Latest news with #AndyMitchell
Scoop
11 hours ago
- General
- Scoop
Forest & Bird Honours Six Outstanding Volunteers
Forest & Bird has honoured six long-serving members with the Tī Kōuka award for their exceptional service over a long period to the organisation and to conservation in their regions. New Zealand's largest independent conservation organisation has thousands of dedicated volunteers throughout Aotearoa and is celebrating these six for their passion and hard work over many years. The recipients say they are honoured to be recognised but add they would not have achieved anything without the teams of dedicated Forest & Bird volunteers they work with. David Cornick is the longest serving member of the Lower Hutt branch committee, joining it in 1991. He has been involved in some of the most significant restorations in the region, including Mātiu Somes and Mana islands, and Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve. He has also been a member of teams reintroducing rare native birds into these areas. 'David is a knowledgeable and passionate conservationist, a handy photographer, and a humble, hardworking contributor to so many of Forest & Bird's projects,' says Andy Mitchell, Lower Hutt branch chair. Another long-serving Lower Hutt member John Groombridge has been branch treasurer for a quarter of a century. John is also a long-time volunteer and organiser of restoration work on Mātiu Somes Island and a regular volunteer and organiser for other branch projects. 'John has been a solid contributor to the branch for almost 30 years, and our committee recognises his long service and the tremendous amount of mahi he has undertaken,' Andy Mitchell says. Christine Major has been running the North Shore branch-led Tuff Crater restoration's predator control programme since 2010. Christine has been central to the success of the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland project's predator control. She has been responsible for recruiting and training the baiting and trapping teams and liaising with the council, among many responsibilities. 'Tuff Crater requires a sustained coordinated predator control effort and Christine has been the main reason it has been a success,' Tuff Crater project lead Richard Hursthouse says. Another Tuff Crater volunteer, Paul Pyper, has been leading Thursday working bees at the project since 2016, a total of at least 280 events. Among his responsibilities, he liaises with and trains new volunteers, and works with adjoining landowners over access to control pest plants on their land. The North Shore branch has spent more than $300,000 on restoration efforts at the project and planted more than 28,000 native plants. 'Since Paul has been involved, we have planted 17,000 plants, much of which Paul has been part of,' Richard Hursthouse says. Peter Smith has been the Ashburton branch treasurer since 1996 and has also been a major contributor to other branch and community activities and projects. He played a key role in the establishment of the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust in 2007, which manages the Harris Scientific Reserve. He is still closely involved in management of the reserve, a significant Canterbury plains dryland vegetation site, and he is a strong advocate for conservation in the local media. Ashburton committee member Mary Ralston says the branch would probably not have been able to function without Peter's expertise and support, and that of his wife Edith, the branch chair for three decades. Eric van Essen of the Waitākere branch has been involved in the care of the Colin Kerr-Taylor Memorial Reserve in Waimauku since the early 1990s, where he is honorary ranger. He has created a halo project around the reserve to expand predator control with adjoining landowners. He has also been a regular volunteer at the branch's Matuku Reserve. 'Eric is the ultimate volunteer, willing and able but humble,' says founding chair of the Waitakere branch, John Staniland.
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
SIMA supports clarity and consistency for phase 5 of CIRO's rule-consolidation project Français
TORONTO, /CNW/ - The Securities and Investment Management Association (SIMA) has submitted its comments on phase 5 of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization's (CIRO) rule-consolidation initiative. The submission reaffirms SIMA's commitment to supporting a regulatory framework that promotes clarity, consistency, and efficiency in the implementation of CIRO's new consolidated rules. When the project is completed, CIRO's current rulebooks—one for investment dealers and one for mutual fund dealers—will be replaced by a single, unified set of regulations called the CIRO Dealer and Consolidated (DC) Rules. "We support this important initiative and thank CIRO for accepting our recommendation to publish the consolidated DC Rules for final review and comment in phase 6," said Andy Mitchell, SIMA's President and CEO. "We continue to encourage CIRO to provide a generous comment period for phase 6, given that this will be the first opportunity for stakeholders to assess the fully consolidated rules. Extending the comment period to 120 days will ensure stakeholders have the time necessary to provide meaningful feedback in support of the successful implementation of the new framework." We continue to recommend that CIRO not put the rules into effect until they provide supporting guidance for public comment. Also, once the rules are finalized, we urge CIRO to allow for an appropriate transition period before the rules become effective. This will enable CIRO dealer members to update internal policies, procedures, and IT systems, and provide training before implementation. About SIMA SIMA empowers Canada's investment industry. The association, formerly the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), is the leading voice for the securities and investment management industry. The industry oversees approximately $4 trillion in assets for over 20 million investors and participates in the Canadian capital markets. Our members — including investment fund managers, investment and mutual fund dealers, capital markets participants, and professional service providers — are committed to creating a resilient, innovative investment sector that fuels long-term economic growth and creates opportunities for all Canadians.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SIMA supports clarity and consistency for phase 5 of CIRO's rule-consolidation project
