It’s 30 years since Geoff Ebbs left his technology journalism role at PC Week. He became a best-selling author, started a business, went bust and then went into politics, with environmental conversation replacing technology at the fulcrum of his professional pursuits. Speaking to Influencing for this episode of ITJ Alumni, Ebbs traced his beginnings with technology back to the late 1970’s when a maths degree evolved into computer programming on mini-computers. On the side, he started writing articles about PC software for business and accounting magazines,before joining Australian Consolidated Press’s Computer Publications division where he started working with PC User magazine. “Computer Publications had just got a lot of money from Kerry Packer and my first job was building a database… to turn two filing cabinets full of product brochures into Buyer’s Guides To Hardware and Software,” Ebbs said. “So 1989 we finished that, which was about a year late, and so that

The Seven Network has appointed Peter Charles as managing director of its Victoria operations, effective immediately, according to a company press release. Charles will continue in his current roles as Victorian Sales Director and Head of National Independent Agencies and Direct. Expressing his excitement about the new role, Charles said, “As a proud Melbournian and a true believer in the power of our content and our brand, I’m honoured to take on this new position and the opportunity to represent Seven Melbourne. I love Seven and the role it plays in communities across Australia and Victoria.” Having joined Seven in 1999, Charles has celebrated 25 years with the network. Jeff Howard, managing director and CEO of Seven West Media, commended Charles for his extensive media experience, leadership abilities, and strong connection to Melbourne. “With more than 30 years’ experience in the media industry, Pete is one of the best in the business and a proven builder and leader

Ayushman Baruah has been appointed as the regional bureau head at Entrepreneur India. Announcing his new role on LinkedIn, Baruah stated: “After a short break, I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Regional Bureau Head at Entrepreneur India!” In his new role, Baruah will lead the magazine's technology coverage and write about everything relevant to the brand. He was most recently the chief of bureau at Business Standard in Bengaluru. Baruah has worked in editorial roles at The Shillong Times, The Financial Express, InformationWeek, MetricStream, BW Businessworld and LiveMint. He can be reached at bayushman@entrepreneurindia.com and ayushmanbaruah84@gmail.com  

Qazi Faraz Ahmad has announced on LinkedIn that he has assumed a new position as deputy news editor at Hindustan Times. He was most recently a special correspondent at Press Trust of India (PTI). Ahmad has earlier assumed various editorial roles as an assistant producer for the show Sports Planet at Zee Sports and Ten Sports, sub-editor at Hindustan Times, chief sub-editor at Dainik Jagran and as a senior correspondent at Network 18 Media and Investments Ltd. He was also the editor of Campus Magazine and Special Projects at Oman Tribune in Muscat.  

West Australian internet station Radio Margaret River (RMR) has announced plans to join the community radio network by broadcasting on FM 101.9, as revealed in a post on the station's Facebook page. RMR expressed gratitude to its sponsors and volunteers for their support, saying, “A big shoutout to all the fans, partners, subscribers, and volunteers who joined us at The River to celebrate RMR’s 4th Birthday last week! And the big news? RMR is going FM at 101.9 very soon!” Though the exact launch date for the FM broadcast is yet to be confirmed, RMR is expected to begin airing on the new frequency early next year, expanding its reach across Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, and Hamelin Bay.  

Brittney Rigby has joined Little Black Book (LBB) as the new managing editor for Australia and New Zealand (AUNZ), starting September 16. Rigby, who was previously with Mediaweek, will take on this newly created role aimed at strengthening LBB's presence in the region. Expressing her excitement on LinkedIn, Rigby said, “The Australia and New Zealand region has an outsized creative ambition and punches well above its weight on the world stage. So does Little Black Book. It was an opportunity too good to pass up.” In her new position, Rigby will collaborate with a global team, including Toby Hemming, Tom Loudon, Casey Martin, Matt Cooper, and Laura Swinton, whom she described as “some of the brightest and kindest people in our industry.” Rigby’s career has spanned several key roles, including head of communications at DDB Group and deputy managing editor at Mumbrella.  

The decision by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to go for a possible rethink on reduction in the 18% tax levy on the premium paid for health and life insurance policies by mandating a stiff 50-day deadline for a new Group of Ministers (GoM) to review the tax rate has brought cheer to the middle class who are the most affected by the steep hike in taxes for insurance coverage. According to the report by Vikas Dhoot for The Hindu, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the matter was discussed extensively with State Ministers and a lot of questions arose, including whether the tax rate should be reduced or the GST levy scrapped altogether, who should be exempted if at all, and how group insurance policies might be treated. The Council was also updated on the status of the work done so far by a three-year-old ministerial group on rationalising the various GST rates and slabs and decided to include more members in the same panel to review the insurance policies and taxation