Press Release

Rail investment and telecommunications will feature as the keynote addresses for NSX: Investing In Innovation on Friday 24 May 2002 at Newcastle City Hall. Former National Rail Chief Executive, Vince Graham, will tell the story of how a public corporation attracted private sector investment. Mr Graham was invited to participate in the Lawler Partners presentation to NSX: Investing In Innovation by Managing Director of Lawler Partners, Terry Lawler. Mr Lawler was appointed by the Australian Government to Chair National Rail as it moved from private to public ownership. Soul Pattinson Telecommunications (SPT), Newcastle’s only ASX listed Company and a leader in innovative telecommunications in the Hunter, is proudly sponsoring the NSX event. Michael Simmons, SPT General Manager,will be speaking about how the SPT / NBN Group of companies invested into innovative telecommunications through the conversion of broadcast to telecommunications on its own digital network. SPT is delivering high speed broadband services along the Eastern seaboard of Australia, offering innovative and cost effective products and services to rural, regional and remote areas. A key factor in SPT’s success and growth is its ability to design, build, own and operate innovative networks. SPT will celebrate its first anniversary as a publicly listed company this month. General Manager of the Stock Exchange of Newcastle (NSX), Scott Evans, said that in many ways these rail and telecommunications stories are indicative of both the nation’s and the Hunter region’s contribution to the Australian economy. NSX: Investing In Innovation will be officially opening by The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Shadow Minister for Resources and Member for Hunter. More than 25 organisations have also confirmed as exhibitors and guest presenters at the event. Some of the companies to be showcased at NSX: Investing In Innovation will include; leading corporate advisers, Paramount; inventors of an innovative corporate signage system, High Traffic Imagery; share market software developers and providers, Protrader; stock brokers; the University of Newcastle’s Research Associates arm TUNRA; financial planners; major venture capitalists and government departments. ‘We are expecting several hundred people to visit the event on the day. Most of these people will represent the small to medium size businesses,’ he said. NSX: Investing In Innovation is part of the Australian Innovation Festival. NSX: Investing In Innovation is proudly sponsored by SPT in association with NBN. The University of Newcastle Research Associates (TUNRA), Baker & McKenzie and Newcastle & Hunter Business support this event. Entry to the event is free. Those wishing to attend can register their attendance by visiting https://www.nsx.com.au or by calling 02 4998 6253. For further media information please contact Scott Evans, telephone: 02 4929 6377.