Every year in October, Australia’s bike riding community rallies together for the Great Cycle Challenge which raises money for research into childhood cancer – with the simple aim of saving more lives.

The Great Cycle Challenge is a major fundraiser for the work done at Children’s Medical Research Institute in Westmead. Since 2013, riders have raised more than $40 million to help scientists work on a personalised approach to children’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Scientists want to change the lives of kids like Annabelle. The gorgeous three-year-old came home from preschool one day with a lump on her head after a fall. Her parents, Mel and Brendan, weren’t concerned until it developed into a sore, and then suddenly, she came out in bruises all over her legs.

“We had a new puppy, so we didn’t think too much of it. But when the doctor saw her bruises he said, ‘I’m sorry I hope I’m wrong but that is a telltale sign of leukaemia’.’’

Brendan said they were just shellshocked, and within 24 hours she was having a lumber puncture, spinal tap, and had started chemo.

“Even then, I just kept thinking that someone was going to tell us they got it wrong,’’ he said.

The good news for the family was that they had caught it very early, and since then, Annabelle has been taking oral chemo tablets at home, as well as weekly chemo at hospital, and is starting a new clinical trial shortly, which her family has been told may increase her survival chances by an extra 10%.

Despite the challenges she’s faced, Brendan tells beautiful stories of how easily Annabelle has adapted to her new normal. When the family recently made the tough decision to shave her head, Annabelle said her “hair had gone on holiday – to Melbourne’’. She has also nicknamed her nasal tube “spaghetti – like it’s her friend’’.

Brendan’s best friend Tony has been riding in the Great Cycle Challenge for many years, choosing to ride over 24 hours as his own personal goal. This year, the two friends will ride and fundraise together.

“I look at the timeline of how fast Annabelle was diagnosed and treated and it’s amazing,’’ Brendan said. “We still have a long road ahead of us, but it’s exciting that she’s been offered this new treatment that improves her chances - and that’s because of research.

“We can always do more to help these kids, and the only way we will do that is through research and development.’’

We are calling on all Australians to sign up, choose how many kilometres you’d like to ride throughout the month of October, and raise funds to help kids like Annabelle. Find out more and register for free at: greatcyclechallenge.com.au

Gather your colleagues, dress to impress, and celebrate Melbourne Cup 2024 in a stylish and vibrant setting.

Watch the races live on the big screen on our dedicated outdoor deck or enjoy the atmosphere from our comfortable indoor space.

Indulge in our Special Race Day Platter, available for $89 per person, featuring premium meats, gourmet sides, and fresh accompaniments.

Receive a complimentary beverage on arrival, with a choice of three exclusive Race Day-themed cocktails.

For all enquiries, please speak to a member of our team at +61 2 9685 0340 or email events.prsyp@parkroyalhotels.com

Date & Time

Tue 5 November, from 12:30pm

Click here to book now

Join us October 3rd as we come together to recognise and honour the female leaders in our community. The Pink October Charity Luncheon will feature inspiring talks from Michelle Payne OAM, a trailblazing national icon joined by the legendary horse owners Debbie Kepitis and Lara Kepitis, sharing their stories and raising awareness in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Guests will be welcomed with a selection of canapes and our signature MGallery Balmaretto Flame cocktail. Engage in stories sharing insights and raising awareness about breast cancer throughout the event and savour a gourmet menu of shared platter options followed by dessert plates featuring a trio of delectable sweets.

This is an inclusive event for both men and women, with ticket sale proceeds donated towards the McGrath foundation.

Book Your Tickets Here!

$99.00 per ticket + Booking Fees

Northcott’s Giving Month is around the corner. Join Northcott this Neon November to raise money and make life brighter for people with disability!

Highlight the date and involve your organisation:

• Donate or become a Matching Hero supporter and inspire others to give
• Get your staff involved—hold a neon-themed fun event or activity to raise funds or create a team that your staff can join
• Match your employee's donations to amplify the impact together

Funds raised will GLOW UP Northcott's spaces and places, ensuring accessible environments equipped to motivate and empower individuals with disability to achieve their therapy, work, and social goals.

