Region. UWS professor is a Tall Poppy

Associate Professor Ian Anderson, from the University of Western Sydney's Centre for Plant and Food Science and School of Natural Sciences, has won a prestigious 2008 Young Tall Poppy Science Award, which acknowledges the achievements of scientists who are in the early stages of their careers and already making discoveries. He is a molecular microbial ecologist who is researching the response of soil-dwelling fungi to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and climate change. The fungi sequester, or store, carbon from the atmosphere and fully understanding their role will help to improve the accuracy of carbon accounting in Australian forests. He has published more than 40 articles in scientific journals.

Lidcombe. Nick Scali sales down

Nick Scali, a top of the range furniture retailer, based at Lidcombe, expects sales for the first half of the financial year to be between $2.3 million and $2.8 million below the same period last year because of the slowing economy and the weak Australian dollar. Anthony Scali, MD, said he was encouraged by sales order in the past three months. Net profit for the half year to December 31 last year was $4.62 million.

Parramatta. Northcott boosts revenue and clients

Northcott Disability Services, based at North Parramatta, boosted its consolidated revenue by $4.3 million to $20.3 million, in the financial year ending June 30, an increase of 26.7 per cent. Consolidated expenses rose from $18.3 million to $21.2 million, an increase of 15.9 per cent, due, in the main, to the introduction of new client programs. Northcott, which provides support services to over 6000 people with disabilities and their families and carers across NSW and the ACT, boosted its services to 14 per cent additional clients and expects to achieve a 20 per cent target by 2009, according to the annual report.

Blacktown. Pressing need to examine standards

Professor Alan Jeary, from the UWS School of Engineering, believes preliminary figures from a new study demonstrate the pressing need to closely examine the standards for roofing and establish new guidelines so roofs can resist hail damage. The study of hailstorms in Sydney showed roofs were unable to resist large hailstones. The December 2007 storm in Blacktown alone was expected to cost in excess of $400 million. "Using standard statistical measures, there hasn't been sufficient historical data on hail size to establish the risk of hail damage - so the threat has been largely ignored by regulators, builders and manufacturers, The current wind codes in Australia require buildings to withstand a one in 1000 year wind storm, yet preliminary data analysis suggests the devastating hailstorm in Blacktown last December could happen as often as every 10 to 15 years," Professor Jeary said.

Kings Park. New board head at Noni B

Robert Critchley has stepped down as chairman of women’s retailer, Noni B, based at Kings Park. He held the position for nearly 10 years. Lynn Wood, the new chairman, is a non-executive director, of HSBC Bank Australia Ltd, GPT Funds Management Ltd, Committee for the Economic Development of Australia and MS Australia Ltd, as well as a member of the Foreign Investment Review Board and a syndicate chairman, at the CEO Institute. Other board members are Alan Kindl and his twin sons, David and James, who are co managing directors. David Kindl has also become director, of finance and company secretary, following the resignation of Simon Der Stepanian. The company, founded in 1977, operates over 200 stores across Australia.

Parramatta. Stronger partnerships with business

Parramatta City Council has called for expressions of interest in the position of convenor of business partnerships, which has a key responsibility to assist council in developing stronger partnerships with businesses and business-support organisations, under the umbrella of Parramatta Economic Development Partnerships. Other responsibilities include chairing four roundtables annually with the business community, developing other effective ways to consult with business and co-ordinate an independent annual audit of economic development expenditure. The position is for 1-2 days a month and attracts an honorarium to a maximum of $10,000 annually.

Silverwater. 'Passion rules in business'

Machinery Automation and Robotics, at Silverwater, commenced business 21 years ago with “one person, a tool box and a dream,” and now employs a team of 47 staff servicing clients across the globe delivering solutions that incorporate advanced robotics for production-critical industries. The company was recently named the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year. Founder, Clyde Campbell, said: Passion rules in business - without it, you won’t succeed. We have a passionate, energised team that are proud to work for us and really care about what they do, and it makes all the difference."

Parramatta. Commission now part of DOP

The Parramatta-based Growth Centres Commission, established in 2005, will merge with the Department of Planning in a bid to streamline rezoning and the release of land for new housing. “The Growth Centres Commission has been useful in kickstarting planning and development in Sydney’s north-west and south-west, but it is only helping to provide 28 per cent of Sydney’s land supply,” said Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally. The NSW executive director, of the Property Council of Australia, Ken Morrison, welcomed the initiative.