About Karyn Starmer

Small businesses struggling with debt have been offered a lifeline through reforms to small business insolvency rules. The changes to Australia's insolvency rules were designed to assist with restructuring and relieving the debt burden of small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes, including a new debt restructuring process and a simplified liquidation process, will apply to incorporated small...

One year ago, Glenys Beauchamp was Secretary of the Department of Health, preparing for her upcoming retirement after nearly 40 years in the public service, including nine at Secretary level. It had been a stellar career: as one of the first women to head a Commonwealth department, Beauchamp is the recipient of the Public Service Medal for her work co-ordinating...

Complaints, and those making them, can be hard to deal with at the best of times, from tiresome retirees with nothing better to do except wage a personal war against their local government, to customers whose level of entitlement and expectations exceeds any business' ability to deliver. But when it comes to workplace complaints, managers need to be particularly savvy...

Sixty years ago, Canberra was a very different place to the modern thriving city it is today. Just 50,000 people lived in the nation's capital, Lake Burley Griffin was still an idea, and the town centres of Woden Valley, Belconnen and Tuggeranong were yet to be planned. In a city full of promise, one of Canberra's long-standing law firms opened its...

Being a child of parents who are born overseas can often seem like a cultural juggling act. The desire to fit in at school while under pressure at home to continue the traditions and language of their parents can often create tension. Baker Deane & Nutt conveyancer Ida Lam was born and bred in Canberra, but the challenge for her...

Conversations about superannuation usually involve the topics of returns, fees and the benefits of self-managed funds but rarely, if ever, is there talk about death benefits. People spend the entirety of their working lives accumulating wealth for their retirement, but many of us don't do much other than write a name and tick a box on a form about where...

As the end of the year approaches, thousands of school leavers will be facing the task of choosing a pathway to their future jobs. For those who wish to take up a trade or profession such as plumbing, hairdressing, nursing or becoming a lawyer, the path is pretty simple: get the qualifications and get the job. But there are hundreds...

Not many graduates set out to start a leading professional services firm, but that is exactly what Pat Quade and Anthony Wilson did back in 1999 when they started Synergy Group. Now the leading Canberra-based, Commonwealth-focused professional services firm employs more than 300 professionals to deliver consulting services across the government sectors. Pat says starting Synergy was a bold move...

In a year that has been challenging unlike any other, this year's Canberra Women in Business Awards shone a light on the tenacity of the city's businesswomen. The ability to keep going despite significant COVID-19 setbacks, leading the way and lifting up others in a turbulent year were the core elements of the winners of the awards across six categories presented...

On meeting Ross Norwood and Glen Dowse it's easy to see that this pair of award-winning architects has spent a lot of time together. But beneath the easy banter between them, a sharp-eyed dedication to both the practical and creative soon emerges. The founding partners of DNA Architects met at University of Canberra during a time, they say, when UC...

There is a well known saying among economists that recessions create opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs. So it is hardly surprising that one particular young Canberran has decided now is the time to make the move and set up a new business in the middle of a global pandemic. After finding success as a director for one of Canberra's big brand...

The recent Federal Budget outlined a generous package of stimulatory measures aimed at enticing small business to invest. With tempting offers on the table, such as the opportunity to buy new vehicles or equipment, businesses have to decide whether to allocate their precious resources and invest in an unknown economic future. In the Federal Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced that...

With an ad featuring an array of tempting locations aiming to convince Australians to never go back to the office, Synergy Group's creativeXpeople won The Pitch competition on this week's episode of the ABC's Gruen. Marking the team's third entry on the show, Synergy Group creative director Jason Perelson says this was the team's first full win. "We shared the trophy...

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced plans to overhaul insolvency rules in an effort to help small businesses that are struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic. The changes will apply to businesses with liabilities of less than $1 million and would see small business owners remain in control of their company and assets, rather than immediately being placed in the...

There is little doubt that 2020 will be marked as an important year in world history. In Australia, and the rest of the world, it has been a year of uncertainty, anxiety and frustration, but also a year when trust, particularly in our workplaces, has never been more important. As Australians, we know only too well how to respond to...

There is no doubt that good businesses have been hit hard in 2020 but once this recession is behind them they will likely emerge leaner and ready for a new business cycle. But what about the businesses that were battling before COVID-19? RSM Canberra Partner Jonathon Colbran says there are many companies operating today that were sick before COVID-19 and...