Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 23, 2006 –Global growth consulting
company, Frost & Sullivan today announced that it will be hosting its
inaugural 2006 Frost & Sullivan Australia Best Practices Awards next
Thursday. To be held for the first time ever in Australia, the Awards
seek to recognize outstanding performance and industry achievements by
leaders in the Australian Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) and Healthcare industry.

“The Frost & Sullivan Australia Best Practices Awards is a unique
proposition, which will allow us to recognize companies in two of the
world’s fastest growing industries - ICT and Healthcare. Frost &
Sullivan believes that players in both these industries in Australia
have the potential to be world-class companies and compete with
leaders in the global marketplace. Therefore, the Frost & Sullivan
Australia Best Practices Awards is an excellent platform to showcase
what companies in Australia’s ICT and Healthcare industry have to
offer the world,” said Rhenu Bhuller, Managing Director, Frost &
Sullivan Australia.

The Frost & Sullivan Awards, globally recognized as an equitable
award, are presented to companies that demonstrate best practices in
their industry, commending the diligence, commitment, and innovative
business strategies required to advance in the global marketplace. In
2004, Frost & Sullivan introduced the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific
ICT Awards to recognize outstanding companies and individuals in the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry across the
region. This year, in addition to the Asia Pacific ICT Awards, Frost &
Sullivan is taking it a step further by introducing to Australia its
country specific awards.

Based in Sydney, 20 highly qualified analysts and consultants from the
Frost & Sullivan ICT and Healthcare practice were involved in short
listing and evaluating companies for 16 award categories. The
evaluation methodology followed the same thorough approach employed in
Frost & Sullivan’s research and consulting projects.

All 16 categories are in line with Frost & Sullivan’s existing
in-depth coverage of both the ICT & Healthcare industries in
Australia.

The short listed companies were evaluated based on actual market
performance indicators (measurements) such as; revenue growth, market
share and growth in market share, leadership in product innovation,
breadth of products and solutions, major customer acquisitions,
business and marketing strategy.

The findings of the detailed evaluation were then presented to a panel
of independent Judges comprising influential personalities and leaders
in Australia, who have in themselves pushed the boundaries of
innovation and corporate excellence, in deciding the recipients for
each category.

The deserving recipients will be awarded their coveted titles at an
Awards Ceremony to be held in Sydney next on Thursday, March 30, 2006.