TORONTO, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - The Securities and Investment Management Association (SIMA) has submitted its comments on phase 5 of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization's (CIRO) rule-consolidation initiative. The submission reaffirms SIMA's commitment to supporting a regulatory framework that promotes clarity, consistency, and efficiency in the implementation of CIRO's new consolidated rules. When the project is completed, CIRO's current rulebooks—one for investment dealers and one for mutual fund dealers—will be replaced by a single, unified set of regulations called the CIRO Dealer and Consolidated (DC) Rules. "We support this important initiative and thank CIRO for accepting our recommendation to publish the consolidated DC Rules for final review and comment in phase 6," said Andy Mitchell, SIMA's President and CEO. "We continue to encourage CIRO to provide a generous comment period for phase 6, given that this will be the first opportunity for stakeholders to assess the fully consolidated rules. Extending the comment period to 120 days will ensure stakeholders have the time necessary to provide meaningful feedback in support of the successful implementation of the new framework." We continue to recommend that CIRO not put the rules into effect until they provide supporting guidance for public comment. Also, once the rules are finalized, we urge CIRO to allow for an appropriate transition period before the rules become effective. This will enable CIRO dealer members to update internal policies, procedures, and IT systems, and provide training before implementation. About SIMASIMA empowers Canada's investment industry. The association, formerly the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), is the leading voice for the securities and investment management industry. The industry oversees approximately $4 trillion in assets for over 20 million investors and participates in the Canadian capital markets. Our members—including investment fund managers, investment and mutual fund dealers, capital markets participants, and professional service providers—are committed to creating a resilient, innovative investment sector that fuels long-term economic growth and creates opportunities for all Canadians. SOURCE Securities and Investment Management Association View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Inside The New World Of Italian Soccer Tourism
Italian soccer is undergoing a significant transformation. Not only are club owners championing the integration of Italy's natural beauty and culinary culture into the match-day experience, but Serie A is also leading the race to export league games abroad, with plans to send Milan and Como to Australia as early as 2026. But exporting matches to the other side of the world is just the cherry on the cake. Crucially, Calcio must reinvent itself on home soil if it wants to maintain its position among world elites. For far too long, Serie A had remained overly reliant on past glories to preserve its prestige as its European rivals caught up and surpassed them. Milan's players celebrate with trophy after they won the 1994 UEFA Champions League final against FC ... More Barcelona 4-0. (Photo by Christian Liewig/TempSport/Corbis via Getty Images) However, thanks to an infusion of new faces and a change in attitude, the superiority complex that once accelerated Italian soccer's decline has finally given way to the acceptance that change must occur from within. Finally, there seems to be room for fresh ideas. The denial, anger, depression, and bargaining stages appear to be over, and the acceptance that Italy is no longer at the top of world soccer is key for the league to rise back to the top, a sentiment shared by Serie A North America CEO Andy Mitchell. 'What I want to make sure of is that we get ahead of our continental European competitors,' Mitchell told me earlier this year. 'I believe that Serie A should absolutely be the most popular continental European league in the US. And that's really what our goal is.' Apart from the MLS, there is no denying that the Premier League owns the lion's share of viewership in the US. Still, Italian soccer is making inroads through broadcasters like CBS and Paramount Plus for Serie A and Destination Calcio for Serie B. Even Serie C, the third division, is available to stream via FIFA+. In March, Serie A confirmed unprecedented growth in North America, but the increase in interest will take time to convert into income for club owners. In fact, the international rights value of Serie A has declined from $428M per season (2018-2021) to $288M per season for the 2024-2029 cycle, with the league unable to recuperate these losses through domestic broadcasting deals with DAZN and Sky who are collectively paying $50M less per