAGE: WIND FARM IN ALBANY, WA; COPPER PRICES HIT A RECORD HIGH IN 2021.

“Acknowledging and adapting to this reality can help mining companies operate with greater understanding and empathy, ultimately transforming their workplace – and the workforce.”

Remote mining towns in Western Australia and Queensland are also looking toward hydrogen and base metals as a way to mitigate the boom-bust cycle that has dogged Australian mining communities since the very first gold rush of 1851.

“Relying on six commodity prices certainly helps level out the field,” Tony Simpson, CEO of Regional Development Australia’s Pilbara office, told the ABC. “The more we can diversify, we’re not relying on one commodity price or two.”

PEOPLE AND THE PLANET

To make good on these opportunities, mining companies are going to have to solve staff shortages that have put a dent in production in Australia during the pandemic. Rio Tinto’s iron production declined 3.3 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020, due to labour shortages and commissioning delays, while a shortage of train drivers and weatherrelated disruptions saw BHP’s iron ore supply increase by only 0.1 per cent in the same period.

Accenture head of natural resources David Burns believes a more individualistic approach to human resources, which looks at every dimension of every worker, will help solve the deficit. “Acknowledging and adapting to this reality can help mining companies operate with greater understanding and empathy, ultimately transforming their workplace – and the

workforce,” he told Australian Resources & Investment, a mining journal. New technologies, such as drones to carry out pit surveillance and autonomous trucks and trains, can further devise new ways to gain efficiencies, he added.

But the biggest challenge to unlocking more value in the sector will be meeting –and exceeding – environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements in a lowcarbon, low-waste, purpose-driven future.

“ESG is no longer optional or a point of differentiation. It is the minimum operating standard,” says Paul Bendall, global mining leader at PwC.

“Stakeholders are increasing the pressure, and strong social licences, responsible divestitures and tax transparency will be important for success.”

Professor Neville Plint, director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland, reckons a key focus of the moment and beyond will be how to extract minerals from the ground without doing any harm whatsoever to local communities and ecosystems.

“[Mining companies] must show how they are working positively with local communities, how they are mining responsibly and sustainably, and how they are contributing to a low-carbon economy,” he says, adding that new ESG requirements must be carried by every single person working in the industry.

ABOVE: DRONE SHOT OF THE GREENBUSHES MINE. IMAGE BY TALISON LITHIUM.

DUSTING UP ON DUST POLLUTION

The Queensland government’s Ignite Ideas Fund has been awarded to a program protecting both workers and the environment through dust suppression.

Words: Matilda Meikle

Global Road Technology (GRT), an international engineering company, received $100,000 during round nine of Queensland’s Ignite Ideas Fund. This money will go towards its dust control solution, aimed at protecting miners and other workers, as well as prioritising the environment.

GRT’s product will revolutionise the mining sector by focusing on dust suppression – and now it has the government backing its progress.

WHAT IS DUST SUPPRESSION?

Dust suppression is the process of limiting airborne dust particles, most often used in mines, construction sites and roads. When left unchecked, dust pollution can cause several life-

threatening diseases, putting workers and the environment at risk.

Dust pollution is caused when different particles are released into the air due to the cutting of certain types of rocks during mining, or other disruption to the land. Initial exposure causes irritation to the eyes, skin and lungs. However, longer exposure can lead to several lung diseases, including coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and lung cancer.

For companies like GRT, this reality highlights the need for greater protection for workers. Already, research has suggested its products deliver a maximum of 75 per cent cost saving compared to conventional methods, and are significantly more effective.

LEFT: GLOBAL ROAD TECHNOLOGY RECEIVED $100,000 IN ROUND NINE OF THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S IGNITE IDEAS FUND FOR THEIR DUST CONTROL SOLUTION.

A DARING DEVICE

To combat dust pollution, GRT has proposed its SMART Dosing Unit, which enhances the effectiveness of dust suppression and water management systems on mine sites. The polymer-based dust suppression technique stops the generation of dust particles while also stabilising road surfaces. It is designed to work under extreme weather conditions without negatively impacting the environment.

It works as a water additive, increasing the efficiency of water to capture dust particles for a longer duration. This reduces water usage and allows for more effective dust suppression.

GRT CEO Troy Adams says the funding will allow the company to enhance its presence in the national market. He hopes to provide mining

sites with a simple solution to reducing dust pollution.

“Our SMART dosing technology is receiving great traction in the mining industry, with trials being run on some of the biggest mine sites in Australia as mines look at ways to reduce their carbon footprint and the amount of particulate pollution generated by their activities – both issues that our product can address.

“Designed and assembled by GRT’s engineers, these Australianmanufactured SMART Dosing Units consist of a central control and satellite communication module utilising complex technology to provide the ability to remotely control and automate product use.

“As a company, we are grateful for the support of the Queensland government’s Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas initiative, as the funding will assist us in accelerating our growth, while at the same time assisting the mining industry as it protects workers and the environment.”

The funding announcement coincides with GRT’s continued expansion into an internationally recognised engineering technology company. In February, they revealed a partnership with TotalEnergies Marketing Australia, which will offer a collection of environmentally safe, sustainable and cutting-edge dust suppression products.

THIS PAGE: MINE SITES IN AUSTRALIA ARE NOW TRIALLING GRT’S SMART DOSING UNIT TO REDUCE DUST POLLUTION.

“As a company, we are grateful for the support of the Queensland government’s Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas initiative, as the funding will assist us in accelerating our growth, while at the same time assisting the mining industry as it protects workers and the environment.”

OVER THE RAINBOW

Nina’s Jewellery in the East Kimberley is one of Australia’s most unique jewellers, specialising in rare natural coloured diamonds. We spoke to Product Manager and designer of the Rainbow Collection, Shivangi Modi, on what makes these gems so special.

Words: Emily Riches

Can you tell us about your background and role as Product Manager at Nina’s Jewellery?

I’ve been in jewellery since I was 16. I studied at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in New York and have worked as a diamond buyer in the Diamond District (USA) and range developer and designer in Mumbai Seepz. I always aspired to move to Australia and work with gems that were so rare and unique. It was a really good opportunity when I started at Nina’s: it gave me so much growth in my diamond knowledge as well as in coloured diamonds.

Nina’s has a long relationship with the Argyle Mine in Australia’s East Kimberley. How did it first begin? Not only were we the first ateliers, but Nina’s was also the very first to buy a pink diamond from the Argyle Mine – we even have that receipt framed! From there, we shared a very close relationship with the mine for 35 years. Another advantage for Nina’s is that we are located so close to the Kimberley region, as we are based in the mining town of Kununurra.

