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Local Buying Foundation - Queensland
October - December 2019 | Quarterly eNews
Central Highlands | Isaac | Mackay
 
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Welcome - A Final Message from our BHP Chair

 
Kristy Marks, Chair of the LBF Qld
Kristy Marks (BHP), Chair of
Local Buying Foundation Qld
 
Melissa Westcott (C-Res Director)
Chair of Local Buying Foundation QLD & NSW
Welcome to our latest edition of the Local Buying Foundation (LBF) eNews. It is with bittersweet feelings that I pen this note as I step down from the LBF Chair position after a number of years with the Foundation. If I look back just over the last quarter of 2019 there have been many fantastic initiatives and events supported through the Foundation, and I’m incredibly proud of the Advisory Committee and their commitment to building better business communities across the Central Highlands, Isaac and Mackay regions.

I’m delighted to welcome Melissa Westcott, who has been appointed as the LBF Chairperson for QLD and NSW. Melissa, is a C-Res Director who is a well renowned and highly respected local business owner in the Bowen Basin, and an international e-commerce entrepreneur who brings to the Foundation a wealth of knowledge of local business and regional insights, global commercial trends and a wise voice of community.

The growing success of the Local Buying Program (LBP), has enabled the LBF to support 120 projects with over $3 million injected back into supporting local business communities in Queensland.

During 2019, LBF engaged consultants SC Lennon & Associates to complete an entity review of the Foundation. Recommendations from the review have led to the development of the new LBF Model, which was made effective from January 2020.

Changes are currently underway with our governance, new application processes, which will be simpler for applying organisations to use and more efficient website functions, however, the strategic intent of building local businesses capability and capacity for the future remains.

As part of our changes to the LBF Model, Expressions of Interest to form our Local Buying Foundation Advisory Committee for Queensland, in line with our Foundation Charter, will be issued from 6 February 2020 with EOI’s closing 21 February 2020.

Finally, I’d like to extend a very large thank you to the current Local Buying Foundation Advisory Committee members for your commitment and support of the Foundation. Without your hard work and dedication to support our local business communities we wouldn’t be where we are today with significant funding that has generated many types of value for our regions.

HIGHLIGHTS - Year in Review 2019

The Local Buying Foundation Queensland has supported a number of initiatives, projects and events during 2019. The success of the Foundation is a direct result of strong use of the Local Buying Program across all BMA and BMC operations. Take a look below and see some of the highlights during the year.

 
Bridging the Boundaries
Business Support & Facilitation Officer, Prue Lonergan (GW3) and Business Facilitator, Mary Ryan (CHDC) attended the Local Buying Foundation Celebration Dinner in Mackay, 12 December 2019. Prue and Mary delivered updates to invited guests on the successes to date as a result of the Foundation's Bridging the Boundaries initiative. The below data provides insight into the program delivery for the Isaac region so far.
Within the next couple of months, Prue will be introducing Leann Priestley to the Business Support & Facilitation Officer role across the Isaac region. Leann is based in Clermont and will be delivering the Isaac Business Support Program, which is the Isaac region component of the Foundation's Bridging the Boundaries initiative.

Leann Priestley can be contacted via mobile
0438 731 633 or email leann@gw3.com.au.
LBF Celebration Dinner
The first LBF Celebration Dinner was hosted at the Ibis Mackay, 12 December 2019. In attendance were invited guests including the Local Buying Foundation Advisory Committee members, key stakeholders and industry partners of the Foundation. Guest speakers who presented during the celebration included Dean Kirkwood (METS Export Hub Manager - RIN), Prue Lonergan (Business Support & Facilitation Officer - GW3), Mary Ryan (Business Facilitator - CHDC), Deb McLucas (President - Greater Whitsundays Food Network), Monique Evans (Lead Coordinator - Drones Project - CH VET Cluster Network), Sonya Comiskey (Agtech Community Officer - CHDC), Jess Crawford (Project Officer - CHRRUP). Thank you to Phillip Kemp for your Welcome to Country.
Left to Right: Dean Kirkwood, Prue Lonergan, Kristy Marks, Mary Ryan, Deb McLucas,
Monique Evans, Sonya Comiskey, Jess Crawford and Phillip Kemp
AgFrontier Update
AgFrontier is an initiative of the Central Highlands Development Corporation whereby the Foundation is the Innovation Partner. AgFrontier has now entered Phase 2 of the 14-month Regional Agtech Incubator program with significant activities planned for the cohort as well as ongoing tailored coaching and networking. View below the recent update from CHDC.

