Constantinos Kittos

To effectively secure grants, you need to have a clear understanding of what your business or project requires funding for. Whether it’s launching a new product, scaling operations, conducting research, or hiring staff, having specific goals will help you identify the right grants. Small businesses in Australia represent 98% of all businesses and employ approximately 44% of the workforce. This highlights the economic importance of small enterprises and the variety of grants designed to support them. Clarifying your needs ensures you apply for opportunities that align with your objectives and are more likely to succeed.

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These corporate welfare queens, these ticket-clipping freeloaders, are taking the piss. They are the ultimate parasite on Australian workers. Or as Dean Ormston says, more articulately: "Since the Attorney-General rejected the text and data mining exception last year, not one major AI platform has approached Australian rights holders to seek a licence. Not one. In every other industry, whether it’s broadcast, streaming, hospitality, film production, businesses that use copyrighted material seek a licence and pay for it. That is how the system works. What these platforms have done instead is flood the policy debate with invented terminology: “non-expressive use”, “computational analysis”, “technical copying.” Each new phrase is designed to argue that training AI on a creator’s life’s work is somehow different from every other commercial use. The sophistication of the language is inversely proportional to its honesty. They don’t want a fair framework. They want a freebie." https://lnkd.in/gTJvWbQt

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Need free help with privacy requirements in your organisation? Good privacy practices brings many benefits for your business, including building consumer trust and confidence that you handle personal information safely and securely. So many businesses - big, small and micro - collect private information and are therefore subject to Australia’s privacy laws. A new free Privacy Foundations tool from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has been designed to help businesses embed a culture of privacy, and establish or improve privacy practices, procedures and systems. The tool will help you self-assess your organisation against some foundational privacy questions and provide practical examples of what good practice looks like to help you Questions cover core privacy practice areas and provide relevant examples. It takes about 15-20 minutes, and will give you a privacy maturity score and tailored recommendations. You can get the tool from the #PAW website at: https://lnkd.in/gsmAA27G This is a great help during #PrivacyAwarenessWeek - the annual event to promote and raise awareness of the importance of protecting personal information - this year 16 - 22 June with the theme: ‘Privacy – it’s everyone’s business’. Make it yours! #Privacy #EveryonesBusiness #SmallBusiness #Capability #ConsumerConfidence #Trust #Australia #PAW25 #InformationSecurity #SupportForBusiness

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Policies. Processes. People. Connected. Most SMEs have policies. Some have processes. Few have them connected. At Trans4m, we integrate policies, workflows, and accountability into one ISO-ready operating system, supported by a platform that tracks every process instance in real time. No assumptions. Only measurable compliance. #BusinessProcesses #ISOReady #SMEOperations #OperationalExcellence #ProcessManagement #BusinessSystems Read our blog on how Trans4m can help businesses with its 'All About Processes' Offering https://zurl.co/u2tN9

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🇦🇺 Australia Migration 2025 – Year in Review #AUSPR #AnnualReport Australia’s skilled migration program in 2025 delivered a 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟕,𝟑𝟑𝟕 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 across Skilled Independent (#Subclass189) and Skilled Work Regional – Family Sponsored (#Subclass491 FS) pathways. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬: Only 𝟐 federal rounds (21 August & 13 November) were conducted, maintaining the selective approach from previous years. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 & 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝: >Skilled Independent (189): 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 16,887 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 >Skilled Work Regional (491 FS): 450 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Total invites were ~50% lower than previous years, reflecting a more selective strategy. 𝐓𝐢𝐞-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 & 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: >Highest tie-break: 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 (Electronic Equipment Trades Worker) >Lowest tie-break: 𝟔𝟓 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 (Plumbers, Carpenters, Roof Plumbers) Top occupations: Healthcare, Engineering, Trades, STEM roles, Nurses, Engineers, Actuaries, Midwives, Medical Specialists ICT/IT occupations were not included in these federal rounds. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬: >High points, accurate EOI submission, and aligned occupations were decisive. >Regional pathways offered targeted opportunities but in limited volume. >Understanding tie-break rules and occupation ceilings is key for success. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 2026: >Expect fewer federal rounds with highly selective invitations. >Healthcare, STEM, Engineering, and Trade professionals remain in strong demand. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐲: optimize points, align occupation, and submit EOIs accurately and on time. 📌 Note: For credible information, refer to Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect reports. 💡 Takeaway: Migration success depends on 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠. Start early, know high-demand occupations, and optimize your profile. ✅ Follow Satyendra Kumar for more such expert insights on migration trends, pathways, and 2026 planning. #AustraliaImmigration #SkillSelect #SkilledMigration #Subclass190 #Subclass191 #MigrateToAustraliaIn2026 #SIM #STNI #SIR #AustraliaGeneralSkilledMigration #MigrationTrends #Healthcare #Engineering #STEM #Trades #GlobalTalent #MigrationPlanning #2026Opportunities #SAMSConsultingServices

