Nick Xenophon confirmed for Vodafone National Small Business Summit​

NEXT week, Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon has been confirmed to speak at the Council of Small Business of Australia’s (COSBOA) Vodafone National Small Business Summit in Brisbane, 6 – 8 July.

A vocal small business advocate, Xenophon is set to speak at the Summit Lunch on Friday 8 July from 12.45pm – 2.30pm, where he will discuss the vital role small businesses play in strengthening Australia’s economy, culture and diversity.

Xenophon says, “As Australia's largest employing sector, small business makes a significant contribution to Australia’s economy. All Australians should be encouraged to develop their own niche and/or nurture and grow their own enterprises. Government must play an integral role in fostering small business growth and in doing so reduce bureaucratic obstacles.”

The premier policy event for small business representatives, government and industry leaders, other Summit attendees and speakers include Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell, Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James and Acting Commissioner for the ATO, Neil Olesen, plus many more ministers, policy makers and business leaders from global brands such as Vodafone, Google and American Express.

The summit will be officially opened at the Summit Start Up, on the evening of Wednesday 6th July, by Greg Tonner, CEO of the North Queensland Cowboys.

Program highlights include:

Thursday 7th July

• Who are the innovators?
  • Andrew Chanmugam, General Manager of Enterprise & Business at Vodafone Australia, will be joined by Robert Gerrish, Founder of Flying Fish for a panel discussion and Q&A to uncover who are the innovators in small business
• Mental health of the small business owners
  • Nick Arvanitis, Head of Research & Resource Development at Beyond Blue and Leanne Faulkner from COSBOA’s Heads Up Campaign will talk about the critical need to address the mental health of small business owners
• Case Study: Australia Made Campaign
  • Ian Harrison, CEO, Australian Made Campaign, will discuss leveraging country-of-origin branding, which can provide Australian small businesses with a powerful competitive advantage, both in Australia and overseas markets
• Fair Work Ombudsman introduction and session: Contractor or employee?
  • Natalie James, the Australian Fair Work Ombudsman will talk exclusively about penalty rates, employment and the government's roles for small business

Friday 8th July  

• Critical Business Infrastructure
  • Dan Lloyd, Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Affairs Director at Vodafone and Martin Southgate, Head of Audience Strategy at ABC Regional get to the bottom of the issues of critical business infrastructure
• Regulator Update
  • Dr Michael Schaper, Deputy Chair at the ACCC provides an industry update at this exclusive plenary session
• Case study: How NOT to deal with small business
  • In a switch on the traditional format, learn from Mathew Munro, Executive Director, Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association and Kate Carnell, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman about how not to deal with small businesses

To register for the Summit, visit: www.nationalsmallbusinesssummit.com.au

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