AgTech: Build It. Use It. Profit
Central Highlands Development Corporation successfully delivered the AgTech: Build It. Use It. Profit conference in Emerald, November 2019. The event provided students and teachers from the Drones for Schools Project to attend through bursaries and supported to increase the awareness of the future skills needs in our workforce in the innovation and technology.
Image of Drones for School Students and their teachers at the AgTech event
Mackay's Regional Innovation Showcase at National Exhibitions
Congratulations to the team at Resource Industry Network on the successful coordination of the recent Innovation Showcases at National Exhibitions project. RIN was funded through the LBF to subsidise local METS businesses to reduce the costs of attending National Exhibitions across QLD, NSW, VIC and WA during 2019.
 
Exhibitors participating in the Mackay's Regional Innovation Showcase at National Exhibitions project
Image Source: Resource Industry Network
Linked Group Services, Maintenance.ai, Mackay Conveyor Equipment, Vayeron, Viking Mechanical, Diacon, PIMS Group, East West Lighting, M&P Services, Mastermyne and Asseton attended the National Exhibitions which enabled local METS businesses to:

  • increase their exposure to potential buyers and therefore a greater focus placed on the region for innovative solutions
  • exclusive access to a range of entitlements at the various exhibitions, including entry to the Austmine Networking event, AIMEX Networking event, Meet the Buyer Program – an exclusive one-way opportunity from mining houses with exhibitors of interest for individual meetings and access to the Mining House Pavilion
  • access to the Indian Government who sent delegations to the various exhibitions, including the Indian Ministry of Mines and Coal Assets personnel, thereby providing export opportunities.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Startup MIW Activation & Support Program - Split Spaces - 12 February 2020 - Mackay
  • Leadership Development & Mentoring - Isaac Business Support Program – GW3 – 3 March 2020 – Moranbah
  • International Women’s Day Business Lunch Resource Industry Network – 6 March 2020 - Mackay
  • Economic Futures Forum – Central Highlands Development Corporation – 11 March 2020 - Emerald
  • Rural Health Educators Weekend – Central Queensland Rural Health – 14 & 15 March 2020 - Emerald
  • Safe Station - Isaac Business Support Program – GW3 – 18 & 19 March 2020 – Moranbah
  • Leadership Development & Mentoring - Isaac Business Support Program – GW3 – 24 March 2020 – Moranbah
  • RIN Safety Conference 2020 – Resource Industry Network – 27 March 2020 - Mackay

 
SUCCESSFUL FUNDING ROUND APPLICANTS
Congratulations to the following successful funding applicants from Round 4, 2019:
  • Central Highlands Development Corporation - Economic Futures Forum 2020
  • Central Highlands Development Corporation - Events and Tourism Forum 2020
  • Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Cooperative - Healthy Minds ‘Resilient Farming Businesses’
  • Central Highlands VET Network - Marist College Emerald - Drones for Schools Project 2020
  • Central Queensland Rural Health - Rural Health Educators Weekend
  • Resource Industry Network - Professional Development Conference
  • Resource Industry Network - International Women’s Day 2020
  • Split Spaces Ltd - Startup MIW Activation Support Program 2020

EOI - LBFAC Membership
The Local Buying Foundation has introduced a new LBF Model and Charter effective 1 January 2020. The Foundation is seeking Expressions of Interest from incorporated/registered regional economic or business groups and cross-regional industry organisations (3 Positions from non-mining related industries that cross multiple regions) located within the Central Highlands, Isaac and Mackay regions to form our Local Buying Foundation Advisory Committee. EOI's open from Thursday, 6 February 2020 and will close Friday, 21 February 2020.

For further information on the EOI process, visit www.localbuyingfoundation.com.au or contact our Project Officer - Kirsty Appleton on 0418 296 583.
LBF Model 2020
Building on local capabilities and opportunities for growth in current and emerging industries, the Local Buying Foundation will support projects and programs which facilitate workforce development, innovation and the productive capacity of business and industry to grow the potential of their regional economies.
The Foundation's new model has removed the prior two funding streams of Building Sustainable Business Futures and Building Sustainable Business Communities to six specific categories, which will assist applicants to identify the priority areas in the LBF Charter.

The six funding categories are Business & Industry Innovation, Developing the Workforce of the Future, Indigenous Economic Development, Micro-business and SME Capacity-building, Industry Promotion & Economic Development, and Sponsorships.

Information pertaining to our funding applications, criteria and funding rounds is currently being updated and will be released via our website.

Please contact our Project Officer - Kirsty Appleton on 0418 296 583 or email info@localbuyingfoundation.com.au for all enquiries.
The Local Buying Foundation is a critical element of the Local Buying Program
delivered across all BMA and BMC operations in partnership with C-Res.
Local Buying Foundation Social Media
 
 
 
Disclaimer Local Buying Foundation
The information provided by LBF in this communication is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to provide accurate and correct information, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or suitability of the information, contained in the communication. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Your privacy is important to us. Please see the Privacy Policy here.

Our mailing address is:
Local Buying Foundation
PO Box 1721
Mackay QLD 4740
Australia