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As the strategic recalibration of AUKUS continues in Washington, there’s a risk we focus too narrowly on submarines and geopolitics, and not enough on the industrial backbone required to deliver on the alliance’s ambitions. This is where Australia must lead. Companies like ASX-listed Titomic represent the kind of sovereign industrial asset AUKUS Pillars 1 and 2 were designed to empower. A world leader in cold spray technology, Titomic is redefining how high-performance metal parts- particularly in titanium—are manufactured and sustained across defence and aerospace domains. Unlike traditional forging and casting methods, cold spray allows for: • Manufacture-at-point-of-need • Drastic reductions in lead times and cost • Complex geometry and part repair without heat distortion • Genuine sovereign supply chain resilience With a footprint across Australia, the US, and Europe, Titomic is a living example of how trilateral industrial collaboration can be both technologically disruptive and strategically aligned—advancing national objectives while delivering global capability advantages. At a time when the viability of AUKUS is under review, we need to point to scalable, sovereign solutions that build capability, not just procure it. Titomic isn’t just part of the advanced manufacturing sector- it’s helping to transform it. AUKUS needs more of this: cost-effective, high-performance, digitally enabled industrial ecosystems that bridge our allies and strengthen our defence future. #AUKUS #SovereignCapability #AdvancedManufacturing #ColdSpray #Titanium #IndustrialInnovation #DefenceIndustry #TrilateralPartnership #AdditiveManufacturing #StrategicSustainment #Pillar2 #NationalReconstructionFund #AustralianIndustry

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Legacy is something you leave behind. Will you leave behind something of value from your time on a not-for-profit Board? How do you protect your legacy? At the Board level, legacy is very interesting because it has implications on culture. In this video I’ll discuss how governance tools can create a purposeful culture and protect your legacy.   View extended video here: https://lnkd.in/gTAbwcKP     This video is part of a series about how governance and governance tools can actively manage culture.  Visit the description on the extended link above, for more information. Right Source. Empowering Your Purpose Is Ours. #NFP #companysecretary #governance #board #culture

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JUST RELEASED: Michael Gonski on why he builds large boards for small NFPs. I asked Mike, Chair of ReachOut Australia and Carriageworks, how to structure NFP boards that can scale without losing mission focus. His approach: deliberately large boards with specific skills. At Story Factory, Mike had 11 board directors when the organisation had just one executive. His reasoning is practical: smaller NFPs need specific capabilities they cannot afford to hire, so bring those skills onto the board itself. The challenge becomes managing those contributions. Mike describes the chair's role as being "the conductor of the orchestra" - ensuring each director contributes their expertise in a way that maximises its benefit to management. Mike's experience scaling organisations from startup through to $15+ million annual turnover provides useful perspective on when boards need hands-on director contributions versus when they can maintain stricter oversight boundaries. If you're involved with NFP governance, Mike's approach to board composition and the chair's role in managing contributions is worth listening to. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/g5vJHJmU #MinutesByBoardcycle #NFPGovernance

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In the leadup to the Australian Institute of Company Directors conference next week, Ive been thinking alot about my board journey. My first "official" board I built was for The Right Fit - right after we raised capital the first time, all of a sudden we had to have a 'formal' board. Obviously our VC investor took a seat, and for good governance we bought in 2 NEDs. It really was a case of 'who do I know I can ask a big favour of...' - long before I learned anything about skill set matrix's..! It took me time to learn that boards arent there to rubber stamp all your ideas as a founder. They;re not there to make you feel confident with every decision you've made or plan you present - actually the opposite - they should make you feel slightly uncomfortable. As founders we are, by nature, optimists. We have to be to keep building when everyone is like "that will never work". But that same optimism that gets you through the brutal times is the exact thing that creates blind spots. Great boards are there to challenge your assumptions, poke holes in your plans before the market does, to bring pattern recognition that you havent earned yet. Whilst it used to feel painful spending time board reporting each month (this was pre-AI, it took circa 2days a month to pull together materials...!) when youre running hard to build and scale and raise, I can now see how beneficial it was having a board as a circuit breaker. The thing that pulls your head up and asks whether the direction is still right, before the cost of being wrong gets very large, very fast. Now, being a NED on a number of other boards, my focus is helping CEOs and founders challenge their thinking & mindset, asking the questions that help spark robust conversations around the board table, listening generously, and helping the CEO develop a depth of foresight thats just not possible without broad market exposure and a board that is truly independent and willing to have difficult conversations. Especially in the current market.... The goal is never a board that makes you feel good, its to have a board board that makes you genuinely better. IF you're not already coming, join me at the Australian Governance Summit https://lnkd.in/g6D4J8_W