What gives the Argyle diamonds their unique colours?

The unique composition of Argyle diamonds is attributed to a volcanic pipe – commonly known as the Argyle pipe – made of olivine lamproite.

Argyle diamonds are type IIa diamonds (a rare type of diamond with an exceptionally pure chemical composition: almost all carbon, with negligible amounts of nitrogen or boron) with a very uniform pink color. There’s no other mine or mining site in the world which has the mineral composition or carbon structure that gives the diamonds their famous pink colour and intensity. This is why the Argyle diamonds are so rare. Interestingly, the blue diamonds can often be more expensive than the pink!

What are some of the features that make a diamond more valuable?

For white diamonds, there are the four Cs: cut, colour, clarity and carat. But with the pink diamonds, it’s a different ball game. The most important thing is the intensity of the pink. You have the four Ps – P, for true pink with no secondary shades; PP, which is pink with a hint of purple; PR, which is pink rose; and PC which is pink champagne – and they are ranked on a scale of intensity from 1-9, with 1 being the highest. 3P, 4P and 5P is a good range.

What was the process for designing a piece of diamond jewellery for the Rainbow Collection?

We have a workshop in Dunsborough, which is our head office, where we have qualified master jewellers with

years and years of experience. The difference between a Nina’s piece of jewellery and others is that we pay a lot of attention to the manufacturing, such as the quality, structure and strength. The devil is always in the details.

The placement is also really important when you design these coloured diamonds, because they need to be placed in a certain way to reflect and complement each other: green next to pink, rose gold bevels for the pink diamonds to make them pop, and so on. We always try to be ahead of the market, and create something extraordinary

Our Rainbow Collection is very unique and inspired by the colours and textures of the landscape and nature. The boab pendant is representative of the most popular Kimberley designs that we have, and is our most loved and signature piece. My inspiration has been to work with the whole spectrum of coloured diamonds, and to create something that no one has seen before.

Do you have many customers who are looking just to invest?

Yes, as we offer loose pink diamonds as well, which not many jewellers do. When the time is right, our customers often come back to us to get their diamond set in a unique design, because we are one of the few who offer this service as well.

THIS PAGE: A SELECTION OF RINGS FROM THE RAINBOW COLLECTION. IMAGE: SUPPLIED.

LORD OF THE FRUIT FLIES

Every year, fruit flies destroy hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of fruit and vegetable in Australia. But after three successive years of La Niña, some parts of our country are facing the worst fruit fly infestation on record – and the potential for losses to escalate into the billions. We speak to three Australians on the frontline of the war against one of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests.

Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

THIS PAGE: THE HUMBLE FRUIT FLY IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST DESTRUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL PESTS.

THE OLD TIMER

“Fruit flies are nothing new here in South Australia. We’ve never been free of them. But I’ve been a farmer for 30 years and last year was the worst I’ve ever seen,” says Mark Doecke, an orange farmer and chairman of Citrus South Australia. “The climate has been perfect for them and they can breed more than they usually do and in places we have never seen them before.”

Mark reckons 80 per cent or more of the problem stems not from orchards like his but from fruit trees in residential areas. “In the summer, fruit flies will naturally go to people’s backyards where it’s cooler. And there’s nothing that they love more than stone fruit, so people can make a huge difference by maintaining their fruit trees. That means picking fruit off their trees as soon as they ripen and not leaving any rotten fruit on the ground. Or just getting rid of the trees altogether. In Waikerie, a town not far from where I live in the Riverina region, the government is running a program where they’ll take fruit trees out of your garden and replace them with gum trees – free of charge. It’s only been going since December but the uptake has been good. They’ve already removed more than 100 trees.”

The Department of Primary Industries in South Australia is also trialling a more high-tech solution: Sterile Insect Technique, or SIT,

where male fruit flies that have been sterilised with an X-ray are released by light aircraft over fruit growing areas. Female fruit flies can’t detect they are sterilised, so they mate but nothing transpires. Fruit fly populations are thus reduced.

“It’s the biggest and best tool in our box,” Mark says. “Unlike pesticides, SIT is non-invasive, you can put them everywhere and people don’t get upset. They’ve been releasing 20 million per week but with this many fruit flies, it’s not enough. By spring they’re hopefully going to double it to 40 million per week.”

THE INVENTOR

“We’re always facing pests and diseases that are seasonally dependent, but fruit flies have always been one of those things we find very difficult to control,” says Brendon Hoyle, an organic strawberry farmer in the Glass House Mountains of South East Queensland.

“With soft skin fruit such as strawberries, they lay the eggs under the skin and the larvae eat through the inside. A lot of the time it is quite difficult to notice there’s a problem by just looking at the fruit from the outside, which makes it really hard for us to rely on the quality of our strawberries. Two years ago the infestation was so bad we had to stop growing in the middle of the season.”

Brendon says fighting fruit flies is getting harder as a result of the nationwide trend towards less invasive farming techniques. “The agricultural industry as a whole is starting to clean up its act and use softer chemicals. And while that is a good thing and much better for our health, with that we are losing the ability to control fruit flies. As an organically certified farmer, I can’t use any chemicals at all. So we have to come up with new kinds of defences. We are looking at options all the time.”

“The agricultural industry as a whole is starting to clean up its act and use softer chemicals. And while that is a good thing and much better for our health, with that we are losing the ability to control fruit flies.”

Brendon is currently using a combination of defences that include sticky traps, sterilised fruit flies and, believe it or not, a giant vacuum cleaner he invented that won him the title of Australian Organic 2022 Farmer of the Year.

“In 2015 I was in the US where they also have big problems with fruit flies, and I saw a bug vacuum cleaner towed with a tractor over a crop,” he says. “I brought the idea back to my farm and designed a version of it for strawberries. When I realised it helped, I made a bigger version that covers three rows of strawberries at the same time and sits 10cm over the strawberry plants. It has big hydraulically driven fans on top that suck the bugs off the crop and push them through a screen, which effectively kills them.”

THE CHAIR

“I’ve spent a lifetime working in agriculture and exports, and I can tell you as far as problems go, fruit flies are huge,” says John Webster, chairperson of the National Fruit Fly Council.

