US experts to present at major productivity conference

THE Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has engaged senior adviser to the Office of International Trade at the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Eugene Cornelius, Jr to present and co-facilitate a major conference focusing on Australia’s flagging productivity on September 4 and 5 at Deakin University Downtown in Melbourne.

Mr Cornelius was responsible for the establishment of the SBA’s Office of International Trade and previously, as deputy associate administrator of that Office, overseeing four program divisions: Federal State and Trade; International Trade Finance; International Affairs & Trade Policy; and Administration & Operations.

In addition to his SBA role, Mr Cornelius has accepted a one-year detail with the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), with headquarters in Washington DC.

Mr Cornelius will be joined by fellow American, Dr Winslow Sargeant.  Dr Sargeant is ICSB’s President Elect and Managing Director of S&T.  Previously, he was the Chief Counsel for Advocacy appointed by and reporting direct to President Barack Obama.  Dr Sargeant was also a managing director at a Madison, Winsconsin-based capital firm, Venture Investor LLC.

Mr Cornelius and Dr Sargeant will form part of a large line-up of talented presenters at the Small Business: Big Vision event being run by the IPA Deakin SME Research Centre on 4 and 5 September 2019.  Keynote speakers include the Hon Michael Sukkar MP, Minister for Housing and Assistant Treasurer, and Ms Kate Carnell, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

Other international speakers include: Prof Charles Matthews, University of Cincinnati; 2017-18 Fulbright US Scholar, USA; and Ms Diah Yusuf, entrepreneur, business consultant, Vice President ICSB, Indonesia.

Details of the program can be found at:  www.publicaccountants.org.au/events/smallbusinessbigvision

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