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DEEP DEEP “DO DOO” SAY GLOBAL ECONOMISTS & OECD “The Fish Rots From the Head” was one headline A Metaphor for “leadership,in Government & Business” organisations that are mandated by the “leadership”, not the minions Therein lies the heart of our NZ “Dilemma” It’s a Severe case of “Leadership Mediocrity” pervades the entirety of the Country’s Governance * 1.purpose ie abiding intent to achieve the long-term goal personally meaningful and makes a positive mark on the world * 2. Structure accountability, strategic alignment, and AI Tech innovative problem-solving at every level * 3. Capacity (“No point” Hopeless attitudes) * 4. Capabilities It’s as black or white as it gets ie the sum skills, behaviours, knowledge, tools and processes needed within an organisation to achieve its goals Governance Capacity “value” Delivered running a Country and building prosperity No longer limited to public authorities. It is wide spread influenced by interactions acumen and by the context in which they operate. It’s a collective capacity, termed governance capacity establishing and executing processes Failing to align organisational activities with strategic goals Ensuring investment yield measurable business outcomes, and fostering trust and stability to long-term success And create a framework to maximise positive impact of assets and projects translating investments into concrete, beneficial results for the organisation and its stakeholders If there is no cohesion weak purpose capacity and capability ~ a business or Country fails Governance capacity becomes visible when there is a quest for “concerted Resource” An Umbrella of specialised services * MBIE * Business NZ (representation resource) * NZ Educators. Business, Contemporary Governance, Advanced AI Tech, innovation, monetary management & Fiscal policy, competitive International Exporting, WHEN COHESION - INTELLECTUAL AND GOVERNANCE CAPACITY IS WEAK NEW ZEALAND FAILS If cohesion purpose intellectual and Governance Capacity is weak then the Country is doomed It’s a Train Wreck Two terms of governments’ failure Messrs Luxon Hipkins should be On Notice They have destroyed the NZ economy * The Elderly our Youth Our Pride * prosperity fail * Monetary management collapse * Fiscal policy shambles * Global embarrassment * Future recovery impaired Because: 1. Managerial knowledge weak 2. Capacity & Capability is seriously weak 3. Purpose a “Dart Board” in the Cafe It is not one individual but the entirety of the resource that is at serious fault "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” Detailed financial analysis posting shortly I’m Doug Marsh JP(Rtd) Life Fellow IMNZ, Fellow IoDNZ (Rtd)40 year Chair Director Experience International Diplomat Founding President Business NZ NZ Past President Inst Management  E: marshgovernance@gmail.com #chair’s #managers #ceo #businessnz #companydirectors #ema #nzinstituteofdirectors #economy

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If Employers aim to replace me with AI agents, What should I upskill to avoid being replaced? In other words: What are the most essential skills for 2030? This chart from the World Economic Forum suggests what employers expect to matter in that near future. Slide 2 is the stuff that matters. —— Hi Community - For two weeks I took a hiatus from regular posting to reflect. What’s been working, what I enjoy sharing and most significantly, what is worth talking about. Keep an eye out for more like this and other posts across psychology, business and all things techs. As always, thanks for reading.

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The APSCo Australia Age Inclusive Recruiter program is a practical initiative that helps recruiters and hiring managers attract, assess, and advocate for talent at every stage of life. The program is about ensuring every candidate, regardless of age, has the opportunity to contribute, grow, and thrive; and to ensure recruitment consultants, and the clients they recruit for, are actively contributing to a more equitable workforce. Find out more and how you can get involved at: https://lnkd.in/gTQhAza3