“Look at it this way: the horticulture industry employs 60,000 people in Australia and exports $3 billion worth of produce every year. Forty-three per cent of that produce is susceptible to fruit flies. So, if we were to let the problem get ahead of us, the fruit fly could instead become a billiondollar problem.”

The reason it hasn’t so far, John says, is all the fantastic work being done by the scientific community and customs officers who keep new fruit fly species out of Australia and make sure our exports are also fruit fly-free: “We have a reciprocal obligation with the countries we export to, to make

sure we don’t send them problems with our products. We don’t just whack it into a container and send it off. There’s a whole bunch of sciencebased protocols and very detailed negotiations to make sure our fruit and vegetables are safe for importing countries.”

John also credits the hard work authorities do to prevent fruit flies from travelling between states, especially out of Queensland, where 90 per cent of horticulture is susceptible to fruit flies. But he also believes everyday Australians can play a more active role in fighting fruit flies.

“When you fly into Australia, it’s really clear how vigilant we all have to be. You get fumigated against fruit flies in the plane when it lands and there are massive fines for bringing in certain kinds of foods,” John says. “But say you’re flying from Queensland to Mildura and you’re carrying a hitchhiker in your lunchbox you don’t know about. You then rent a car, cross the border to South Australia and inadvertently cause an outbreak.

“That’s why you have to be very careful not to carry any fruit and vegetables from one airport to another,” he says. “Don’t bring it to eat, not even at the airport before you take off. Leave it at home. It will make a huge difference. Every bit of effort will make a difference to our biosecurity.”

“When you fly into Australia, it’s really clear how vigilant we all have to be. You get fumigated against fruit flies in the plane when it lands and there are massive fines for bringing in certain kinds of foods.”

LEFT TO RIGHT: THE QUEENSLAND FRUIT FLY LAYING EGGS IN A RIPE FRUIT; THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY. IMAGE: PIA SCANLON, DPRID WA.

NOT JUST A SONG AND DANCE

The ability of lyrebirds to mimic sounds is world famous. However, a recent study has shown that they could be losing their voice if more isn’t done to protect their habitat.

Words: Emily Riches

Lyrebirds are one of the animal kingdom’s greatest mimics, famous for their phenomenal ability to imitate sounds made by other birds. Males are also well-known for their impressive mating dance and visual display.

The Albert’s lyrebird is the lesser known of Australia’s two lyrebirds (the most well-known being the superb lyrebird). It is a shy, solitary bird, only found in a small region of subtropical rainforest in the mountainous areas of Bundjalung Country, on the border between New South Wales and Queensland.

A recent study by Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment has found that the Albert’s lyrebird is in danger of losing its song. We spoke to the leading researcher, PhD student Fiona Backhouse, about why this might be the case.

CALL OF THE WILD

Fiona was initially drawn to studying lyrebirds due to an early interest in music. “When I found out that you could study birdsong, almost like you can study music, that was just fascinating to me,” she says.

To gather the data for the study, Fiona and a small team recorded the Albert’s lyrebird over two winter breeding seasons in different locations, including Mount Tamborine, Lamington National Park, the Border Ranges National Park, Mount Jerusalem National Park, and Main Range National Park.

Using handheld recording devices, she aimed to record as many lyrebird songs as possible – even if it meant waiting for long periods of time out in the cold. She also used an automated sound recording device, which she could leave behind to record for a certain amount of time each day.

Lyrebirds can mimic 11 different species, with up to 37 different sounds. One of the questions Fiona is frequently asked is how she knows the difference between a lyrebird call or the original species.

“It’s something that you have to get your ear in for,” she says. “One of the tricks is that they mimic in a string of mimicry that’s quite predictable. If you’re hearing a kookaburra, a satin bowerbird, a rosella and then a robin all from the same spot, you can be pretty sure it’s a lyrebird. But they also have their own songs that they sing fairly regularly, so you can keep an ear out for that.”

A SOCIAL NETWORK

From these recordings, Fiona was able to interpret that there was less diversity in the lyrebirds’ songs.

“What’s happening is that individuals in areas that have less available habitat are mimicking fewer sounds from different species and fewer species overall,” explains Fiona. “The species they mimic are still found across all of the areas that we studied,

OPPOSITE AND RIGHT: AN ALBERT’S LYREBIRD; IMAGE: IMOGEN WARREN; ALBERT’S LYREBIRD DANCING. IMAGE: ALEX MAISEY.

“If there are fewer lyrebirds around for them to learn from, they’re probably not going to be able to sing in quite as big a diversity as in areas where there are lots of lyrebirds.”

so what we think is happening instead is that there are actually fewer and more isolated lyrebirds in these areas.”

This is because lyrebirds predominantly learn their songs from each other, rather than from the birds they hear around them – this is called social transmission. It forms part of the birds’ culture, and as the songs are passed between birds over generations, they change and adapt over time and geographic location.

“If there are fewer lyrebirds around for them to learn from, they’re probably not going to be able to sing with quite as much diversity as in areas where there are lots of lyrebirds,” Fiona says.

The destruction of habitat leading to small, disconnected areas is particularly detrimental to these large, solitary birds. As lyrebirds are poor fliers and unable to travel large distances, they need substantial connected areas of habitat for movement and cultural exchange between populations.

Continued habitat loss, particularly for those populations already impacted, could therefore mean further loss of cultural diversity. And, as the vocal displays and mimicry of male lyrebirds are largely targeted towards females, the males in these areas may no longer be as attractive

as a mate. This could lead to populations getting even smaller, and the loss of even more songs. While researchers aren’t sure whether this is happening to such an extent yet, Fiona says that it’s definitely a possibility and something that we should be concerned about.

POPULATION PERIL

The Albert’s lyrebird is already very vulnerable to population loss. There’s estimated to be fewer than 10,000 individuals in the wild, and females only lay one egg each year. The rates of nest predation can be quite high. “If something like a feral cat or fox comes and takes the egg, that’s it until next year,” says Fiona.

Habitat availability can be impacted by development, climate change and bushfires. In the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, an estimated 3 billion animals were killed, injured or displaced, and Fiona suspects the fires also had a negative impact on Albert’s lyrebird populations.

“At state level, they are listed as either vulnerable in New South Wales or near threatened in Queensland. So there’s a bit of discrepancy there about how threatened they are.”

While researchers are not sure whether the population is decreasing, Fiona says that the most important thing is to protect the current

population. “The main issue is just there’s not very many of them, so we really need to make sure that we can protect what’s there.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

What are some of the steps that we can take towards protecting the Albert’s lyrebird?