Get set to have some neon fun for a great cause! Interested?

Contact fund@northcott.com.au to get started or visit www.northcott.com.au to learn more about our services.

Looking to connect with fellow members? Let The Connection be your guide! Reach out to us today to explore how we can facilitate those introductions for you.

Introducing the third edition of the Western Sydney Business Connection's 'Meet the Member' Series: our ongoing initiative that shines a spotlight on our diverse and dynamic members. Through this series, we delve into the stories behind their businesses, celebrate their achievements, and share their unique insights. Stay with us as we feature more members, welcome new faces, and strengthen the bonds within the Western Sydney business community.

Meet The Alternative Board

The Alternative Board supports business owners to take their business to the next level through; supportive advisory boards made up of other local business owners, expert one-to-one coaching, and our suite of business tools.

But how do we differ from a traditional business coach or consultant? They may concentrate on improving your sales, sorting out your HR or helping you with your finances but that’s where it often ends. At TAB, we’ll look at these too of course, but we’ll start with you, the business owner, as a person.

Our coaching and mentoring sessions are designed to give you the time and space you need to gain more clarity and focus on your business. With the additional support of the TAB Business Builder’s Toolkit you will have everything you need to exceed your goals and set new ones.

Visit The Alternative Board Website

Meet The Team

John Sweeney - Ryde/Parramatta NSW

E: john@thealternativeboard.com.au

P: 0418 233 695

As the owner of The Alternative Board Ryde/Paramatta, I have more than 45 years executive and board level experience working across Banking and Finance, Equipment Leasing and Tertiary Education. I possess extensive finance and accounting skills which most business owners that I work with do not have.

Before joining TAB, I provided mentorship to business owners and CEO’s in my own consulting and coaching business but the opportunity to join the TAB network was too good to pass up. The business model of members holding each other accountable is an incredibly powerful tool and combining that with personalised one-on-one coaching really frees me up to focus on the business owners and helping them achieve their personal and business visions.

I am passionate about using my real life experiences to assist business leaders to become leaders of industry by exploiting their full potential and my goal is to pass on my experience of great successes and challenging business conditions to help business owners achieve their vision of success. I come from a senior corporate background where, as a CEO, I led a team of 500 people and together we built a company from grass roots to $2 billion in an extremely competitive and overcrowded market. Together, we weathered three severe recessions, where many of our competitors failed, whilst we emerged intact and stronger. That experience, whilst stressful and threatening, taught me the value of being prudent and playing to our strengths in business.

TAB’s resources, together with my own corporate experience, places me in a strong position to work alongside business owners coaching them to recognise the solutions to their challenges and then take action to address them. TAB’s ethos and values align closely with mine so working with business owners and watching them succeed personally and in business is a source of pride and deep satisfaction for me.

As a TAB member, you have access to the thoughts and ideas of other successful business owners to help you find solutions to your challenges. Moreover, you are working with like-minded people who are committed to supporting each other to grow and prosper.

Nigel van Reyk - Ryde/Parramatta NSW

E: nigel@thealternativeboard.com.au

P: 0418 600 174

Working with John Sweeney in The Alternative Board Ryde/Paramatta area as a Certified Coach and Facilitator, I help forward-thinking business owners increase profitability and improve their lives by leveraging local business advisory boards, private business coaching and other strategic services.

With over 20 years of experience managing privately owned businesses for owners and directors, I have helped countless businesses create and execute business strategies that get results. I combine the entrepreneurial skills vital to a privately-owned business with the operating and reporting disciplines required in a corporate environment.

I am committed to life long learning and TAB provides me with that stimulus from both members and other TAB business owners. I am also in a position where I can give back to the business community by sharing my experiences with others. I enjoy working with owners who are interested in making their businesses the best they can be.

I have had a very varied career in terms of industry sectors and job roles and I have both formal and practical training in Strategy, Marketing, Operations and Finance in both B2B and B2C markets. This helps me provide our members with a multitude of insights, both from a personal and a business perspective.

Robert Proietti - Macarthur NSW

E: robert.proietti@thealternativeboard.com.au

P: 0430 317 179

I have more than 30 years experience in roles spanning across production, operations, sales, and senior management.