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🚀 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀! 👏 From a buzzing 🇮🇱 Israel Innovation Showcase over lunch to a packed afternoon of big ideas, this year’s agenda delivered substance, inspiration, and momentum for Australian 🇦🇺 business. 💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲: 1️⃣ 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁. The leap isn’t just smarter “classification”; it’s reasoning at the edge. 🧠 The moat in Physical AI won’t be model architecture — it’ll be real-world data (friction, heat, variability) + high-fidelity simulation to safely cover edge cases. Add in compressed models + new edge compute ⚙️ for real-time action — that’s the path from pilots to production. 2️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁. Agentic AI 🤖 moves from analysis ➡️ autonomous execution — with new power and new risk. We need trust built-in: identity, permissions, guardrails, observability, and red-teaming for AI agents. Cyber 🛡️ is no longer a back-office problem — it’s a strategy problem. 3️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 = 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆. Real-time rails 💳 (NPP/PayTo), biometrics, tokenisation, and AI are transforming payments from “plumbing” to platforms for growth. Treat payments as a strategic product with exec ownership and measurable ROI. 4️⃣ 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲. 🏛️ ACU + Hebrew University showed how mixed reality can “resurrect” ancient Israel in the classroom — a glimpse into immersive, equitable learning at scale. 5️⃣ 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀. Across every session the winning pattern was clear — strong data foundations, simulation for edge cases, clear governance, workforce readiness, and edge-first architectures unlock ROI beyond the proof-of-concept theatre. 💼 A huge 🙌 to Michelle Blum and the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce team and all the speakers for curating such a sharp, forward-looking program — spanning Physical AI, cyber, fintech, and edtech — and to the partners who make this summit a genuine catalyst for the innovation ecosystem ANZ + KPMG Australia + CyberArk + Gilbert + Tobin + Skylight Cyber Security + Teva Pharmaceuticals + WalkMe + BruntWork. #AICC #InnovationSummit #AI #PhysicalAI #AgenticAI #CyberSecurity #Fintech #EdTech #Israel #Australia #BoardroomAgenda Jo-Anne Bloch - Jacqueline Chow - Alex Abulafia OAM - Caryn Sandler - Lee Kelly - Cara Katz - Liora Engler - Ohad Blumberg

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🔬🧠 Why Boards Need More STEMM Minds at the Table At this year’s Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Governance Summit, ASIC Chair, Joe Longo made a bold statement: boards need more directors with #STEMM backgrounds (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) to navigate the complexity we're all facing. He referenced my book, Scientists in Every Boardroom, and I’ll admit...I paused. I wrote that book back in 2019 with a simple yet urgent question in mind: What happens when those trained to think systemically and ethically are missing from the most critical decisions of our time? It also offered case studies and evidence-based coaching psychology approaches to meet the challenges identified in my research Since then, the book has made its way into State Libraries and university programs around the world; all without a marketing campaign. Just a few quiet LinkedIn posts and a lot of word of mouth. To my surprise (and delight) the June issue of the AICD's Company Director magazine also referenced my book, and went on to highlight the strengths that STEMM leaders bring as: 💡 Evidence-based thinking 💡 Curiosity and collaboration 💡 Innovation mindset 💡 Risk fluency 💡 Systemic awareness 💡 Lifelong learning It also acknowledges that boardrooms can feel unfamiliar, sometimes even unwelcoming, to STEMM professionals. That’s the part I care deeply about. Because it’s not just about putting a scientist in the room. It’s about helping them be heard. What the article didn’t mention is that Scientists in Every Boardroom goes further. It offers a practical, evidence-based pathway: one that includes coaching STEMM professionals in leadership and coaching the board as a system to build psychological safety and cognitive diversity. It takes more than one person. It takes a shift in how we think about leadership. And perhaps the fact I wasn’t interviewed (likely an innocent oversight) is itself a quiet reminder of how easy it is to miss the voices we most need to hear. If you’re working to bring more STEMM voices into leadership and governance, you’re not alone. Let’s also stay clear about why this matters. It’s not only about driving innovation or boosting performance. We need to bring systemically aware, ethically grounded thinking into the rooms where decisions are made - decisions that affect the wellbeing of people, communities, and the planet. We need leaders who can hold complexity with care. Leaders who ask, not just what’s possible, but what’s wise. ▶️ For context, here's a helpful blog: https://lnkd.in/g9FGwiAz ▶️ Get your own copy of the book: https://lnkd.in/gkpcScEu ▶️ Learn more about our work: www.proveritas.com.au ▶️ AICD original article, with gratitude: https://lnkd.in/g-RDkwUs Women in STEMM Australia, The Australian Academy of Science, The Royal Australian Chemical Institute #stemmleadership #leadershipcoaching #systemiccoaching #proveritasleadership #scientistsineveryboardroom

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We talk about the SCHADS Award a lot, and for good reason. It’s one of the most complicated awards in Australia, created from more than a dozen old state awards that were merged together. Even today, you can ask five people how to apply it and get five different answers. That’s where so many payroll problems start. I built Pay Cat to fix that. Not just by understanding the SCHADS Award, but by turning it into automated software that gets it right every time. Curious how we do it? Check us out here: https://bit.ly/3L8GsK5 . . . . . #ndis #ndisaustralia #payroll

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“More often than not, platforms fail to take action to remove genuinely harmful content reported to them by victims,” said Mrs Teo, referring to a study by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), which found that social media companies drag their feet when responding to reports of harmful content.

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