Lowndes Associates Launches Business Seminars

Media Release
25 August 2009

Lowndes Associates Launches Business Seminars

The annual Business Intelligence Seminars (BIS) held by the leading corporate and commercial law firm Lowndes Associates are now underway, having kicked off earlier this month with a vigorous panel discussion of the current state of merger and acquisition activity.

Directed at senior executives, business owners, directors, managers, advisers and corporate counsel, BIS is principally sponsored by the National Business Review and is supported by the New Zealand Venture Capital Association Inc.

Each BIS workshop features three speakers discussing practical business topics in an interactive format, with the goal that attendees return to their business better informed and more motivated.

There are four workshops in the seminar series. Each is limited to 100 people, runs from 7.30am to 9.30am and includes a light breakfast.

Upcoming BIS workshops:

Workshop 2: Emerging A Winner From The Recession
7.30am–9.30am, Wednesday 16 September 2009, Stamford Plaza, Auckland

Never waste a good recession! This is a time not just to survive, but to emerge ahead of your competitors. This climate offers as many opportunities as challenges, and for some presents the opportunity of a lifetime:

• What will identify the businesses that emerge as winners?
• What are they focused on now?
• What will be the five key lessons when it’s all over?
• What investments are being made, despite the recession?
• What restructuring is going on, and where are savings being made?
• How is leadership evolving? Motivation, training, selection.
• What steps should be taken to protect brands and the balance sheet?
• On what will you wish you had focused more during this period?

Speakers include:

Rod Drury, Xero
John Keane, Vero Insurance
Alasdair Thompson, Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern)

Workshop 3: New Science & Technology Opportunities For Business Managers and Investors
7.30am–9.30am, Wednesday 14 October 2009, Stamford Plaza, Auckland

Sometimes seen as a specialist field, science and technology cannot be ignored by business leaders or investors.

Why science and technology hold the key to New Zealand’s business future and wealth creation:

• Why science and technology is unique in driving enterprise value, especially in New Zealand.
• Why every portfolio should have a respectable science and technology component.
• What are the new opportunities emerging, and how they be capitalised upon?

Speakers include:

Julia Raue, Chief Information Officer, Air New Zealand Limited
Professor David Bibby, Victoria University of Wellington
Neville Jordan, Endeavour Capital

Workshop 4: The Big Debate - New Zealand Will Get to the Top Half of the OECD by 2020
7.30am–9.30am, Wednesday 18 November 2009, Stamford Plaza, Auckland

Can or will New Zealand resume its former place as a leading OECD country?

• If so, how long will it take?
• What needs to be done to get there?
• Should we rely on agriculture and tourism?
• Or must we invest in science and technology, becoming the Switzerland of the South Pacific?
• Does it really matter? Why?

Speakers include:

Professor Paul Callaghan
Gordon McLauchlan
Jon Mayson
Rod Oram

ends

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