Greetings! 

Thank you to those who participated in the ACT Government review of Lighthouse. The review has been completed and we look forward to the feedback. Anna has just returned from a study tour with a head full of program and activity ideas. Bring it on!

As part of Canberra BusinessPoint, Lighthouse is committed to developing an exciting range of Master classes and clinics and introducing networking events and targeted workshops that are relevant to the Canberra business community's needs. Be quick to respond as sessions are booking out quickly. We are booked out for the Master Class, Selling to the Australian Government - A coalface perspective and June's Clinic, Business Risk Health Check: Insurance but are taking expressions of interest in attending alternative sessions.

Our spotlight this month puts a focus on Brilliant Idea: One Year On, the anniversary event of the Brilliant Idea program, held in April at Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre. We thank all those who supported this lively event celebrating the ACT women's microcredit program and highlighting the achievements of women entrepreneurs and loan recipients. Lighthouse was presented with sponsorship from Soroptimist International of Canberra to start a special loan fund for the program.

We will be putting new ideas and approaches into action over the coming months. One of these that will be launched in July is an exciting new skills development initiative. Watch this space.

Kind regards

Anna Pino, Cindy Reese Mitchell, Su Hodge, Ken Kroeger, Lyn Robbins and Lauren Mitchell

Over 100 people from the Canberra community representing businesses, government, community services, media and arts and cultural organisations attended Brilliant Idea: One Year On to celebrate the first anniversary of the ACT Women's microcredit program. The event was held on the 13th of April at Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre.

Brilliant Idea was developed by Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre and the ACT Government, through the Office for Women, in 2010. The anniversary event put a spotlight on the value of the program in supporting women in the creation or expansion of businesses with a focus on new ideas, products and services and the achievements of local entrepreneurs supported through the program and with ACT Microcredit loans.

Virginia Haussegger (ABC News Presenter) took to the stage as Master of Ceremonies with speakers including Joy Burch MLA, Minister for Women; Anna Pino, Lighthouse CEO; Anne Frankenberg, Deputy Executive Director of International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) via video link; Robyn Archer AO, Creative Director of Centenary of Canberra and IWDA Ambassador; and, Leanne Gundry, Director of Learning Adventures and one of the first women in the ACT to receive a microcredit loan to develop her business idea.

The celebration featured display presentations from Brilliant Idea micro businesses and their creators including fashion parades of two original clothing labels, Dahlia and Dorothy & Mr.Lee, a live performance of Pride and Prejudice in Ten Minutes Flat by the Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art and catering by loan recipient Shiara Astle of Asiuvou Foods and from the four Country Women's Association ACT branches.

Click here to see highlights of Brilliant Idea - One Year On in a showreel now on Youtube by Margaret McHugh, About Us: A Fantastic Documentary.