WELCOME to a chilly edition of GCBN. Forget global warming, it's global cooling that has been sweeping the city with an icy brush as we begin a fresh financial year.

In this edition, we explore the all-encompassing franchise sector.

There are now more than 600,000 Australians employed by the franchise industry and the Gold Coast contributes significantly, with an increasing number of businesses franchising their goods and services. Franchising in Australia contributes around 14 per cent of the country's national GDP and has generated its own $80 billion economy.

In this month's cover story, we speak to franchise council of Australia chairman John O'Brien about the secrets to his success and track down a franchise-savvy lawyer who has witnessed first-hand the growth of the industry on the Gold Coast.

Our August profile piece is a Q&A with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary CEO Michelle Monsour, who talks about the challenges of balancing commercialisation with conservation. Under Monsour's guidance, the Sanctuary is entering a new growth phase with the development of a $1.5 million hospital.

Employing more than 160 staff and 100 volunteers, the tourism and conservation icon turned over $12 million in the 2006-'07 financial year and increased its attendances by 70,000 people during a 12-month period.

While we're on the subject of showcasing conservation, the newly appointed board member of Tourism Australia, Grant Hunt, is busy building an eco tourism fund set to put the Gold Coast Hinterland on the international tourism map.

Hunt's primary focus as he steps into the role at the national peak body will be to build a $300 million, nature-based tourism fund. The former CEO of Voyages Hotels and Resorts will look at diversifying TA's property interests around Australia, including on the Gold Coast.

Another businessman who has been bitten by the travel bug, but is out to eradicate the unsightly critters, is 22-year-old, Nicson White. White is a young entrepreneur who has achieved rapid success with his international sanitisation business, Health Protect International (HPI). White started the business after recognising a significant opportunity in Australia and New Zealand with mattress sanitisation in hotels. The company now operates a network of more than 80 licensees who provide mattress sanitisation for hygiene and allergy relief.

And the Gold Coast now has its very own stock exchange, with news that the National Stock Exchange (NSX) has secured a home in our dynamic city. Hats off to Business Growth GC, an independent, non-profit organisation, established from Federal Government and Gold Coast City Council funding that has been working hard to attract investors - and now the NSX to the city.

The NSX has grown rapidly in the past few years and now has a collective market capitalisation of listed companies of more than $1 billion. Geared to the SME market, the exchange will cater to businesses that require capital, transition, exit and structuring solutions.