“The biggest thing at the moment is to maintain their habitat,” says Fiona. “We need to make sure that we don’t take away any existing habitat, protect what’s there and stop invasive weeds. There are some programs around Murwillumbah in the Tweed basin to remove things like lantana, which is a really noxious weed in the area, and helping to revegetate some of the rainforests that were in those areas. So that’s fantastic. If we can continue those efforts, I think that’ll be really helpful for lyrebird populations.”

While this particular study is now complete, Fiona is not done with lyrebirds just yet. Her next project involves a study of both the Albert’s and superb lyrebirds, exploring their dance and amazing visual displays, as well as further research into mimicry.

DID YOU KNOW?

It’s not just male lyrebirds that sing. Females also have their own mimicry and songs. Females sing to defend their territory against other females, and to protect their nests from predators.

LEFT TO RIGHT: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION OF THE ALBERT’S LYREBIRD WITH RECORDING LOCATIONS; LANDSCAPE TYPICAL OF THE ALBERT’S LYREBIRD HABITAT. IMAGES: FIONA BACKHOUSE.

GLOW UP

Bioluminescent millipedes were accidentally discovered for the first time in Australia by a bushwalker.

Around 18 years ago, Scott Kemp was bushwalking along a trail in the Illawarra when he came across glow-in-the-dark millipedes.

At the time he was unaware they had never been documented in Australia before. But that all changed almost two decades later, when he took his findings to amateur astronomer David Finlay, and together they walked back out to the area to capture these unique creatures on camera.

La Trobe University entomologist Dennis Black is one of Australia’s leading millipede experts, and was confident classifying Scott’s find as an undocumented species of millipede. According to Dennis, Australian millipedes have been known to glow fluorescently under UV light, but never on their own. While millipedes of the genus Motyxia (found in California) have been captured glowing independently, the phenomenon is considered rare across the world. In fact, until Scott’s discovery, millipedes that were capable of

bioluminescence were not thought to exist in Australia at all.

“There’s very little chance they’re an introduced species,” says Dennis who classified this millipede in the order Spirobolida

In Australia, there are about 50 known species of Spirobolida, mostly named by overseas scientists. However, the creature is unlikely to have a definite identification for a while. There is no one currently working in Australia with expertise in this area, making it difficult to conduct research even as simple as taxonomy.

“We’ve probably only described 20 per cent of the millipede species in Australia and given them scientific names,” Dennis says, revealing the long journey ahead in learning more about this fascinating creature.

For Scott, however, there’s plenty more excitement to go around, including choosing a name for the millipede he discovered all those years ago.

“I’ve joked about it with my wife and kids,” Scott says. “The only one that really sounds cool to me is the Scotty luminus .”

Currently, the exact location of the millipedes is a close-kept secret, with scientists hoping to protect the potentially native species from any disturbances. With research continuing, we can only hope that new information on this special animal will come to light in the next few months.

Words: Matilda Meikle

LEFT: MILLIPEDE OF THE MOTYXIA GENUS. IMAGE: JANINE AND JIM EDEN.

THE QUICK RED FOX AND EVEN QUICKER CATS

Cats and foxes – both introduced species in Australia – devastate native wildlife, and put our most vulnerable animals at risk of extinction. Several experts believe the time to act is now.

Words: Darcy Watt

When you remove the association with cute and cuddly cartoons in timeless Disney classics, our perception of cats and foxes changes dramatically. In fact, scientists from 13 institutions across Australia have found that 697 million reptiles, 510 million birds and 1.4 billion mammals are killed by feral cats and foxes each year.

Adjunct researcher Dr Alyson Stobo-Wilson from Charles Darwin University gives dire warnings that without better control, the predators will continue to wreak havoc on many native species that are already struggling.

“This research gave us a clearer picture of the impact of both species nationally and in different and remote environments,” she says.

“Estimating feral animal density was an important first step to understanding the impact of foxes and cats in different environments. We found that fox densities and impacts are

highest in temperate southern mainland Australia. In temperate forests they collectively kill up to 1,000 animals per square kilometre per year.”

Co-author Professor Trish Fleming, director of the Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Murdoch’s Harry Butler Institute, believes the native animal death toll is all the reason we need to pursue more effective control.

Cats and foxes are fast, agile, and cunning by nature, with razor-sharp fangs that are no match for native Australian species. They also both have a generalist diet, meaning they can adapt to whatever prey is available – leaving few species untouched. Their ability to hunt in various environments makes them the ultimate predators.

“Most of Australia has no effective management practices in place and so the impacts on biodiversity are likely to be severe, widespread and ongoing,” says Trish.

THIS PAGE: A FERAL FOX AND CAT IN ARID SOUTH AUSTRALIA, IMAGE BY HUGH MCGREGOR AND NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE RESPECTIVELY; A FELIXER AT KALKA, IMAGE SUPPLIED BY DR JOHN READ.

“Estimating feral animal density was an important first step to understanding the impact of foxes and cats in different environments.”

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

Foxes were introduced to Australia in 1855 for recreational hunting. During the next 100 years, foxes rapidly established themselves across the majority of the continent. Similarly, cats arrived with early European settlers in the 1800s –despite theories that they arrived as early as 1650 aboard Malaysian fishing boats – according to research from the BMC Evolutionary Biology journal.

Once widespread across Australia, by 1863 the burrowing bettong was completely wiped out of Victoria, and in a few short years they no longer occupied the mainland at all. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy acknowledges that this was largely due to predation by feral cats and foxes. Establishing predator-free areas on islands and exclusion fencing, such as the conservation fence in Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary, New South Wales, has seen great results in protecting native species.

The Return to 1616 program is in action until the year 2030, with the aim of returning Dirk Hartog Island off Monkey Mia in Western Australia to pre-settlement conditions. The program aims to reintroduce 12 mammal species and one bird

species, and eradicate feral animals from the island.

Former Greens leader Richard Di Natale said Australia has “one of the highest loss of species anywhere in the world,” which ABC Fact Check investigated and found to be true.

Unfortunately, more than 10 per cent of the animals known to inhabit mainland Australia in 1788 are now extinct, predominantly because of feral animal predation, according to The Guardian’s environment editor Adam Morton.

