Briefcase: Business snippets from a SA space launch to a new media network
In this week’s Briefcase, the state’s economy continues to lead the nation, and Adelaide lawyers are honoured with a prestigious title. See the full list below.
- Adelaide company sends prize-winning technology into space
- SA “leading the way” in new economic snapshot
- Upper Spencer Gulf cities launch liveability campaign
- Solstice Media launches new One Solstice network
- SA’s top legal talent recognised
Adelaide company sends prize-winning technology into space
Adelaide-based company QuantX Labs has successfully sent its new optical frequency comb into space via a SpaceX launch.
Optical frequency combs are a Nobel-prize-winning technology which convert the optical outputs of new generation clocks into usable electronic timing signals. The milestone marks the latest step in plans to put an optical atomic clock in space.
The launch is in collaboration with the Australian Space Agency, Exotrail, and other international partners and is intended to demonstrate the space capabilities of optical frequency comb technology.
QuantX was established in 2016, working in fields such as space, defence, telecommunications and navigation, with this development preceding the deployment of its TEMPO.Space optical atomic clock later this year.
QuantX Labs CEO Professor Andre Luiten called the recent launch “a major step toward deploying the world’s first optical atomic clock in space”.
SA “leading the way” in new economic snapshot
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The latest ANZ Stateometer shows South Australia’s economy leading the nation, with large rises in the state’s business sector and trade backing the strong economic performance.
Released in early April, the snapshot showed South Australia’s economy maintained its 2025 performance and continued to perform better than the rest of the nation during Q4.
State final demand grew 1.2 per cent in comparison to Q3, compared to the national rate of 0.5 per cent. Other statistics were also up, with strong copper exports cited as a major reason for the improvement.
Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed the news, calling it a clear sign that SA’s economy continues to outpace the rest of the country.
“Today’s update shows that after leading the way throughout 2025, the state’s economy accelerated again in the final quarter, with business and trade driving the upsurge,” Malinauskas said.
“The economy is in great shape, and that means we are well placed to respond to international headwinds and economic shocks like we are experiencing as a result of the Iran war.”
Upper Spencer Gulf cities launch liveability campaign
The cities of Port Augusta, Whyalla, and Port Pirie, working through Spencer Gulf Cities, have announced a new campaign to promote the region.
The campaign is designed to attract skilled workers and their families to the area, anticipating a greater need in the future as industry in the area grows.
Launched on March 12, the campaign is set to run for nine months, featuring a new website and a video series featuring storytellers from each council area, with grants from the LGA’s Regional Capacity Building Fund used to develop the campaign.
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“We are set for unprecedented change in our city as the steelworks enters the next stage in its evolution to become a world-leading green steel producer,” Whyalla Mayor Phill Stone said.
“This will require skilled workers and their families to come from across the globe, so this campaign aims to highlight how fantastic it is to live in our region and the opportunities you can’t find elsewhere.”
Solstice Media launches new One Solstice network
Solstice Media has officially launched its new One Solstice network, pulling together multiple content sources to offer national advertisers a “mid-tier” alternative that bridges the gap between mass-market reach and niche engagement.
The Adelaide-based company is introducing a “one audience” model, aggregating readers from several brands into one streamlined platform. These brands include The New Daily, InDaily, InReview, 7am, Australian Traveller, SALIFE and The Weekend Edition.
Offering both daily, weekly, and monthly content sources, the network is structured to align with the rhythm of Australian consumer life and would deliver more than two million monthly readers.
Solstice Media managing director Paul Hamra said the move was about “building something greater than the sum of our parts”.
“We’ve created a new national ecosystem that allows national brands to reach a high-intent audience without sacrificing the scale required for major campaigns,” he said.
SA’s top legal talent recognised
Best Lawyers has released its 2027 rankings in The Best Lawyers in Australia and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia, with more than 4,600 lawyers across the country recognised for their professional excellence.
Adelaide continued to gain momentum in this year’s rankings with 320 honourees recognised in this year’s list, increasing from 307 last year.
326 Australian lawyers received the top Lawyer of the Year honour, with 37 of the honourees operating within South Australia.
“With a record 3.5 million evaluations made as part of our rigorous peer-review process, these rankings not only highlight the depth and calibre of Australian legal talent but provide a third-party validation of expertise and talent for lawyers, firms and clients in a highly competitive industry,” Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer said.
Adelaide-based Lawyer of the Year list:
- Abigail Steed – Natural Resources Law
- Andrew Corletto – Native Title Law
- Andrew Kedzior – Banking and Finance Law
- Anthony Groom – Energy Law
- Anthony Kelly – Planning and Environmental Law
- Ashley Watson – Mining Law
- Ben Renfrey – Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Bronwyn Furse – Franchise Law
- Catherine Follett – Immigration Law
- Cheryl Phillips – Insurance Law
- Christopher Sweet -Health and Aged Care Law
- Dean Kent – Leasing Law
- Gary Allison – Personal Injury Litigation
- Gerry Cawson – Venture Capital Law
- Gillian Walker – Occupational Health and Safety Law
- James Burchnall – Equity Capital Markets Law
- James Marshall – Oil and Gas Law
- Jamie Restas – Corporate Law
- Jeremy Hill – Government Practice
- John Keeves – Corporate / Governance Practice
- Josh Simons – Information Technology Law
- Julie Kinnear – Litigation
- Kate McKeough – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Kaye Itsines – Labour and Employment Law
- Kerry Clark – Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Loretta Reynolds – Private Equity Law
- Louise Emmett – Intellectual Property Law
- Luke Dale – Privacy and Data Security Law
- Matthew Hawke – Construction / Infrastructure Law
- Michael Garry – Agriculture and Rural Affairs
- Paul Ingram – Trusts and Estates
- Paul Turner – Project Finance and Development Practice
- Peter Slegers – Superannuation Law
- Philip Laity – Commercial Law
- Richard McNeil – Real Property Law
- Rod Jones – Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice
- Stephen Heath – Tax Law
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