Maroondah City Council holds regular business breakfasts designed to encourage networking and knowledge leadership amongst businesses within the community.

This morning’s breakfast included a presentation from Denso Automotive Systems Australia (formerly Australian Automotive Air), one of the nation’s largest automotive manufacturers, who discussed their unique just-in-time systems to ensure maximum efficiency with their operations.

Maroondah’s next business breakfast is held during Maroondah Business Week. Details on all of the Maroondah Business Week events are available at www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

The speech I delivered at the opening of the Business Breakfast is available within this post:

Welcome to the August Maroondah Business Breakfast, proudly sponsored by DENSO Automotive Systems Australia Pty Ltd. Maroondah City Council in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledges that we are meeting on land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries.

Firstly l would like to acknowledge the presence here this morning of my fellow Councillors:

• Cr Natalie Thomas
• Cr Nora Lamont
• Cr Rob Steane

This morning we will focus on the manufacturing sector – which many of you will be a part of here locally in Maroondah and the Eastern Region.

This sector is a vital part of the Maroondah economy. The ABS Census showed that in 2006, there were over 8,000 manufacturing jobs in Maroondah.

This represents nearly 16% of all jobs in the municipality. More recent figures show that within Maroondah, this sector has an estimated annual turnover of nearly $1.2 billion – confirming this sector as a key driver of the local economy.

I would also like to officially launch today our Maroondah Business Week from the 4th through to the 8th of October. The programs are being sent out today and on-line bookings will now being taken on the Bizmaroondah website, you all have a copy on your tables this morning.

This year we will present three special keynote guest speakers.

We are privileged to have David Schwarz, Australian Football icon and author of the recently released ‘All Bets Are Off’ autobiography, at the NAB Business Breakfast on Wednesday 6th October.

Business Week includes on Thursday 7th, a Networking Event with Peter Alexander founder of ‘Peter Alexander Sleepwear’ a true entrepreneur – sponsored by RACV Business Insurance.

Tara Moss, a unique combination of top fashion model, businesswoman and best-selling author, will share her story at the Eastland’s Business Lunch on Friday 5th October.

In addition, the 2010 Maroondah Business Week also encourages participants to ‘step out’ on one of the three bus tours, to see first hand new innovations, exciting developments and unique businesses happening right on our doorstep.

With all of the key events and tours, plus the eight training sessions and four extra networking events, the 2010 Maroondah Business Week promises to give local business new tools for future improvement to see them prosper and contribute to the economic prosperity of
Maroondah and the region.

I would encourage you all, when you go back to your workplaces today, to visit our Bizmaroondah website and make reservations for the many events held throughout this year’s Maroondah Business Week.

You will have noticed on your tables this morning, a survey that we would like you all to fill in prior to the end of today’s breakfast. We are continually striving to improve the events held at Maroondah Council and we ask that you take 2 minutes to fill out the survey and staff will come around to collect them. For those who do fill in the survey this morning, you will go into the draw of a $100 voucher for The Firehouse.

Once again welcome to the August Business Breakfast, thank you to DENSO Automotive Systems Australia for sponsoring today’s event, and all our Bizconnect Business Breakfast sponsors for 2010 – Hutchison Legal, ANZ Bank and RACV Business Insurance, please enjoy your morning.