TRIAL AND ERROR, AND NOW SUCCESS

Sold under the brand name 1080, sodium fluoroacetate is a poison used predominantly in Australia and New Zealand to eradicate pest species. The active ingredient fluoroacetate naturally occurs in some plant species in Australia, meaning native Australian animals are a lot more tolerant to it, according to Dr John Read, founder and CEO of the Thylation group of companies – co-founder of the Arid Recovery, Wild Deserts and Mallee Refuge conservation projects and chair of the Warru (rock wallaby) Recovery Team.

1080 baits are often deployed by aircraft in vast quantities or by hand in targeted areas. However, the Felixer has also been developed as an additional targeted tool

LEFT TO RIGHT: NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE CAPTURES A SUPERB FAIRY-WREN ON KANGAROO ISLAND; ALYSON STOBO-WILSON WITH A NORTHERN SAVANNA GLIDER.

for cat and fox control through research, grants and trials.

“The idea was to develop an automated pest control system that didn’t have to be checked all the time, a system that is more targeted and hence better for animal welfare,” says John.

“LiDAR laser beams determine the size and speed of animals walking past the Felixer. The sensors trigger a spring that squirts the sealed dose of 1080 poison gel at 50 metres a second onto the cat’s (or fox’s) fur, which they then run off to lick and subsequently die. The Felixer will reset itself (it’s capable of holding up to 20 gel cartridges), ready for the next cat to walk by,” he explains.

“The Felixer is designed so that it is very unlikely to fire at adult dingoes – or any other native species for that matter – and this is proven by stable dingo populations in areas where Felixers are set. It’s a system that puts far less poison into the environment,” says John.

Currently Felixers can only be leased to people with a 1080 permit, and the researchers are still operating under a research permit, so any Felixer leaseholders also need authorisation by a government agency.

“Mining companies, conservation workers, national parks and Aboriginal communities are using it at the moment,” says John. “It’s still early days so Felixers

aren’t generally available for farmers or private residents yet.”

Each time an animal walks past a Felixer the machine takes a photo, so researchers can monitor animal movements in the area.

“We can make them smarter and smarter and improve the way they work. Even now, if an animal that’s too big travels past, like a kangaroo or a cow, the whole thing shuts down. Even if the animal stretched out or did something that looked a bit different it would still shut down,” says John.

“In one instance, during low tide a fox made its way across to Bird Island just off Adelaide, where there are rare fairy terns nesting. Rangers took a Felixer over to the island and they found the dead fox soon after.”

COMBINING RECOVERY EFFORTS

Arid Recovery is an independent not-forprofit organisation operating in South Australia, pioneering conservation science to help threatened Australian species. It trialled 20 Felixers in a 6,300 ha section of reserve in the arid north of the state, where feral cats, bettongs and bilbies all live. According to Arid Recovery, the Felixers had great success in decreasing the cat population as well as not firing gel cartridges at a single non-target animal. Since the experiment, and thanks to

donations, Arid Recovery purchased its first Felixer in 2020, and has been using it for feral cat control.

If you would like to help Thylation develop the Felixer, head to thylation.com to find out more.

“If people want to enquire about leasing a new v3.2 Felixer, which will come equipped with artificial intelligence, donate, or even provide suggestions or anything like that, it would be well received,” says John.

LEFT THEN CLOCKWISE: DIAGRAM OF ANIMALS KILLED EACH YEAR BY STOBO-WILSON ET AL.; DR JOHN READ AND A FELIXER; NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE CAPTURES AN IMAGE OF A THREE-LINED KNOB-TAIL GECKO.

SAVING AUSTRALIAN HONEYBEES

A research project conducted by Macquarie University hopes to stop the decline of our honeybee population.

Words: Matilda Meikle

Scientists are working to develop a new immunity-boosted probiotic, which may help fight the infections causing bees to disappear around the world. They are aiming to boost the honeybee’s resistance to disease –strengthening their immunity –so they can continue to thrive and make a positive impact on their surrounding environment.

Project lead Dr Fleur Ponton, from the School of Natural Sciences, says that infectious diseases making their way into hives harm the bee’s ability to pollinate.

“Several different diseases infect hives and it is challenging to anticipate which disease is actually responsible for poor hive performance. With this in mind, our team is working towards a more broad-spectrum approach to disease resistance instead of looking at just one singular infection.”

THE BEE’S KNEES

Honeybees are a vital part of our ecosystem. By carrying out the important process of pollination, they support food security and variety in plants and animals. Around 75 per cent of crops produce better yield if they’re helped to pollinate, and bees are the biggest group of pollinators in the world.

According to Hort Innovation, crops dependent on pollination in Australia are worth around $4.3 billion per year. With an estimated 600,000 hives across the country, and a honey production of around 30,000 tonnes annually, it’s clear bees are important to several parts of everyday life.

However, bee colonies are facing the threat of a declining population, affecting global food supply and the pollination of crops. This may be due to an increased use of pesticides, the growth of urbanisation, and global warming, impacting the bees’ ability to survive. Australia is also the only country where the parasitic varroa mite has not yet impacted the bee population. The mite is known as a major cause of colony collapse, and had a disastrous effect on the honeybee species.

Without bees, both humanity and the environment suffer, meaning scientists are now searching for new ways to keep this species safe.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

This new research program is funded by Hort Innovation and Macquarie University, supporting the Hort Frontiers Pollination fund which aims to protect bee species around the world from extinction.

The focus of Dr Fleur Ponton and her team is to create tools that detect diseases in hives before they are given the chance to spread.

According to her colleague and

fellow scientist Dr Ajay Narendra, “an early warning system for disease detection could be very useful from a biosecurity perspective, helping scientists monitor for new diseases entering hives and infecting bees.”

The project will also focus on how illnesses affect a bee’s ability to learn and memorise, leading to reduced pollination and hive performance. If bees are unable to relocate their hives and find food after their day-to-day activities, they face strong challenges to survival.

The team behind this research is investigating many ways to deliver these probiotics to the hives.

“The possibilities for delivery are endless. One potential idea could include supplemental feeding to honeybee hives, a common practice already in many countries but less developed in Australia,” says Fleur.

While research is still being undertaken, these scientists are dedicated to finding innovative and long-lasting solutions, helping to secure the future of bee populations around the world and maintain environmental wellbeing.

OPPOSITE: HONEYBEES ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM.

RIGHT: THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 600,000 HIVES ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

In 2014, two 20-year-olds had the idea to put two washers and dryers in the back of a van to help those doing it tough with free laundry. Now, seven years on, they provide mobile laundry and shower services all around Australia – and, most importantly, a place to connect and have a chat. We spoke to Orange Sky Co-Founders Nicholas Marchesi and Lucas Patchett on how their charity has grown.

