Posts by Neena Bhandari

Spinning a new kind of yarn

0 Comments read Business and Trade
Mike Hall.

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 11.11.2010 (The Sydney Morning Herald): Few business editors would contemplate becoming an entrepreneur, but six years ago Mike Hall stepped out of a 20-year career as a journalist to launch a design-led textile business catering to the high end of the market.

“When I started out, I couldn’t tell the difference between silk and cotton, but now I can hold my own in a conversation about weft and warp, empire lines and stitches per inch,“ says Hall, whose company Jasmine Hall wholesales home textiles and fashion.

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A true blue sisterhood

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By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 26.10.2010 (The Sydney Morning Herald): From making cubby houses together in a haystack, three Melbourne sisters have combined their skills to build a boutique immigration company that has grown tenfold through clever use of online marketing.

Keeping their sibling rivalry at bay, Maryanne Gruar, Joy Orosz and Carolyn Parnis have made the most of their different skill sets to form True Blue Migration, which offers Australian immigration and visa advice. Gruar specialises in legal and immigration policy, Orosz has marketing and communications expertise and Parnis excels in finance.

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From a ‘Woman Chief’ to a Champion of Women’s Rights

0 Comments read Gender

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 09.10.2010 (IDN): Helen Samu Hakena exudes a serenity that belies her extraordinary energy and inner strength that she has devoted to the cause of justice, peace building and advocating for women’s and human rights and the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.

Recognising her expertise in advancing the role and interests of women in peace and security processes, Helen has been nominated to the Asia-Pacific Regional Advisory Group on Women, Peace and Security launched in Bangkok (Thailand) this week to mark the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of UNSCR 1325. It is the first regional group of its kind that will advise and support governments, civil society and other relevant players on the effective implementation of the resolution in the Asia-Pacific region.

Born as a `woman chief’ on September 13, 1955 in Gogohe village on Buka Island in the Papua New Guinean (PNG) province of Bougainville, Helen’s parents ensured that she was raised with high ideals to lead her clan. Christian teachings on morality had a strong and powerful influence on her.

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