Having worked in both local and international companies, I’ve worked on establishing distribution channels, setting up new facilities, and launching new products, worked on mergers and have a background in engineering. I also understand the pressures of owning a small business, as I come from a family of business owners.

Working with The Alternative Board, I thoroughly enjoy seeing the board care for the other members by becoming engaged in the conversation of helping the other board members with their challenges.

I pride myself on my understanding the needs of the business and then developing a strategic plan to execute the business goals. I especially love seeing the excitement when a member shares how they have overcome their problem, with the help of the board. I enjoy being able to bring value to the business owner by sharing my experiences and then seeing them grow and thrive.

I am passionate about helping other business owners to achieve both their personal and business goals. I thrive on the excitement that business owners share when they hit their business and personal goals.

On weekends you’ll find me restoring old cars (I own a 1962 EK Holden), on the golf course, or traveling with my family.

Tony Cocks - Sydney Hills District NSW

E: tony.cocks@thealternativeboard.com.au

P: 0452 652 153

As the Owner of The Alternative Board Sydney Hills District, I bring a wealth of experience in General Management, Finance, IT, and Operations from my time in large multinational companies. I have successfully led business units through extensive transformations to enhance competitiveness and drive growth.

Joining The Alternative Board wasn’t just about shared values for me, it was also about empowering fellow business owners. As a Facilitator at The Alternative Board, I find fulfillment in forging connections, fostering collaboration among entrepreneurs and making a real difference for their businesses and personal goals.

My passion for business extends to my commitment to continual learning and improvement. I believe in the power of sharing experiences, making The Alternative Board’s platform invaluable for collective growth.

With a focus on strategic guidance and transformative insights, I am dedicated to helping business owners realise their visions. So what’s my advice for you and your business? It’s simple; experience The Alternative Board’s community-driven approach firsthand, it will change how you run your business, view your business and help you achieve your goals, both personal and business-related.

When I’m not working you will find me watching AFL. I also enjoy fitness, travel, and spending quality time with my family.

Seeking connections with our members? Reach out with The Connection to learn how we can help facilitate those introductions for you.

Attracting the next generation of workers to manufacturing, and adapting skills to an ever-changing industry were some of the key challenges highlighted by local manufacturers at a recent forum.

The Western Sydney Manufacturing Forum was held in St Marys in May, bringing together over 100 Western Sydney manufacturers to discuss workforce development strategies.

Manufacturing is a major contributor to Penrith's local economy and employs over 6,700 people. 

The event was delivered in partnership with Workforce Australia for Business, and Training Services NSW, Services NSW, and Penrith City Council. Attendees heard from a team of experts and industry leaders including Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT, University of Technology Sydney, Western Parkland City Authority, and Manufacturing Skills Australia.

In his opening address, Cr Todd Carney, Mayor of Penrith said "By working together we’re building a future that’s not just Made in Australia, but a future Made in Western Sydney." 

Council will continue to support events such as this to create a thriving environment for local businesses to grow and help achieve Council's goal of an additional 2,000 manufacturing jobs in Penrith by 2031.

To find out about future events, or to learn more about manufacturing in Penrith, sign up to the Invest Penrith eNews here

Many businesses experience a significant lack of exit planning, often leaving business owners shortchanged when it’s time to hand over the reins of their enterprise.

We invite you to complete William Buck's short 5-minute survey. The insights you provide will shape their leading annual Exit Smart Report, which supports business owners in preparing for a successful exit, no matter what path they choose.

Their 2023 report revealed that while 72% of owners expected to exit their business within the next 10 years, less than 40% had an exit strategy in place.

Take part in this short Exit Smart Survey and enter the draw to win a $1,000 Luxury Escapes voucher: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WSBC-ad

We are delighted to share that Martin O'Connell from ECORR Pty Ltd - Eco Resource Recovery has joined our board. As a lifelong Western Sydney resident and experienced leader in civil engineering and sustainable construction, Martin brings invaluable expertise to our team. His passion for innovation and collaboration will help drive our region's growth.