Words: Emily Riches

WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET THE IDEA FOR ORANGE SKY?

Lucas: Nic and I volunteered together at our high school’s food van, which visited local parks around Brisbane offering free food to people who had unfortunately found themselves experiencing homelessness. Both myself and Nic really enjoyed our volunteering experience with the food van and wanted to do something more to support our local community. A few years after we graduated from school, Nic and I hatched the idea to throw two washing machines and two dryers in the back of an old van with a plan to visit parks around Brisbane to offer free laundry services to those in need.

TELL US ABOUT HOW THE ORANGE SKY VANS OPERATE. HOW HAS YOUR FLEET AND REACH CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED OUT?

Nic: Seven years on we now operate 38 services across Australia and New Zealand, have washed over 2 million kilograms of laundry and have engaged in more than 369,000 hours of genuine, non-judgemental conversation with our friends doing it tough.

Our fleet has certainly upgraded

from our original van, Sudsy. We now operate shower vans, hybrid vans that feature two washing machines, two dryers, a shower and laundry pods. The laundry pods are portable fixtures with two washing machines and two dryers.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IS NON-JUDGEMENTAL CONVERSATION. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

Lucas: When we first started, our mission was to improve hygiene access for people experiencing homelessness, however our service grew into much more. From the conversations and connections we have built with our friends, we know isolation and not feeling like you belong is a major factor negatively impacting people experiencing homelessness. There is no doubt that clean clothes and a warm shower make a positive difference, but we believe our biggest impact in the community is through the hours of conversation and genuine connection that take place on our iconic, six orange chairs.

Nic: Conversations are what Orange Sky does best. Our volunteers are not counsellors or experts on homelessness, they are empathic listeners and great conversationalists.

OPPOSITE: ORANGE SKY COFOUNDERS NIC AND LUCAS. LEFT: NON-JUDGEMENTAL CONVERSATION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF ORANGE SKY.

Orange Sky isn’t about solving the issue of homelessness or “saving people”. The service is about creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored, or who feel disconnected from their community. That even comes down to the way we address people who use our service. We don’t use ‘customers’ or ‘patrons’, they’re friends; just like you and me.

HOW DID COVID-19 AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

Lucas: COVID-19 has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone, and our thoughts go out to our friends and everyone in the community who continues to do it tough. Orange Sky was forced to pause services for a short period and that was the most difficult decision we have had to make. We got through those initial challenges through the sheer determination of our community, and we are now operating more shifts than ever before.

While the pandemic challenged us operationally, it was most difficult knowing the impact on our friends, volunteers and supporters. This time has reminded us about the importance of keeping our community safe and connected.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T EXPECT ABOUT STARTING UP A CHARITY?

Nic: I think the support and generosity of our community has surprised us the most. From our initial laundry partner believing in our crazy idea to our donors and service partners that allow us to be out on shift, our 2,000 volunteers who deliver our mission and our friends who trust us with their precious belongings.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED?

Lucas: Ever since we started there have been challenges to overcome. From developing a functional laundry van, to exploring and launching our services in new areas, growing our team and growing our fleet – each step has had its difficulties.

In the beginning, the growth of Orange Sky happened very quickly and we have had to learn from many mistakes and understand the importance of building a high performing team around us.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most challenging period of our history. The uncertainty of our operations and isolation affecting our communities has been difficult to overcome. These difficulties have provided even more reason to keep our vans on the road and help the many more people that may be doing it tough as we move on.

WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU REALISED YOU WERE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES?

Lucas: From the first wash, the impact felt really profound for us and it has

grown ever since. I still vividly remember the first friend we ever washed clothes for - his name was Jordan. Jordan was blown away by the van and our idea. He told us he had a couple of T-shirts in his bag, so we were like, “Yep, let’s give it a crack.”

We threw the shirts in and pressed the button, and then you’ve got 27 minutes of doing absolutely nothing while the clothes are washing. We sat down and had a chat with Jordan and found out some awesome stuff about him.

It turns out he went to school just up the road from me. He’d finished his engineering degree and worked as an engineer for five or six years. I was actually currently undertaking my engineering degree at the same university that Jordan went to. It really opened my eyes up to the fact that it only takes one or two little things to go wrong and you can find yourself doing it tough.

I also realised that washing takes time, and provides an awesome opportunity to have a chat with someone who is feeling isolated. It was during our first wash with Jordan that I realised that our crazy idea was so much more than just washing and drying clothes, it was about the connection and friendship we could offer those doing it tough.

FROM TOP: ORANGE SKY VOLUNTEERS HAVING A LAUGH; ORANGE SKY VANS ON THE ROAD IN CANBERRA; FRIENDS CHATTING ON THE ICONIC SIX ORANGE CHAIRS.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ORANGE SKY IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO YOU. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW SOLAR-POWERED WARU DRYER AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT?

Nic: As we grow our services, we do this with an emphasis on caring for Country – embarking on more sustainable ways to operate across Australia. ‘Waru’ is arguably the first innovation used by humankind. Meaning ‘fire’ in Pitjantjatjara, the use of waru as a source of life has inspired a new method of Orange Sky operations.

Previously Orange Sky’s fleet was powered by diesel generators that were economically and environmentally costly. The Waru Dryer is the world’s first clothes dryer powered by fuel and solar batteryoperated. The Waru Dryers have reduced our electrical consumption by up to 90 per cent per shift, without sacrificing drying time or quality.

The Waru Dryers are kinder to our planet and visibly powerful, wrapped in the incredible artwork of Rhoda Tjitayi, Pitjantjatjara woman, South Australia. We acknowledge that innovation is not new to these lands, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples innovating for over 65,000 years.

ORANGE SKY HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS AFTER THE MAJOR FLOODS. DID YOU EVER EXPECT TO BE HELPING OUT DURING NATURAL DISASTERS?

Lucas: Community recovery is an important part of the Orange Sky service. We are committed to always rolling up our sleeves and supporting the community during devastating events where we can.

We previously supported communities during the 2019 bushfires and Tropical Cyclone Marcia in 2015.

Our support in the Northern Rivers and South East Queensland during the most recent floods has certainly been our biggest community recovery response to date. In the month of March alone we operated over 277 flood recovery shifts, completing more than 4,421 loads of washing.