year than they were a decade ago. Problem, reaction, solution With limited money to share between clubs, ownership groups are exploring formulas that may mitigate losses and generate financial sustainability - spending money to make money, if you will. Roma, Milan, Juventus, and Inter have steadily expanded their fan bases abroad through summer world tours. The latter pair is currently competing in the FIFA Club World Cup in cities such as Pasadena and Washington, with Juventus winning over President Donald Trump during a meet-and-greet in the Oval Office. WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 18: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks as he hosts Juventus FC, an ... More Italian professional soccer team in the Oval Office at the White House on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup, an international soccer tournament organized by FIFA featuring club teams from around the world. (Photo by) While things are marginally improving in foreign markets, it's in Italy where opportunity knocks for those smart enough to build new revenue streams around international tourism expenditure, a sector that accounts for 13% of the Italian GDP. Tourism in Italy is exploding Italy has maintained its place among the top five most-visited nations in the world, with 64.5 million visitors in 2024, roughly 15 million fewer than the United States (in third place). Europe remains the highest-performing region in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), an indicator of all factors and policies enabling the sustainable and resilient development of the tourism sector, which in turn contributes to a country's overall development. It's here in Italy's $60B per year travel and tourism sector where one club, in particular, is looking to increase revenue streams independent of the dramas surrounding broadcasting income and match ticket sales. Within a month of establishing themselves in the top half of Serie A in their comeback season, Como has launched SENT Tourism, a tour operator that aims to marry Italian match-day and lifestyle experiences. 'Our goal is to position Como 1907 as the heartbeat of luxury football travel,' said Mirwan Suwarso, President of Como 1907. 'We're not just hosting fans, we're inviting the world to live football through the lens of Como: stylish, soulful, and uniquely Italian.' UNSPECIFIED - AUGUST 01: Aerial view of Como on Lake Como or Lario - Lombardy Region, Italy (Photo ... More) SENT Tourism clientele will gain VIP access to Como matches, player meet-and-greets, private seaplane excursions and cultural tours. Como will also host the first edition of the Como Cup, a tournament also featuring Ajax, Celtic, and Al Ahli, scheduled for July. Accompanying DJ sets and food prepared by Michelin-star chefs and local restaurants will elevate the mini-tournament, along with exhibitions, late-night lounges, and fashion pop-ups. Events like these will attract an affluent international audience seeking more than just the two hours of entertainment that a regular day out at the soccer provides. The Como ownership group clearly aim to fill the luxury sport-tourism hole in the market. With 2026 on the horizon, SENT Tourism is also offering stays in Milan and Cortina for the Winter Olympics, an event that Lega Serie A considers an opportunity to expand its reach to foreign shores. With the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics scheduled to take place at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza during the Serie A season, and with home team AC Milan needing to find a temporary new home, a proposal has been tabled that could export a first-ever top-flight soccer match abroad as Australian sports promoters look to bring the Rossoneri to Perth. And Como are favourites to join them. MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 15: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between AC ... More Milan and Como at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images) For a club that competed in Serie D - the Italian fourth division - just six years ago, Como's impact is unmatched when it comes to innovation inside the Italian soccer ecosystem. Barriers are indeed being broken. With an eye on the future, stadium rejuvenation of the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia could be next for the Lariani. As Italy prepares for Euro 2032 co-hosting duties with Turkey, the country must nominate five stadiums and cities by October 2026. And with uncertainty surrounding plans for new stadiums in Rome, Milan, Cagliari and Naples, Como's ambitious plan to rebuild the Sinigaglia in 2028 could prove a masterstroke for the lakeside town. Casa mia, casa tua Foreign investment is the undisputed driving force behind change in Italian soccer. While fans have been crying out for improvements for years, the vast majority of clubs have so far lacked the means to make a significant dent, leaving many teams and stadiums in a state of bankruptcy or disrepair. Over the past decade, though, multiple acquisitions by overseas entities have brought a global mindset with them. When the 2025-26 season begins in August, for the second consecutive year, only nine of the 20 top-flight clubs will be owned by Italian natives—a trend that is most likely to continue growing. As GDP continues to decline in so many sectors, and with the brain drain of educated young Italians between the ages of 25 and 34 seeking greener pastures abroad, this is form of foreign immigration which sparks much less controversy on the peninsula. Indeed, there is money to be made and jobs to be created. Is this the beginning of a new dawn for Italian soccer?
