Robert Mallett, Deputy Chair - COSBOA

A small business person for all but 5 years of his working career, Robert intimately understands the frustrations of the sector and is a passionate advocate for change.  

The Hon Campbell Newman MP, Premier of Queensland

A civil engineer by profession, Campbell Newman had a 13−year career as an Australian Army Engineer, retiring at the end of 1993 with the rank of Major. Following his service in the Army, Mr Newman worked as a management consultant, helping to improve the performance of large Australian companies. Elected as the Lord Mayor of Brisbane on 27 March 2004, Mr Newman served the people of Brisbane until Sunday 3 April 2011, when he resigned to contest the state seat of Ashgrove. Mr Newman was elected as the Member for Ashgrove and Premier of Queensland on 24 March 2012.

Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner

During her term, she has been committed to improving gender equality through her advocacy in preventing violence against women and sexual harassment, improving lifetime economic security for women, balancing paid work and unpaid caring responsibilities, promoting women's representation in leadership and strengthening gender equality laws, monitoring and agencies.

Yolanda Vega, CEO - AWCCI

Yolanda Vega is the CEO at the Australian Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AWCCI).  She works diligently to promote the importance of women-owned firms to and supports the development and growth of women through research, education and advocacy.

Brad Krauskopf, Co-Founder & CEO – Hub Melbourne

Brad Krauskopf is an entrepreneur, innovator and speaker that is passionate about connecting the dots to create new business models and ways of working. As CEO of Hub Australia, Australia’s largest coworking community, which he founded in 2011, Brad works with small and large organisations across Australia to drive innovation through collaboration across sectors, disciplines and generations.

Janett Egber, Small Business Advocate - NAB

Janett has over ten years experience in customer insights and strategic marketing, mainly within Banking & Finance. She has presented at conferences in Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore.

Dhruba Gupta, Bcom, Mcom (UWA), Fellow - AMSRS, QPMR, Managing Director - DBM Consultants Pty Ltd

Dhruba Gupta founded DBM Consultants, a Top 10 Australian market research organisation.  He has advised most of the major Australian corporations and government departments.

Dean Pearson, Head of Industry Analysis - NAB

Dean Pearson is the Head of Industry Economics at NAB and has over 20 years’ experience in analysing the economy and assessing the implications both in Australia and globally. 

Dean leads a team of analysts responsible for monitoring key business trends and identifying industries which are likely to provide the strongest growth opportunities and greatest risk.

Dean is a sought-after key note speaker at major business forums, with the ability to present complex information in a readily digestible and entertaining manner.

The Hon Gary Gray, AO, MP

Gary was sworn in as Special Minister of State and Special Minister of State for Public Service and Integrity in September 2010. In March 2013 Gary was promoted into Cabinet as the Minister for Resources Energy and Tourism and Minister for Small Business.

The Hon Bob Katter MP

The Hon. Bob Katter MP, Federal Member for Kennedy

Hon Bob Katter Jr, Federal Member for Kennedy, is the second-longest serving Member of Parliament in Australia, having been ¬first elected to the Queensland Parliament in 1974.  
During almost two decade as an MP in Qld, Bob was among the highest-ranking Ministers – holding the portfolios of Northern Development, Aboriginal Affairs, Heritage, and Mining.

Senator Nick Xenophon

Senator Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia

Nick Xenophon was elected as an Independent to the South Australian Parliament’s Upper House in 1997 on a No Pokies platform.

In his 10 years in State Parliament, Nick campaigned on the damage caused by poker machines and a range of other issues, including energy prices and regulations. Nick made the decision to leave state politics and run in the November 2007 Federal Election because he believes that he can do more for South Australians at a Federal level and has continued to push for changes in the key areas of gambling reform, water, energy prices, consumer law and food labelling—issues which, of course, cross state boundaries.

Amanda Lynch, Chair - COSBOA

Appointed CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Australia in 2011, Ms Lynch was previously director of government relations and media for the Australian Local Government Association and has worked for 10 years as a media adviser, senior policy adviser and chief of staff for state and federal governments. Amanda began her career as a journalist at The Canberra Times, and has worked for ABC radio and a range of other media organisations in Brisbane and Adelaide. Ms Lynch sits on the Board of the Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) and was elected as Chair of COSBOA in 2013.

The Hon Bernie Ripoll MP, Small Business Champions Awards

Bernie Ripoll was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998 and was re-elected for a fifth term at the 2010 Federal Election. This year, on 25 March, Bernie was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business. In this role he assists the Minister for Small Business with the review of the effectiveness of the Franchising Code of Conduct, liaising with the small business community across Australia, particularly through Small Business Forums, and promoting the opportunities for small business provided by business.gov.au.

Matt Dawes, Public Policy & Government Affairs, Google Australia

Matt is a public policy professional specialising in economic policy for the internet and new technology. He is responsible for representing Google externally on the big issues of the day and advocating policy to create a thriving digital economy. Matt is a qualified lawyer with an LLB (Hons) and B. Finance from ANU.

Troy Townsend, Co-Founder – Tiger Pistol

Troy is the Co-Founder of tigerpistol.com, a social media marketing platform that services specifically the SME market to help them engage with their customers using social media.

Nick Bowditch, SMB Marketing Manager - Facebook

Nick is a bit of an Australian online success story. He has started, built up and sold 3 businesses in the last 5 years (two of which were million dollar businesses) all without a shopfront, staff or having spent a cent on traditional marketing or advertising in radio, print or television. Nick was recently employed by Facebook to head up their Small Business team in Australia and New Zealand where his focus is helping small business grow and thrive online.