Nic: When the floods hit we knew we needed to do what we could to support impacted communities. On February 28, 2022 we deployed all available laundry vans and volunteer teams across Northern NSW and South East Queensland to offer flood-affected communities free laundry services.

It was really devastating to see the extent of destruction the floods left behind. So many people lost everything. They lost their homes, their treasured items, some just getting out with the clothes on their backs.

It was incredible to see these communities rally together to support one and other. We all feel really lucky to be able to connect with these communities and to help by taking one thing off their list.

WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG MOVE FOR ORANGE SKY?

Nic: Since building Sudsy, our first van, innovation has been at the core of Orange Sky’s DNA. Our next goal is to triple our impact and help 40,000 people doing it tough by 2025. To achieve this we are discovering

new ways to improve and scale our services to help more people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience homelessness at higher rates than their non-Indigenous counterparts. We have focused on tripling our remote services in this past financial year, with more growth expected in the future.

From vehicle upgrades to inventing new asset types, improving our sustainability and introducing services to new areas, we are always working towards something! There is never a dull moment at Orange Sky!

Lucas: I think we still don’t know how big this can become. Every day we find out about more people who could use our services, and I think it’s important to look at how we keep sustainably helping people. We have a strong focus on our social impact in the community and continue to build strong processes lead by data to make decisions for the organisation.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED WITH ORANGE SKY?

If people want to support us on our mission to positively connect communities through free laundry services, warm, safe showers and genuine, non-judgemental conversation, they can head to our website (orangesky.org.au ) to enquire about volunteering or to donate. Every little bit counts.

THIS PAGE: THE SOLARPOWERED WARU DRYER FEATURING ART BY RHODA TJITAYI.

THREE AWESOME CHARITIES TACKLING HOMELESSNESS

Around 16,000 people considered homeless across Australia – and that number is on the rise. Nearly half of the homeless population is under the age of 25. These three charities are providing support, solutions and solidarity.

Words: Matilda Meikle

IMAGE:

Homelessness has many definitions, from living in severely crowded dwellings to supported accommodation or “sleeping rough” on the street. With such high rates, many charities are hoping to support Australians in need. Now is the perfect time to come together as a community and donate to one of these incredible charities.

LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH

Based in Victoria, Lighthouse provides support to young people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness. So far, the organisation has helped more than 1,000 young people find their feet, and secure a bright future. Lighthouse support includes building therapeutic homes where young people can receive 24/7

support and care, as well as offering education programs for carers and families, so they can learn how to best support vulnerable youth.

A donation of $15 can help provide fresh groceries and essential supplies for a Lighthouse home; $50 can provide a welcome backpack (toiletries, socks, underwear and a teddy bear) for a new young person moving into a home; while $100 can provide counselling and group therapy to help young people process the trauma of homelessness.

“We’re seeing the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness numbers and we fear more young people will need help,” says Lighthouse CEO Eamonn McCarthy.

With the rising number of homeless youth, Lighthouse Foundation for Youth has increased its efforts, and is making a major difference in the lives of so many.

STREETSMART

Since 2003, Streetsmart has provided more than 290,000 meals and supported over 1,000 organisations seeking to end homelessness in Australia. It was formed on the belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and the knowledge that while there are lots of amazing charities trying to end homelessness, many don’t have the resources to provide for the growing number of homeless people around the country. To combat this, Streetsmart raises money to fund these smaller organisations, ensuring they can continue their valuable work.

The result is a network of incredible organisations supported by Streetsmart, so relief can reach all corners of the country.

Streetsmart also provides other services, such as delivering readymade meals to those in need.And for the past three years it has also been delivering Sleepsafe kits, which include a towel, sheet and pillowcase, to those experiencing homelessnes. This provides them with some basic comforts many of us take for granted.

SHARE THE DIGNITY

Share the Dignity is a women’s charity supporting women experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence by distributing period products, which are often overlooked in relief support, and can be difficult to obtain. Through collection drives and campaigns, Share the Dignity has been able to deliver over 3.4 million pads and tampons, ensuring everyone has access to sanitary essentials. Period care can be vital, and the orgnanisation works tirelessly to distribute these items to women across the country.

Share the Dignity also run the ‘It’s in the Bag’ campaign every Christmas. Each year, Australians are asked to compile bags of essential items and treats to donate to those in need.

Thanks to these bags, women doing it tough over Christmas are equipped with sanitary and luxury items to brighten their days. If you’re not sure what to include, there’s no need to worry: Share the Dignity will also provide a shopping list so you can be sure you’re providing exactly what these women need. By donating, you can help anyone from a mother to a teen receive essential care.

LEFT TO RIGHT: SHARE THE DIGNITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER 3.4 MILLION PERIOD PRODUCTS TO THOSE IN NEED; THE ‘IT’S IN THE BAG’ CAMPAIGN DONATES BAGS OF SANITARY AND LUXURY GOODS OVER CHRISTMAS.

STAYING CYBER SECURE

Recent cyber attacks have led to significant data leaks, and industry leaders fear that Australians are losing confidence in the country’s cybersecurity capabilities.

Words: Matilda Meikle

Recent cyber attacks in Australia have resulted in identity leaks and significant breaches in user confidentiality. One incident with MyDeal.com.au occurred when a compromised credential, due to an increase in users, allowed access to the database that stored user information. In total, this attack led to the release of 2.2 million customers’ data, including everything from emails addresses to names and phone numbers, addresses and birthdays.

In an interview with Channel 9, Professor Sanjay Jha, Chief Scientist at the UNSW Institute for Cybersecurity,

stated: “the breach raises serious concerns for the end user’s confidence in using online services and poses a serious challenge for the industry.

“Compromised credentials should not provide easy access to malicious actors when multi-factor authentication is in place. You would expect more stringent authorisation and access control and network partitioning to protect these critical assets.”

But with these leaks becoming more and more regular, how should the public respond? And what measures are being put in place to ensure our digital safety?

PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY

A simple way to increase online safety is by following the Cyber Security Guidelines released by the Australian Cyber Security Centre. They outline a series of measures that can help businesses protect their online systems from breaches, allowing customers to feel safe and secure.

Dr Arash Shaghaghi, a senior lecturer in cybersecurity at the UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering and UNSW Institute for Cybersecurity, says it’s clear the newest research on cybersecurity isn’t being implemented fast enough by

many industries, resulting in these attacks. If companies listen and respond to this new information, our data may be better stored and protected.