Please join us in welcoming Martin.

Martin O’Connell | Founder & MD | ECORR

Lifelong Western Sydney resident, Martin is passionate about Western Sydney and its ambition to become a world-leading economy, believing that success will be achieved through effective collaboration between businesses and their leaders.

Martin’s professional journey began in civil engineering, eventually leading to his role as Managing Director and co-owner at AWJ Civil. Over two decades, he steered the company's evolution from a conventional earthmoving service to a leading, solution-focused civil contracting firm. His advocacy for a project-partner-oriented approach fortified the company's values and solidified collaborative procurement relationships, which underpinned the business over that period.

The opportunity to recycle construction waste as a resource led to the inception of ECORR. Today, ECORR stands as an award-winning leader in circular construction solutions, offering unique and innovative ways for material disposal, design, and application. ECORR has become partner of choice across an array of infrastructure and construction programs in Western Sydney, in projects such as Western Sydney Airport, Sydney Metro and Parramatta Light Rail.

Martin's passion extends to creatively tackling civil and environmental challenges, particularly in revitalizing legacy mine, quarry, and heavy industrial sites. Through adaptive and optimized solutions, he has contributed significantly as a partner and developer, leveraging these legacy resources for maximum benefit.

Unlocking the sustainable commercial success of such projects and business models has reinforced his belief in their efficacy—not merely as a response to growing environmental awareness but as a proactive, strategic approach to future-proofing businesses in a world of finite resources and evolving stakeholder expectations.

Having experienced the economic transition to a uniquely diverse economy over the past 30 years, Martin is passionate about playing a role in the future of the Western Sydney economy. He shares the ambition to ensure it becomes Australia's benchmark economy, driven by innovation, sustainability, and collaborative leadership.

This winter has had it all – the seriously frosty cold snaps, the rain, the wind chill, the colds and flus.

But there’s a solution for it all – one that will make you feel good by helping kids in need and have you looking cool while keeping warm and toasty. It’s the Jeans for Genes shop, which supports the cutting-edge science Children’s Medical Research Institute in Westmead.

From cosy sweaters and beanies to keyrings and pens – you can stock up on your necessary items while funding research into kids’ genetic diseases.

Fundraising through our shop provides extra opportunity for scientists like Mark Graham and Nader Aryamanesh to continue researching rare diseases like Kabuki Syndrome, which results in immune deficiencies, cardiac and kidney problems and diminished muscle tone.

Both were involved in an exciting world-first study that found a low carbohydrate, high fat diet had a life-changing impact on children with the syndrome. They used multi-omic sequencing technologies to understand how diet changed gene expression. The medically-monitored ketogenic diet has already been shown to be effective in managing other neurological conditions such as epilepsy and with these findings, there are new possibilities for the emerging use of the ketogenic diet and ketones in other epigenetic and neurodevelopmental diseases.

“We used proteomics to determine whether the thousands of proteins, acting as molecular machines within blood cells, were functioning or malfunctioning in Kabuki disease patients. The bioinformaticians on the team took the large and complex proteome data and confirmed that gene expression was crucial and was improved by diet,” said Dr Graham.
But the team at CMRI know there are many other kids impacted by genetic diseases, so the need for research continues. One in 20 children are affected by a genetic condition, including cancer, which means that’s one in every classroom.

By purchasing from the Jeans for Genes shop, you can help our researchers find more cures for more children and get them out of doctor’s rooms or hospital and into the playground.

We use premium fabrics for that extra cosiness and everyone in our labs are wearing them. In fact, that’s Radek and Vicki - two of our researchers - in the above photo showcasing some of the products you can enjoy.

Sizes do tend to run large, so be sure to check out the sizing guide when ordering for detailed measurements to help you find the perfect fit. 

Shop today!

Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is an award-winning state-of-the-art medical research organisation dedicated to researching the genes and proteins important for human development, health and disease. Affiliated with the University of Sydney, CMRI is supported in part by its key fundraiser Jeans for Genes® and the Luminesce Alliance and is located at Westmead, a major health and innovation precinct in Sydney, NSW, Australia.