Place Based Economic Development with Simon White

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Simon White

Simon White

Simon White is a specialist in place-based economic development, private sector and business development and business environment reform.

The Year in Review: Highlights of 2015

2015 REVIEW What a year 2015 has been! This year marks 25 years working as an independent advisor. Here’s my summary of some of the major highlights of the year. 1 New networks and linkages: Australasia Aid Conference In February, I attended the Australasia Aid Conference at the Australian

What Innovation Looks Like

Innovation certainly is the thing these days. Seems like everyone’s talking about it, we all want it and we all think it’s a good thing for our economy to do and our government to support. Last week I attended an engaging session on innovation run by Deloitte. It

The Value of the Micro-Business Sector

Small business is often touted as the engine of growth. But what of the smaller segment of this sector, the micro-business sector? A recent publication of the RSA caught my eye. Entitled ‘The Second Age of Small’ this report by Benedict Dellot (June 2015) considers the economic impact of

Building on Local Assets for Development

I have been commissioned by IBN in the Western Australian Pilbara Region. IBN is an Aboriginal organisation established in 2001, which provides programs and services that aim to improve the health, education and prosperity of its Beneficiaries: the Yinhawangka, Banyjima and Nyiyaparli people. The Banyjima, Milyuranpa Banyjima, Minadhu and Nyiyaparli

The Impact of Business Environment Reform: Two Rapid Evidence Assessments

The UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) have just published to reports I co-authored this year with Peter Fortune. These present the evidence of the impact of business environment reform in two areas. Business environment reform and investment: rapid evidence assessment Over the past few years, business

Fertiliser: a commodity without borders?

Fertiliser: a commodity without borders?

In June 2006, the African Union (AU) declared fertiliser a “commodity without borders”. This was in response to the recognition that national borders – or more specifically non-tarrif barriers that businesspeople are faced with at the borders – were inhibiting private investment into fertiliser markets, which has a damaging effect on

Creating liveable cities: How can a Federal Government support cities?

Australia’s new prime minster, Malcolm Turnbull, is sounding very progressive when he talks of Australia’s future and introduces his new ministry line up. It was particularly interesting to hear of his support for cities as he introduced his new Cabinet today: “Liveable, vibrant cities are absolutely critical to