“Users’ data is collected by various services without any control from the end user, and often the data collection to join these services is excessive – leaving end users vulnerable and with limited options when a serious breach occurs,” he says.

“Other parts of the world are investing heavily in technological measures such as self-sovereign identity, where users would have better control over who has access to what part of user identity and other information.

“We need to enhance investment in practical research and think of measures that facilitate the adoption of the latest technologies to reinforce our resiliency against the growing number of attacks targeting Australia.”

By adopting innovative technological solutions, companies can secure the future of cybersecurity.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

In September last year, 10 million Optus customers were hacked when cyber criminals broke into the system and stole personal details including passport ID and driving licence numbers. The breach revealed that an open port used for testing purposes was left in the final product version, creating an opening which was exploited by the hackers.

While this attack was shocking, it’s not uncommon in the digital world. Sanjay recalls a similar incident when boxing an early version of the Philips Hue bulbs. His team discovered that it was possible to control these devices through similar open ports.

“This was reported to the company who fixed the problem in their future version. A simple penetration testing of servers before deployment could have potentially made such attacks difficult, if not impossible.”

Sanjay has been concerned about the use of authorisation processes for a long time, claiming that an enforcement of harsher penalties for negligence may ensure future attacks are prevented. By educating businesses and offering better digital support for improving these processes, the public’s data can be protected.

But for this to happen, researchers and industry need to come together, working closely to safeguard Australia’s online community. “We need to regain the community’s confidence in our cyber capabilities,” he says.

These inventive solutions to our cyber security problems may just save Australians from further attacks, but it’s up to businesses to implement strategies online and regain public trust.

“Users’ data is collected by various services without any control from the end user, and often the data collection to join these services is excessive - leaving end users vulnerable and with limited options when a serious breach occurs.”

THIS PAGE: COMPANIES NEED TO IMPLEMENT CYBER SECURITY GUIDELINES OR RISK EXPOSING USER DATA.

HOW TO FUTURE-PROOF YOUR JOB IN THE AI BOOM

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent, it’s natural to feel a little uneasy about the future of our careers. But fear not! With the right approach and mindset, you can adapt to the AI revolution and ensure your career remains relevant and thriving.

With machines performing tasks at unprecedented speeds and with unparalleled accuracy, it seems like the days of human labour may be numbered. However, let’s explore strategies to keep your job from becoming an AI casualty, how to stay ahead of the game and thrive in an AIdominated world.

EMBRACE CREATIVITY

Creativity is always going to be a vital skill. The unique cognitive processes that drive human creativity remain beyond the reach of robots, making it an essential tool for anyone determined to maintain their job security.

By focusing on creative pursuits, you’ll be in a better position to ensure you’re indispensable and irreplaceable.

According to McKinsey & Company’s ‘State of AI in 2022’ survey, business adoption of AI has more than doubled since 2017. More than 20 per cent of respondents in 2017 claimed they adopted AI in at least one business area, but now it stands at 50 per cent.

The good news is that the survey found jobs requiring creativity are less susceptible to automation, with only 4 per cent of roles with a high degree of creativity seen as being at risk of automation.

HARNESSING HUMAN EMOTION

Machines might excel at crunching numbers and analysing data, but they still struggle to understand human emotions and nuances. Fostering empathy, active listening and effective communication will help you maintain a strong human connection in the workplace, which can be invaluable in a wide range of industries, especially when you’re frequently dealing with clients.

Emotional intelligence (EI) – the ability to recognise, understand and manage our own emotions and those of others – is an indispensable skill that AI cannot mimic. By harnessing EI, you’ll be able to build strong connections and navigate complex social situations.

It goes without saying: human emotion plays a significant role in decision-making, relationship building and communication.

ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

As AI’s role in our lives grows, so does the importance of ethical considerations. Human judgement is essential for assessing the potential consequences of AI-driven decisions, such as their impact on privacy, fairness and societal values. By cultivating a strong ethical compass and understanding the implications of technology on society, you can play a crucial role in shaping responsible AI adoption and navigating complex ethical dilemmas.

A Capgemini Research Institute study found that organisations with high EI levels outperform their counterparts in various key performance indicators.

Words: LJ Charleston

According to the study, “this includes customer satisfaction, employee engagement and revenue growth.”

CRITICAL THINKING AND COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING

For all its advantages, AI lacks the capacity for nuanced understanding and context-sensitive judgement. Critical thinking is quite human as it involves the ability to analyse and evaluate information objectively to make informed decisions; while complex problem-solving requires identifying and addressing underlying issues.

So, if you’re able to fully develop these skills, you’ll be better placed to tackle intricate problems in areas such as strategy, operations and management, where human intuition and judgement are so important.

COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK

AI-driven tools can streamline many processes, but human collaboration remains a crucial factor in generating diverse ideas, fostering innovation and driving organisational success. As work becomes increasingly interdisciplinary,

strong teamwork and collaboration skills will be crucial. Focus on effective communication, active listening and conflict resolution to excel in team-based environments and you’ll be seen as a valuable team player.

If you embrace lifelong learning, foster human-centric skills and adapt to the changing landscape, you can not only safeguard your career but you’ll be able to thrive in the AI-driven future.

DEVELOP A MULTIFACETED SKILL SET

Set yourself a goal of developing expertise in multiple disciplines, as this can make you an invaluable asset. By combining knowledge from various fields, you can

approach problems and projects with a unique perspective that AI systems, which often specialise in a single domain, cannot replicate.

Interdisciplinary expertise allows you to contribute more holistically to your business, making you a vital resource in roles that require broad knowledge and diverse skill sets.

CULTIVATE A STRONG PROFESSIONAL NETWORK

Another thing AI isn’t able to do is build a robust professional network. A strong network is invaluable because it can give you great access to new opportunities, resources and insights that can help you stay ahead in your industry.

If you’re actively participating in networking events, conferences and online forums, you’ll be in a position where you can develop relationships with peers, mentors and thought-leaders – all of whom can support your career growth and open doors to new possibilities. Networking also leads to opportunities for collaboration which, once again, highlights the unique importance of human connections: something that’s truly worth its weight in gold.

THIS PAGE: AS AI BEGINS TO STREAMLINE MORE PROCESSES, STRONG TEAMWORK AND NETWORKS ARE CRUCIAL IN DRIVING ORGANISATIONAL SUCCESS.

“Machines might excel at crunching numbers and analysing data, but they still struggle to understand human emotions and nuances.”

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