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council Honors Medal of Valor Award Recipients in 2025 Tribute to Bravery Ceremony and Luncheon
South Florida nonprofit celebrates the bravery and dedication of Broward County first responders with honoree award and luncheon FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, April 10, the Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council hosted its annual Tribute to Bravery Valor Awards Ceremony and Luncheon at the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach. The event honored local heroes who exemplified extraordinary service in the line of duty and upheld the highest standards of service. Guests enjoyed a welcome reception, followed by the ceremony and luncheon where Broward County first responders were presented with the Medal of Valor Award in acknowledgement of their various acts of courage, bravery, and compassion. The award is in recognition of first responders who sacrifice their safety for the lives of others, honoring their oath and protecting their communities. "Each year, this event reminds us why the work of the Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council matters so deeply," said Andy Mitchell, Chairman of the Board for the Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council. "Behind every medal is a story of a first responder who answered the call without hesitation. We're proud to support them, and committed to making sure their service never goes unseen." "We celebrated compassion, courage, and a deep commitment to community, the vary values that guide what we do at BSAC," said Valerie Silverman, who was surprised with a promotion to Executive Director during the luncheon. "It's an incredible honor to step into this role. I'm committed to growing this organization with purpose and heart, so we can continue standing alongside those who stand tall for all of us." Medal of Valor Award Recipients: Deputy Marcus Hall and Behavioral Health Therapist Daniel Gelpi (Broward Sheriff's Office Co-Responder Team) responded to over 400 crisis calls in 2024 with zero use-of-force incidents and helped divert over 100 individuals from jail to treatment. Captain Kevin Meyers (BSO Fire Rescue Technical Rescue Team) overhauled elite training and certification programs, mentoring the next generation of rescuers. BSO TITAN Unit including 15 detectives and K9 deputies responded to more than 300 high-risk calls, apprehending armed suspects and preventing violence. Detective Clint Corey (Coconut Creek Police Department) supported grieving residents and led financial crimes investigations while mentoring junior detectives. Officers Dakota Dussault, Giovana Giraldo, and Karla Torres (Coral Springs Police Department) bravely ended a violent ambush during a mental health call. Detective Jonathan Brown (BSO Deerfield Beach) used a PIT maneuver to stop an armed kidnapping suspect barreling toward a trooper on I-95. Trooper Frank Hernandez (Florida Highway Patrol) executed a high-speed PIT maneuver to apprehend homicide suspects. Detective Joseph Hoffman and Officer Erick Flores (Fort Lauderdale Police Department) rendered aid and transported a two-year-old shooting victim, saving his life. Detective Sandra Harris (Hallandale Beach Police Department) led Broward's first capital sexual battery case and a major gang indictment. EMS Captain Jennifer Arreola (BSO Fire Rescue Hallandale Beach) performed a rare life-saving thoracotomy at a crane collapse site. Detective Maria Stengel (Hillsboro Beach Police Department) solved a hit-and-run with no witnesses by identifying the vehicle through forensics. Officer David Diaz (Hollywood Police Department) arrested violent offenders and tracked a wanted sex offender in his first months on the Beach Unit. Officer Cody Richards (Lauderhill Police Department) saved a woman from a suicide attempt by quickly applying a tourniquet. Officer Matthew Masi (Lighthouse Point Police Department) raised $27,000 for Special Olympics and led inclusive community programs. Detective Megan Britt (Margate Police Department) intercepted child predators and prosecuted online exploitation cases. Officer Anthony Moser (Miccosukee Police Department) saved crash and gunshot victims through immediate lifesaving actions. Officer Xavier Osorio (Miramar Police Department) arrested an armed felon with an AR-15 and helped prevent gang-related homicides. Officers Zarick Jackson, Victor Lescano, and William Sproat (Pembroke Pines Police Department) rescued five children during a violent domestic call. Officer Courtney Fish (Plantation Police Department) revived an 11-month-old infant exposed to fentanyl using CPR. Officers Patricia Johnson and Mariano Restaino (Seminole Police Department) rescued a 3-year-old from an attempted abduction. Detective Robert Padron (Sunrise Police Department) stopped an armed suspect in a public area, sustaining injuries while saving lives. Deputies Mike Belizaire, Ariel Gonzalez, Carlos Martinez, and CSA Jorge Esquivel (BSO Weston District) uncovered and stopped a human trafficking situation. The Tribute to Bravery Ceremony served as a profound reminder of the incredible dedication by Broward County's first responders. Through their heroic actions, the stories of these Medal of Valor recipients highlight the remarkable courage, heart, and selflessness that define these everyday heroes and exemplify the true spirit of service and sacrifice. About the Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council: The Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the first responders of Broward County. Its core mission is to provide financial assistance to the families of first responders who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Over time, the Council's focus has expanded to include broader investments in the first responders who serve and protect our communities. In partnership with the Broward County Sheriff and Police Chiefs, the Advisory Council funds state-of-the-art equipment and technology, specialized training, community outreach, and wellness initiatives; efforts that enhance their ability to serve and protect, and in turn, help safeguard the well-being of Broward County. The Advisory Council remains steadfast in its mission: Protecting Those Who Protect Us. For more information, visit Media Contact: The Pontes Group / Lais Pontes Greene 395534@ 954-960-6083 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council