Marco Renai, Founder & Partner, Health Lifestyle Clinic

A full service boutique health club based in Bundall on the Gold Coast - continues to grow, now running 300 personal training sessions per week and recently adding 150 members to a new gym.

Peter Strong, CEO – COSBOA

Peter Strong has spent much of the last 20 years in change management at the business, community and national level. He has worked for the Australian Government and with NGOs, the World Bank and the United Nations.

Peter participates in various advisory groups to the Australian government including with the Australian Tax Commissioners Advisory Group.

The Hon Jann Stuckey MP Member for Currumbin Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games

Jann Stuckey MP is the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games. Prior to her election to State Parliament in February 2004, the Minister operated a communications consultancy working mainly for the tourism and small business sectors. Her elevation to a Cabinet position in the Campbell Newman-led LNP Government will enable Ms Stuckey to draw on her two decades of experience in tourism, events, and small business for the benefit of the Queensland economy.

The Hon Bruce Billson MP, Shadow Minister for Small Business

Mr Billson is a former Howard Government minister and small business owner. Having had carriage of the small business portfolio for six years Mr Billson is familiar with the challenges that small business people face on a day to day basis.

The Hon Tony Abbott MHR, Leader of the Opposition

The Honourable Tony Abbott MHR was elected Leader of the Opposition, and Leader of the Federal Liberal Party on 1 December 2009. Prior to this, he held the position of Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs between 2007-2009. Tony was first elected as the Member for Warringah, a seat on Sydney's northern beaches, at a by-election in March 1994 and entered Cabinet in 2001 as the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.

Julian Moore, Director - SMS

Julian Moore is Australasia’s foremost non-profit sponsorship practitioner specialising in charities, associations and other non-profits. He specialises in training, motivating and up-skilling boards and staff to improve sponsorship performance.

Wendy Perry, Head Workforce Planner - Workforce BluePrint

Wendy Perry is an innovator in Workforce Development and Planning, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) development - leading thinking, developing practice, translating strategy into action and growing the potential of clients and partners.

Will Irving, Group Managing Director - Telstra Business

As Group Managing Director of Telstra Business, Will Irving is responsible for Telstra’s relationship and sales to more than one million Australian small businesses and medium sized enterprises.

Justin Herald, Managing Director – Customer Culture

Justin created Attitude Inc, a clothing brand that became an international licensing success that turned over in excess of $20 million per year.

Justin’s success was so well noted that he was named the “INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR” for 2005. 

He now is the Managing Director of Customer Culture which is a Customer Service and Sales training Company

Ann-Marie Chamberlain, GM NAB Wealth, Personal Banking

Ann-Marie is tasked with the responsibility of steering the strategy and execution for Wealth outcomes within the Retail and Small Business networks.

Jennifer Westacott, CEO - BCA

Jennifer Westacott is a public policy leader who has held advisory, executive and leadership roles in Australian companies and government departments across a 25-year period.

Geoff Fader

Geoff Fader is the chairman of the Tasmanian Small Business Council and a past chair of COSBOA. He has owned and successfully operated a number of small businesses, and has been a voluntary business mentor for more than thirty years.
 
Geoff is presently chairman of the family owned ships provedoring business Australian Shipping Supplies. He has an MBA and is a Certified Practising Marketer.

Steven Münchenberg, CEO - Australian Bankers' Association

Prior to his appointment as ABA CEO, Steven was Group Manager, Government Affairs & Public Policy, with the National Australia Bank (NAB).

Before joining NAB, Steven was Deputy Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia.

He has also been chief executive of a not-for-profit organisation and has worked at senior levels within the Commonwealth Government.

Mr Münchenberg has Honours degrees in Science and Law and has held board positions with a number of community organisations.

Chris Jordan, Commissioner - Australian Taxation Office

Chris Jordan has extensive experience in advisory roles to business and both sides of Government on tax policy and implementation issues.

Michael Schaper, Deputy Chair - ACCC

Michael Schaper was appointed to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in July 2008.

In 2009 he was recipient of the “National Small Business Champion Award” by the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia.

The author or co-author of ten business management books, he has been a regular columnist in a number of national magazines, newspapers and journals on business issues. He has also worked as a policy advisor to government at both the state and federal level.

Warren Mundy, Commissioner – Productivity Commission

Dr Warren Mundy is the Presiding Commissioner on the Productivity Commission’s study into Regulator Engagement with Small Business: Benchmarking. He also led the Commission’s study Business Regulation Benchmarking: Role of Local Government which had a strong focus on small business.

Greg Tanzer, Commissioner - ASIC

Mr Greg Tanzer is an ASIC Commissioner and has previously served as Secretary General of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).  He is a qualified solicitor and barrister.

Ondina Gregoric, Managing Director – Ondina Communications

Ondina has run a small business for over 30 years, creating a solid Brand “Ondina” in the world of Fashion and Skin Care turning of several million dollars and employing over 50 women. Now focusing on Coaching and Mentoring others in Small Business, through her new entity “Life By Design”

Mark Brennan, Small Business Commissioner

Mr Mark Brennan commenced in his role as Australian Small Business Commissioner on 2 January 2013.

Mark has a strong track record of achievement in the small business area.