Region. UWS to relaunch business school

The University of Western Sydney plans to relaunch its Sydney Graduate School of Management (SGSM) to provide graduate business studies in the relatively untapped market in Western Sydney of undercredentialled business people who want to formalize their qualifications. UWS decided to target this market rather than pitting the school against others that already have a strong foothold in the sector. The university’s commitment to boosting graduate business studies is reflected in its $38 million investment in a new state-of-the-art building for SGSM, according to The Australian Financial Review

Parramatta. Visy supports Two Blues

Cardboard manufacturer, Visy, which has its NSW head office, at Smithfield, has signed up as the sponsor of Parramatta Rugby Union Club’s, Two Blues, for 2010. “It’s no secret that the Parramatta club is one which could do with some help at the moment and we believe we’re in a great position to help provide that. This is about being a part of rebuilding the club from the ground up. Parramatta has a fantastic history and we are determined to ensure that the club has just as fantastic a future,” said Visy executive director, Steve Boland.

Region. UWS and climate change

Maryella Hatfield, a lecturer from the School of Communication Arts at the University of Western Sydney, produced and directed The Future Makers, a television documentary exploring revolutionary Australian renewable energy solutions to address climate change. “The Future Makers tells the story of key Australians leading the way on the world stage in renewable energy," said Ms Hatfield. The documentary covers a diverse range of renewable energy solutions, including devices, which generate power, based on the motion of sharks and sea plants, and innovative projects which tap into the heat deep inside the earth to generate electricity. It will be screened on Wednesday, April 21, at the Randwick Ritz Cinema, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.

Sydney Olympic Park. CSIRO collaboration

Sapphicon Semiconductor (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor Australia, at Sydney Olympic Park) has signed an agreement with the CSIRO jointly develop a complete radio receiver on a chip measuring 5 mm x 5 mm that could eventually be used in mobile phones and other communications technologies. The development of a low-cost, ultra-high-bandwidth system-on-chip (SoC) device could also replace traditional receivers currently used in radio astronomy applications, many of which are about the size of a bar fridge. Following its collaboration with Sapphicon and CSIRO on earlier proof-of-concept projects, the Centre for Technology Infusion at La Trobe University in Melbourne will also work with Sapphicon in the development of the novel chip

Castle Hill. Gloria Jeans sued for $56 million

Gloria Jean’s Coffees, based in Castle Hill, is facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit. Owned and run by the Hillsong Church elder, Nabi Saleh and the high-profile church member Peter Irvine, Gloria Jean's parent company, Jireh International, is accused of breaking a joint venture agreement with a small US-based coffee supplier, Western Export Services, which is suing Jireh for $56 million in unpaid commissions and damages. Jireh has launched a cross-claim, saying the 1996 agreement was invalid. In a statement released at the weekend, Jireh International says it will be ''vigorously defending the matter and denies the allegations contained in the claim''. The case begins today (April 19) in the NSW Supreme Court and is expected to run for three weeks, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Auburn. $212 million to capture growth

The Auburn-based Hastie Group, an international designer, installer and maintainer of technical services to the building and infrastructure sectors, recorded a half-yearly profit of $23.5 million. Hastie said it was well placed to take advantage of the economic recovery in Australia and its key overseas markets. Hastie, with operations in Australasia, UK and Ireland, and the Middle East, said it has undrawn term debt facilities of $121 million, providing the financial flexibility to capture growth opportunities.