Dear AVCAL Colleague,

Our focus on innovation in 2008 has been well timed with a review of the National Innovation System being announced in January by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

We'll be putting a submission to the review and several AVCAL Council members (and no doubt many other AVCAL folk) will have attended the round of public hearings that are almost completed. A working group of Council has been formed to give input to the AVCAL Executive on the shape and content of the submission (deadline 30 April). VC firms are also encouraged to make a submission independently of AVCAL.

It has been proposed that a green paper canvassing proposed changes will be submitted by review chair, Dr. Terry Cutler at the end of July 2008 with the Government releasing their response in a white paper in September. Any enquiries on the AVCAL submission should be directed to Tim Peters. The innovation website has more information.

AVCAL have been offered a special invitation to the European Private Equity and Venture Capital (EVCA) Investor's forum in Geneva on 13-14 March. I'll be attending this event as their guest. This annual global forum is exclusively for LPs and GPs. I'm looking forward to meeting many of our global colleagues and forging relationships that will benefit AVCAL. More.

Have a great Easter break,



Katherine Woodthorpe
Chief Executive





Market News

Skipping past the banks

Record Year for Cleantech Venture Investments





Member News

Defining and delivering sustainability

Don't miss the opportunity to hear Maria Atkinson, global head of sustainability from Lend Lease give a thought provoking address about what is means to define and deliver sustainability at our networking dinner on 26 March. Maria is highly regarded globally in this area and has been part of Clinton Global Initiative AGM in New York.
Register now


Making your marketing commitment work for you

AVCAL have a limited number of platinum sponsorships on offer for 2008. We can offer your business excellent brand exposure and direct networking opportunities within our industry. More.


European LBOs - is the carnival over?
March 18 Networking dinner

Over the past few years the private equity industry has experienced dramatic change driven by the arrival of new investors in the market. These players generated waves of liquidity across the capital structure and were the main engine behind the evolution of laminated structures, the adoption of new instruments, the erosion of the traditional protection in loan documentation and last, but not least, the perceived twin evils of higher leverage and prices. However, in 2007 the leveraged express, that had been gathering speed for some time, finally hit the buffers. Register now





AVCAL Events

Advanced Training Course in PE 18/19 Mar course full
NSW Dinner European LBO Market 18 Mar register now
Foundation Course 26/27 Mar register now
NSW Dinner Defining & Delivering Sustainability 26 Mar
SA Networking lunch 13 April register now
NSW Corporate Golf Day 1 May diarise
WA Networking Lunch 9 May diarise
AVCAL 2008 24-25 Sep diarise. Regos open in May





Other Programs

Cooperative Research - the engine of innovation conference

QUT research program - Business founders wanted for entrepreneurship research

Pathways to Manhood - A contemporary community based rite of passage for boys into manhood - following on from popular feedback from AVCAL 2007

AngelConnect08 - Everything you need to know about the process of Angel Investment

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