Balaji (Benny) from Zoho will walk you through the technologies Aussie small businesses need to become digital first. He'll share success stories of other small businesses that embraced technology and how you can effectively digitise your business, too. It surely won't be just another talk about digital transformation!

Join the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman for a dynamic discussion with government and industry experts. Explore the latest resources, programs, and grants designed to empower your small business to thrive in 2024.

Whether your business has two employees or two hundred, efficient growth is top of mind. Learn how to increase the impact of your sales, service, and marketing teams using AI.

In this keynote address, Carl Solder, Chief Technology Officer for Cisco ANZ, will explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber security on Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Solder will discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by these transformative technologies.

This keynote will introduce Nine Ad Manager, a groundbreaking tool enabling SMBs to advertise on 9Now, unlocking the potential of on-demand streaming TV advertising, ultimately empowering SMBs to achieve significant growth and success. Through local demonstrations, the keynote showcases how Nine Ad Manager revolutionises advertising accessibility and effectiveness for businesses across all sectors.

Unleash your businesses bottom line with ways to manage your money and maintain a strong cash flow and working capital optimisation with financial management tools and skills.

This dynamic panel discussion explores the cutting-edge of digital marketing in 2024. We'll delve into the transformative power of AI and its impact on streamlining tasks, generating content, and igniting fresh marketing ideas. But the conversation extends beyond AI. We'll also explore other emerging technologies that are redefining the landscape, offering insights on how to leverage them for maximum impact.

Tightening external pressures have made it critical for Small Businesses to stay ahead of the curve. Whether that be through structural uplifts, or investment in technology/productivity innovations businesses have risen to the challenge. This session gives the opportunity to learn from industry successes and see how other businesses are putting these principles into practice.

Join brand community expert, Jason Heathcote, as he demystifies the process of building and scaling customer communities. Explore the growing appeal of community-centric products and services for brands, delving into key considerations before investing in these initiatives, particularly for brands new to the community landscape. Through insightful real-world examples, Jason discusses strategies for community development, covering essential topics such as leveraging technology, fostering networking and events, sharing best practices, and executing advocacy campaigns.

Employment legislation is complex, and the costs of getting it wrong can be significant. Join Lisa Davidson, The Victorian Chamber’s Acting General Manager of Workplace Relations in this opening address as she shares her insights on some of the challenges and opportunities for small business in managing their employment compliance obligations for their staff and some things you may need to note if you plan on expanding to hire staff for the first time.

This keynote offers insights into innovative approaches to protecting and promoting the wellbeing of small business owners. Through two targeted programs developed by Deakin Business School and Beyond Blue, small business owners have increased access to supports when they need it most. Counting on U training, developed by researchers at Deakin focuses on upskilling the people who are often the most trusted advisers to small business owners – accountants and bookkeepers – and helps to address the critical link between financial distress and poor mental health. Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) is a program designed for small business owners, utilising coaches who themselves have small business experience as well as mental health training to support small business owners with everyday challenges contributing to their stress.

Starting the ‘sustainability journey’ isn’t always a simple one with costs, suppliers, and spare time getting in the way. Being sustainable doesn’t mean being perfect; sometimes you just need to get started. With examples from businesses who have taken first steps, and the impact they have achieved, come along to this session for tips and insights to support your sustainability journey!

This insightful panel discussion explores how businesses can leverage the power of data. We'll delve into the impact of recent shifts, such as the decline of third-party cookies and new regulations. The discussion will focus on practical solutions for businesses to capitalise on valuable first-party data. By implementing strategies to refine data collection, analysis, and utilisation, businesses can gain a competitive edge across all areas – from marketing and customer experience to operational efficiency and informed decision-making. This session equips businesses with the tools they need to thrive in a data-driven future.

Tactics to fast-track digital transformation, how a small business can drive efficiencies and lower costs with affordable tech solutions, cloud solutions, cyber, AI, automation and integration of workflow processes

In this fireside chat with David Walsh, Head of Digital, CX and Marketing for pay.com.au, learn how they've efficiently scaled their business and uncovered new insights to deepen customer relationships using AI.

Unlock the power of AI recruitment! Join this fireside chat with CONQR to discover how their AI solutions can help small businesses hire better, faster, and more efficiently. Learn how to streamline your process, attract top talent, and build a winning team.

Want to know what market pressures and the economy are likely to do in the next year? Join us as we address these issues, and more, in conversation with Stephen Halmarick, CommBank’s Chief Economist. Stephen will be joined by Personal Finance expert Jess Irvine, known for her relatable approach to helping Australian’s boost their financial literacy, embrace budgeting, and feel more confident handling their finances.

In this exciting keynote discover key learning including:
- The importance of a clear strategy
- Goal setting vs good intentions
- Monitoring progress
- Anticipating challenges and identifying opportunities

This keynote address explores the profound impact of small businesses on both individual and community well-being. Ray Jopling, Business Mentor at the Self Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) within Asuria People, will delve into the ways in which supporting small business ownership empowers individuals and fosters vibrant communities.

Join Adam Siegel, CEO of Visage Growth Partners, as he explores how growth-focused leaders leverage the most important asset in their business, their talent. This will be a high cut-through presentation aimed at instilling you with the knowledge and tools to attract and retain top talent, foster genuine engagement and maximise performance.

Learn how to prioritise your people so you can drive sustainable business growth, and get a competitive advantage in your industry.